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
June 11, 2017
It didn't work, & I developed side effects. Wouldn't recommend.
Been on this for a while (roughly 7/8 months).
Didn't experience any major side effects like others did...however some things have been happening to me which now make a lot of sense. I was prescribed this for the texture of my skin. It has been damaged by acne and other topicals causing an unsightly uneven texture, 'Orange peel skin' aka horrible enlarged pores. I didn't really notice any side effects at first. However when I stopped using the treatment after like 3 months, I'd get little yellow pimples scattered on my face. The worst was that it spread all over my neck like an allergic reaction. I've also been getting bowel problems, mainly diarrhoea. I think it has given me food intolerances like others have experienced. So, I've decided to stop using it. The only reason I used it was to help the surface of my skin. It has NOT done that in any way. I wouldn't recommend it.
March 1, 2018
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.
July 29, 2015
not worthy
it is really hard to have clear skin with these antibiotics. if it works, whenever you give up, they will come up again. maybe it can be more worthy for mild cases.
July 2, 2013
Works great for a while, not worth it in the long-run
Cons:
Makes acne much, much worse in the long-run
Stains teeth yellow
I took oxytetracycline from October 2009 to April 2011. The drug took about 4 months to kick in but, once I did, I had flawlessly perfect skin. It was great! However, from around November 2010 the drug gradually decreased in effectiveness. Now that I've come off it my skin is worse than ever and I'm still suffering from this now, in July 2013. The chances are that the drug will help for a bit, but will then make your acne worse in the long run. For this reason, it just isn't worth it! I'm entirely sure that if I hadn't taken the drug, I would have naturally outgrown acne by now.
June 18, 2013
Another let down
Pros:
Cheap
Cons:
U build a resistance
Sun sensitivy
The medications is cheap and useful. Once you stop taking it your acne comes back to bite ya in the ass again. But this time it's worse. I built a resistance very quickly to this antibiotic. And every other one for that matter,
May 15, 2012
Pros:
Initally clears skin
Had clear skin with the odd spot for about six months
Free prescription from doctor
No side effects
Cons:
Takes time to work
Stops working after a while and skin becomes worse
I thought initially this was a wonder product. I was prescribed Oxyteracycline and started to take two tablets twice a day. After a while I noticed my mild acne had calmed down and my skin was controllable. For about six monhs I was amazed at how well they had worked on my skin. But it wasn't till a couple of weeks ago the antibiotics lost effectiveness and I started to break out and my skin was left in a state much worse than it ever was. I am still struggling to control the awful cysts (which in the past I've never had) Unless you want nice skin for a few months and are then prepared to have awful skin afterwards I dont recommend this, although it may work better for others, other reviews imply not. I did speak to my doctor and apparantly they do just stop working most of the time!
I recommend looking into something else!
March 28, 2012
Pros:
No side affects
Cons:
-Self inflicted depression caused by low self-confidence
-No change what so ever
-The only thing that's worked is the prescribed creams
I've been using tetracycline for 2 months now and I haven't seen any results :(
I had originally got the prescription from my family doctor for 2 pills (250mg) twice daily and then went to a dermatologist about a month after. He was surprised she gave me a high dosage even though all of the reviews say they start out with a high dosage and slowly decrease it. He made me stop doing it twice but instead have only 2 pills a day. He also prescribed two creams (an anti-bacteria face cream - 2 daily and a retinal - 1 daily) and the creams work wonders on my face! But I still get acne on my neck, shoulders, and back and there has been no change although I'm constantly be told by my dermatologist that tetracycline SHOULD be working. I still think if you don't have any other choice to give it a try. If my dermatologist allowed me I would have started accutane months ago! (I've had the blood test and got the okay from my doctor)
February 7, 2012
Pros:
*Inexpensive.
Cons:
*No difference on the skin.
*Hard to swallow pills
*Can't eat or drink diary products while being on this pill.
The dermotologist suggested that taking Tetracycline twice every day for 2 months will give me clear skin but sadly, shes very wrong. This medicine hasn't made a difference on my skin and I've been consistence with it since day 1. The cycle just keeps on rotating... New pimples are growing while old zits are leaving my skin with hyperpigmentation marks that takes forever to go away. In a few weeks, my doctor is finally going to put me on accutane; I just had enough with acne. I couldn't take the low-self esteem, low-self confident, and depression that comes along with it any longer. Acne has been the longest and toughest battle I had to fight against ever since I reach puberty. My decision is set and accutane is the choice I will make. Although Tetracycline wasn't working for me, that doesn't mean it will not work for you. I just had too much sebum production on my face and this medicine couldn't cure it.
October 13, 2011
Pros:
None
Cons:
Did not help at all
Have to take with lots of food
It did nothing for me. I used it for about 3-4 months but I did not see any results at all. My acne did not clear at all so I stopped taking these pills. I still rate it with "2" because it did not make my acne worse as some other antibitics did.
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..
Pros:
Works very effectively for a period of time
Easy to take
Cheap (if on the NHS/insurance)