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
October 13, 2009
Cons:
None
I got these free on the NHS in the UK as I am under 16, and they are brilliant.. Worked absolute wonders. The doctor said that it should take 8 weeks for the signs to start showing and they started showing after only 3 weeks.. Brilliant! I really recommend it
August 27, 2011
Pros:
-clears alot in first few months
-helps alot with cystic areas
-confidence booster for a while..
-less whiteheads
Cons:
-skin will return.. if not worse
-very drying! hard to exfoliate..
-hassle to take everyday
-kills good bacteria and bad
-body evolves against the antibiotic
I was on this antibiotic for 1 year 2 months! First few months where great, my skin had dramatically cleared up, i would have at least one new whitehead everyday.. but such an improvement. Gradually after about 3 months of being on this med, my skin adjusted to the antibiotic and got worse and worse, a year and 2 months had passed and my skin was back to square one, just as bad as when i had started except now it had spread all around my face, nose, chin, forehead, and where it was originally, around my mouth and smile lines.. I would recommend it if you are looking for a quick fix, but for a lasting cure, no chance, i'm currently on another antibiotic, waiting for accutane..
July 13, 2011
Pros:
-cleared my acne at first and quickly
-killed appetite
Cons:
-large pill
-stopped working after a while
-weird taste
I began taking this and it began clearing my acne within a week or two. I loved it and i thought that I had found a new magic medicine. My acne completely cleared up and I was happy. Since my acne cleared, i assumed that I no longer needed to take it. My acne came back stronger and more aggressive than ever so i went back on tetracycline and it no longer worked. Nothing seems to work now.
However, I would definitely recommend taking this first before trying something like accutane or a harsh face cream.
October 19, 2009
Pros:
...there aren't any
Cons:
no improvement, even after 2 months
my doctor gave me the prescription for these a little over two months ago and it's as if im not on them at all, i haven't seen any improvement! i'll have to go back to my doctor soon and try get a prescription for something else.
September 9, 2014
Eh....
I gave this 3 stars because it did help clear up my skin, but I think it was making me really sick. I loved that it cleared up my acne with out any scaring but my happiness was short lived. There are a host of side effects from Tetracycline. I gave up on the antibiotics and felt instantly better. It may be worth it for some people but not for me.
August 14, 2011
Pros:
Cleared acne up during course of treatment
No side effects
Cons:
After I'd finished my 2 month treatment the acne came back and much worse aswell.
Even when I was on it, it never cleared up my back or chest.
Takes a while to notice the difference.
Damn. I was so looking forward to this treatment. After suffering with acne for 6 years and dealing with the awful years of secondary school and stupid expectations my self esteem finally took an all time low. The doctor pescribed me with this (1 a day). After a month and a half my skin was glowing; all that was left on my face was acne scars and maybe the odd pimple. I thought i'd found my miracle treatment. For the next month or so, while I finished the course of drugs, people began to notice me and really comment on how good my skin looked. Honestly, I'd never been happier with peoples positive interactions with me. Anyway, aftter 3 weeks of finishing the tetracycline my acne came back and far worse. Evenmore disheartening was the fact I was getting used to having a clear face. Once again self esteem took an all time low and I really began to hide away Anyway I have surrounded myself with a good group of friends and I guess thats all that matters. Despite the fact that tetracyline didnt work for me, it doesnt mean that it wouldnt for others. I'm pretty sure it would in fact. If you do try it, just bear in mind that it probably will come back first time, several courses may be neccessary. Good Luck. And just remember that acne doesn't need to consume your life, like I let it do with mine. By the way, I've now been on tetracycline twice, and my doctor doesnt think its worth repeating, so we are looking for alternatives.
April 27, 2011
Pros:
Works really fast, It cleared up my acne in almost 2 weeks
Cons:
After you stop using it, acne comes back
Plus every morning after taking the pills i had a horrible nausea, problems with stomach, moodiness
I've had moderate acne since 16 (now i'm 23). Till last summer i only had acne on my forehead and sometimes on my nose and chin. But last august i had the most horrible breakout in my entire life. i had severe cystic acne around my mouth, on my chin and around my nose. I used Nature's Cure pack for women before the breakout, and it was working wonders to my skin, then suddenly it just stopped working. I guess i got immune to it. So derm prescribed me tetracycline for a month with some cream with antibiotic for topical use. Here in Mongolia where i live tetracycline is not that cheap, so i paid 45$ for a month supply, plus 12$ for the cream and 10$ for a derm's consultation. I got so broke cuz of it. So the pills got rid of my horrible acne in just two weeks, did nothing with the scarring. But aster a week as i stopped using it, my acne came back and it's really bad. If you wanna get rid of your acne fast this could be a good solution.
November 25, 2015
Disappointed
When I first started taking this two months ago it worked great and it worked fast, it cleared up my acne within a week. Unfortunately it stopped working surprisingly fast.. and my acne came back out pretty much overnight and it worse than what it was before I started taking this.
March 8, 2012
Pros:
Clears skin up 100%, my skin was like a baby and I had severe acne on jawline and back
Cons:
made me crazy!... thinking about life and death and started getting really bad panic attacks, etc
I haven't heard anyone in all the reviews have the same side effects as I did so I would say try it out, it did work perfect for my skin, just made me a little nuts
September 27, 2009
Pros:
-Very Affordable
-Very minimal side affects
-
Cons:
-Meals have to revolve around the medication (Your Pharmacist will explain)
I thought at the age of 24 my acne and breakouts would disappear but I was wrong. In fact it got worse. I finally decided to go to my family doctor. He examined my face and determined that tetracycline would probably be the ideal choice. I was perscribed 3 cycles. I can honestly say that this medication works. Tetracycline definitely got rid of the acne and pimples on my face. However, the results are not instantaneous. I noticed results after 1.5 months. I did not experience any side affects but I found the 2 hour eating rule and inconvenience. After my last cycle of Tetracycline I only had minor acne on my forehead. The breakouts had completely subsided and my skin looked much cleaner. I wish I had gone to see my family doctor earlier.
Pros:
Improvements shown within 3 weeks!!
Didn't react in any way with the alcohol I have had on ocasion
No side effects