Oral Antibiotic
Reviews
3.3
588 Reviews
Oral Antibiotic
Efficacy
69%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Note: Should never be used on its own and for a maximum of 3 months.
Oral Antibiotic
Side Effects
Medium-High
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.
Read All About Tetracycline
Compare To Other Treatments
5
16.3%
4
33.3%
3
23.6%
2
15.3%
1
11.4%

Used Tetracycline? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
November 22, 2009

Pros:

it seems like it kinda works sometimes...

Cons:

im not sure if it works alot

ive been using this on and off from prescription and honestly its annoying to have to eat it on an empty stomach cuz i feel like vomiting everytime, it doesnt subside for an hour so one day it was a school day and i was dying...gosh but anyways i take it with orange juice or any juice 30 min after a meal
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July 2, 2014
IT WORKS!!!
It definitely worked for me!!!! After 6 months taking it my acne is completely gone, it is the only thing that worked for me!!! I had no side effects and could see the improvement in my skin everyday!!!
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May 26, 2015
Did it take an entire 6 months to work? When did you notice it started to improve?
September 3, 2015
Took a full month to see results but definitely worth it!
May 17, 2011

Pros:

- clears up my acne quite quick
- no side effects for me

Cons:

none so far

I think it is important to say or skin is the same and medication and creams for different for everyone. A healthy diet makes quite a chance as well. I have always had some spots, but since I got the Mirena coil, I started to develop acne. I will get the coil taken out anyway, but in the mean time I still want to clear my acne. The GP prescribed me Tetralysal. I have been using it for 3 weeks now and it has cleared up my face quite a bit already. If I do develop the occasional spot or boil, I put Sudocrem on it(just the spot, not all over my face, cuz it seems to work the opposit from Tetralysal) and usually the next day it has almost vanished. As for cleaning my face I use sulphur soap or dead sea minerals soap. All together it works really well for me. I still have another 3 weeks to go, so will keep you guys updated. If anyone is interested in my before in after pictures, to see what it does, give me a shout.
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November 13, 2009

Pros:

Cleared my acne completely when I was on it- it was fabulous

Cons:

Didn't like taking 2 pills per day- stopped taking the pills- and my acne came back within 4 months BUT THEN I started getting yeast infection after yeast infection because my body was not producing enough good bacteria after being on antibiotics.

Worked perfectly- but I personally don't like relying on an antibiotic and it really messed up my internal balance of bacteria once off of it.
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October 28, 2013
good , lower acne counts, long lasting

Pros:

cheap
clear skin

Cons:

skin high sun sensitive
loss of appitite

i am taking 250 mg tetracycline with zinc . Its makes clear 90% , 1 0r 2 zits, thats nothing problem. Tetracycline is a Bacteriostatic that stops bacteria from reproducing, while not necessarily harming them or killing them, its simply inhibits protein needed for bacteria. so if u get more acne take more tatracyline 750mg(250mg*3) to 1000 mg (500*2) after diet. Use antidandruff shampoo daily, If i get more acne i take 500mg until it clears. then reduce to 250 mg. IF U SERIOUSLY WANT TO KICK THE ACNE , THIS IS ONLY FOR SERIOUS PEOPLE WHO'S SELF CONFIDENCE, AFFECTED BY ACNE AND CANT TOLERATE ACNE. 1. stop all your diet types of food and drinks etc.Stop everything. 2. take only wheat oats as food(cook wheat oats with water and add some salt for taste) for breakfast, lunch, supper. 3. Dont eat anything only wheat oats is your food , dont drink anything (any beverage, milk etc) water is your drink. 4. Use antidandruff shampoo daily. 5 take tetracycline 250 mg twice( morning and night) and also take zinc 65mg enough at night Just look at the results in 1 week. then u will fallow it life long, results is awesome, beautiful, clear skin face. "without water there is no tree, without fatty, high calories food there is no acne. SImple but Worth." this will seriously work for any people fatty and high calories food is the only reason for all diseases. God bless us.
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June 24, 2011

Pros:

haha none!

Cons:

didnt work..thats all i can say

dont do it, take doxy it works very well! i took this for a damn year with absolutley no results...
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May 18, 2011

Pros:

-Works fast
-dries out your skin all over your body

Cons:

-increased brain pressure and headaches
-very bad stomach aches
-diarrhea
-even got pain in liver and kidneys...

I would not recommend using this antibiotic unless you are certain that your body is so resilient it will be able to tolerate a medicine that is this heavy... I was prescribed this for my severe acne and after taking it for 2 weeks I saw great improvement on my skin but then suddenly my brain pressure increased and I got 1 endless headache for more than 4 days... I also experienced pain in my liver and kidneys... I can tolerate medication really well usually, but the side-effects of this one really freaked me out. Howver it seemed that no harm had been done to my body, but I quit immediately as the doctor said this might damage liver and kidneys if taken over a long period of time. I am now taking a topical gel, Epiduo and combine it with home remedies (baking soda and apple cider vinegar) I promise you I got the same result on my face as I did from Tetracylines... I did like how TC dried my skin over my entire body though, I felt "clean" for longer and my hair didn't get greasy. I would have loved this medicine had it not been so heavy to tolerate with such serious side-effects...
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November 30, 2010

Pros:

Helped with acne a little bit.
while on it.

Cons:

It took months to see some minor improvement and it all came back as soon as I stoped taking it.Had to plan meals.yellow teeth.

Can help while on it, but no cure since it comes back (sometimes worse than before).
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October 4, 2009

Pros:

I didn't take it for very long, only two weeks

Cons:

My doc said that there were no side effects.
THEN, I had sex.
It hurt so bad, I was freaked out. The next morning i made an appointment with the doctor. So, apparently this medicine causes yeast infections. : ( Yuck.

Just letting everyone know, because i had NO idea.
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April 4, 2012

Pros:

* Cleared up by mild acne very well

Cons:

* Have to remember to take it twice a day
* Some mild stomach discomfort to begin with

I have been on Doctor-prescribed Oxytetracycline pills (250mg) for about 3 months now. Within about 2-3 week of taking this stuff my mild acne had cleared up very well indeed, the most successful of anything i've tried (BP, topical retinoids, various cleansers/washes/exfoliants/off the shelf products). The stuff tastes sweet going down, I don't know what the other reviewers are talking about.. I think it might be sugar-coated! I found that just washing my face with water every morning and evening was good. Everyone's different - the general advice here is to cleanse and moisturise but I find this just irritates my skin and makes things worse. I'd definitely recommend this product if you can get your doctor to give it you and you've already tried topical creams and stuff. DEFINITELY try this stuff before going on something hardcore like accutane, that stuff is not to be taken lightly!
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.