Tetracycline
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Tetracycline is an oral antibiotic that works by systemically fighting bacteria in the body, including in the skin, and also reduces inflammation.

Tetracycline is an oral antibiotic that works by systemically fighting bacteria in the body, including in the skin, and also reduces inflammation.

It is normally prescribed at a dose of 300 mg once or twice a day. The dose is often reduced once acne is notably improved.

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July 29, 2008

Pros:

quick and cheap ( most insurance covers it)

Cons:

can be easy to forget dose

im not sure if it is the pill alone that is doing the job because i am using 10%benzoyl peroxide panoxyl gel (6 dollars for a tube that lasts more than a week) along with it. if u plan on getting a prescription for tetracycline from the doc, get panoxyl aqua gel too... the combo cleared my nasty cystic acne up in 6 weeks. i get about one zit a week. and the zits are the tiny little ones with no puss. im always confident around girls and i dont spend so much of my time on this site anymore lol... i just came back to shed light onto my 1-2 punch combo. im so glad i didnt resort to accutane.
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July 22, 2008

Pros:

stops me picking at food between meals, also you cant take with milk, apparantly milk is a main cause of acne, stopped breakouts of larger boils on chin.

Cons:

planning meals, as you have to take on an empty stomach.

I have only been on them for 2 weeks for moderate boils on my chin, and now starting to appear on my cheeks too, very bad for my self esteem, have been avoiding all my friends! Well i have noticed no new outbreaks, old spots are still healing though. i am concerned about the long term affects of the drug! especially after reading these articles. i hope it dosn't come back with a vengance once i stop the 3 month course. I feel a lot of my skin problems are however down to stress, poor diet and hormone issues, so maybe these pills are just holding off the innevitable! definately a lifestyle change is needed! will let you know how i get on!
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June 12, 2008

Pros:

cheap!!

Cons:

can cause headaches..gave me a lil fever first time around..

ok, my dr. prescrobed it first time around n it worked but i got fevers.but i broke out again..cystic acne..not even normal pimples..n i was desperate so i tried it again n by day 3 of taking it..my boil popped..Tetracycline is STRONG but worth the result..please eat one hour after taking pill or take it 2,3 hours after eating ur stomach needs to be empty for maximum effect
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May 28, 2008

Pros:

My initial course of Tetracycline completely cleared my mild/moderate acne problem. I saw a significant benefit by taking the drug for a good few years.

Cons:

After discontinuing these antibiotics my acne slowly began to creep back and seemed more agressive than before.

Tetracycline only seemed to offer a temporary solution for me. It can also upset the balance of gut bacteria by destroying a lot of the good stuff, so would always recommend a probiotic to counter act the damage.
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May 3, 2008

Pros:

controls breakouts

Cons:

doesnt clear that much

this kept me from getting any serious breakouts, but its just cant seem to fully clear up my skin. However, i didnt know you were'nt supposed to take it with food, so that could have dulled the effect cause i eat breakfast with 30 mins of using it. i have a 500mg dose and its never made me feel sick or wierd.
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April 29, 2008

Pros:

my skin is PERFECT after finally adjusting my dosage!!

Cons:

i'm begininng to think my feeling sick all the time might be related to the medication. possible side effects: fever, fatigue, lowered immune system (trying to counter by taking aProbiotic)and just a gerneral malaise.

i had been on tetracycline for 2yrs with moderate success. it controlled my breakouts but didn't eliminate them. initially, it didn't work at all but my dermatologist stressed how important it was to take on an empty stomach. after adhering to the empty stomach rule, i saw a major improvement in it's effectiveness. i take first thing when i wake up in the morning and wait and hour to eat. make sure you do not take with milk or even juice that may have calcium in it - it counters the effectiveness of the antibiotic. i do find i need to take it with some kind of flavored liquid because it takes like sh*t. also, i had been taking 750mg once a day with only moderate improvement for about two years. after a mistake in filling my prescription i was bumped up to 1000mg and let me tell ya that did the trick. my skin is now PERFECT!!! i've stayed on the 1000mg for about 6months now and it's the best my skin has looked since before i hit puberty.
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April 11, 2008

Cons:

-time consuming around meals
-twice aday
-the aftermath after off tetracycline

I used it before along time ago and i gave it a try for 6 months then i been off of it for awhile then i recently started breaking out badly these past 3 months and i started back on it for 2 more months again. It seems to make my face less oily now and my break outs are calming down but doctor said its a 6 month time period to see results...bottom line i dont know what to do this acne is making me depressed theres no new answers out there for acne..just old antbiotics that dont seem to work fast enough
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March 18, 2008

Pros:

It cleared up my mild acne in about three weeks

Cons:

After prolonged use it's effects started to fade and I had to double my daily prescription.
Need to plan around meals

Good for mild acne but effects wear over time and I have had to move on to something stronger
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March 4, 2008

Pros:

I've been taking it for about 2 months now and it seems to be working however I'm still getting break outs during my menstrual cycle. What I don't like is that the break outs stay for awhile and doesn't go away fast.

Cons:

Plan around meals. Also dry skin but doctor recommended Vanicream.

I've yet to find out in the long run but feel pretty positive about it for the most part.
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March 2, 2008

Pros:

It works! Cleared up my skin in about a month.

Cons:

Inconvenient- I have to schedule my meals around the meds. It makes me feel nauseous when I take it, so I have to have a piece of food anyway to calm my stomach.

I used it for about 3 months to get rid of an acne flair up- I've had acne for a long long time, but this was the worst it's ever been, so I got tetracycline. It took about a month for it to work, but when it started working, my acne cleared up a lot. I stopped using it since then, and noticed my chest breaking out. don't know if its cuz i stopped taking the med...
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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.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

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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.
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