Acne.org Products
Oral Antibiotic
Efficacy
69%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Should never be used on its own and for a maximum of 3 months.
Oral Antibiotic
Acne.org’s Real World Take
Antibiotics should be used for a maximum of 3 months, provide only moderate benefit to only some people, and may lead to side effects and strains of resistant bacteria. Studies do show they can sometimes reduce severe acne in the short term, but approach with caution and stay your own advocate.
Oral Antibiotic
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Tetracycline? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
August 18, 2010
Cons:
too many
toxic in the body
dry lips and skin
nausea
do not take this drug
December 31, 2010
Pros:
May improve skin.
Cons:
Must take an hour before meals or wait 2 to 3 hours after to take medicine. This doesn't help when your stomach is empty... Nausea can occur.
Tetracycline might clear up skin for certain individuals. I have been taking this medication for the past 4 years on and off. When my acne cleared up I would stop taking it, my skin was clear for a couple of months then I would have to go back to taking them. It did take a while to see results on my skin, but it worked.
November 10, 2009
Pros:
Starts to work the same day I begin taking the medication.
No side effects noticed.
Cons:
I start breaking out as soon as I stop taking the medication.
Planning meals in between doses is a pain.
Basicly the reason I love this medication is if I know I have an event I will be attending in the near future, I would start taking the medication within 5 days of that date(so the old acne goes away) and with the pills I am garanteed to get no new pimples and have a clear face the day of the event and thereafter till I stop taking the doses. I've been on and off this medication about 4 times within one year. It works when I take it, and it doesn't when i don't.
July 3, 2010
Pros:
cleared up acne within 1-2 months
Cons:
remembering to take it
I had pretty bad acne and eventually I went to see a dermatologist. He prescribed me to take tetracycline twice a day. Within a month to two months, I did notice a change in my acne. Now I only get one or two pimples just around the time of my period. I tried every other product, Neutrogena, Clean&Clear, etc, but nothing helped my acne except this life saver! The only con I found with this product was remembering to take it and planning it around meals (and learning not to lay down right after I take it or I got really bad stomach aches). Once my acne cleared up I missed a few days, maybe even a month before I started to take it again. But even during the time I didn`t take it, I never broke out.
January 5, 2011
Pros:
I took a 600 mg dosage, which is pretty high - thus, it completely cleared my skin in three weeks. Works really well and doesn't cause redness. Makes your skin look better as a whole. Used it with Epiduo.
Cons:
It is extremely upsetting to the stomach, and may cause nausea and vomitting. I took it with pantoprazole 40 mg, because I have gastritis.
It works, especially if you take higher doses.
April 30, 2013
Pros:
See review.
Will noticably decrease acne as early as a week into treatment depending on dosage.
Cons:
Inaffective when taking with dairy products.
Stomach issues can occur when not eating properly in combination with taking Tetracycline.
Research online for a full list of possible side-effects to look out for early on.
Tetracycline is an opportunity to start over. Acne causes acne. It's very hard to rid yourself of it naturally, as in through diet and regular facial cleansings, once you already have it severely. Clogged pores constrict the pores around it, causing more acne. It's a vicious cycle. Tetracycline is like a reset button. It gives you the opportunity to make a fresh start and really change your lifestyle to ward off future acne. You are what you eat. Figure out what your triggers are and remove them from your diet. Sodas, excessive dairy consumption, greasy foods, etc. Occasional exercise, or going to the saunae once or twice a month will also help greatly. Sweat the bad stuff out, because we're all bound to indulde in some quesionable foods occasionally. And of course, wash your face thoroughly, sensitively, every day. Wash your hands often, don't touch your face, change your pillow case often, etc. Tetracycline is not a niracle drug, but it allows for you to start fresh. Also, be very aware that you must dose down from anything over 500mg a day. Acne resurgence will be significantly reduced if you build down your intake. If you are currently taking two pills/capsules a day, start taking just one a day for a week or two, then one every other day, until you're at one a week for a few weeks. This way your body rebuilds it's natural defensive mechanisms before becoming solely responsible for warding off skin inflammations again. If you use it sensibly, Tetracycline can put a permanent end to bad acne.
July 20, 2010
Pros:
My acne was beginning to clear up after about a few weeks, with more improvements, like less redness and inflammation, after a month. The pills were easy to take, and I didn't really experience much appetite loss.
Cons:
However, having to take it on an empty stomach, or an hour or so after a meal, can conflict with some people's schedules.
Yet, my biggest issue with Tetracycline is that it proved to be ototoxic ("poisonous" to the ear) in my left ear, leaving me with mild tinnitus that has persisted for two years.
Apparently all drugs in the Tetracycline family can be ototoxic, but I presume many more drugs have the off chance of being ototoxic, as well. I can't completely rate the drug on its effectiveness, since my doctor instructed me to stop taking immediately after the tinnitus set in. If you're willing to take the risk, then Tetracycline may prove successful, but I have switched to the topical cream Azelex, which has no chance of causing tinnitus (unless you put it in your ear...).
March 31, 2011
Pros:
-limits breakouts while using it
Cons:
-yellows teeth
-once you stop using it breakouts come back
-can't be taken with meals/milk
I am against taking pills to begin with so when my doctor prescribed me an antibiotic I was very reluctant to take it. I wish I had never started these pills. They turn your teeth yellow. I can never find a time to take them on an empty stomach b/c I'm out of the house all day and I don't want to bring the pills with me. I didn't want to be on these pills for an extended period so I stopped taking them after taking them twice a day for a few months. Pimples have started popping up again mainly on my chin and around my mouth. It's very disappointing.
April 19, 2010
Pros:
There are no pros to this poison.
Cons:
Thanks to the Doctors who prescribed me with this antibiotic, I now have candidiasis and a number of health problems. I now suffer with chronic fatigue, poor concentration, short-term memory loss and digestion problems.
I wouldn't give it to my worst enemy, please do yourself a HUGE favour and DO NOT take this medication. Instead, spend your money on going to see a nutritionist and take a probiotic supplement.
December 3, 2009
Pros:
I used this and it kept my acne the same everyday never really got ride of it all but i didn't get any big pimples from it until.
Cons:
when i stopped using it. I got this huge inflamed undertheskin pimple and it hurt alot
No dramatic results just average
Pros:
nothing