Does Minocycline Work For Acne?

Minocycline is a type of orally ingested antibiotic that is used for the resolution of acne.

Minocycline Dosage

Minocycline is not manufactured in a topical form and is available under different brand names, such as Minocin, Vectrin and Dynacin. It is also sold in generic preparations. Minocycline is administered in twice daily doses of 50 mg to once or twice daily doses of 100 mg. It is easily absorbed by the system and can be taken with food or milk. You get less chance of getting an upset stomach with it than with a typical tetracycline.

To get its full benefits, minocycline should be taken on an empty stomach. Its absorption rate drops by 10% with food and milk cuts it by 33%. If you're worried about getting a stomach upset, then you can take it with meals. Like doxycycline, minocycline's dosage can be decreased over time when the inflammation has subsided.

Oral versus Topical

It is, however, the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of minocycline that are important. It inhibits the development of certain bacteria and spurs the body's immune system to attack and destroy them.

If topical acne antibiotics are not effective enough to treat your inflamed acne or if acne already covers large areas of your body, an oral antibiotic pill can be easier to take and will save a lot of your time. It is very effective but it is the most expensive.

While some topical antibiotics can make you photosensitive to the sun's rays, minocycline has virtually no sun-related side effects. And unlike ordinary tetracyclines, there's nearly no chance of getting vaginal yeast infections from minocycline.

The Side Effects of Minocycline

As good as it is in doing its job, minocycline also has it share of disadvantages.

Like many antibiotics, abdominal discomfort, stomach upset and indigestion may occur. Spells of dizziness usually ease up after a few days of lowered dosage. Rashes are rare but they can be severe when they occur.

A reversible bluish skin pigmentation may occur with long-term use. The areas usually affected are the face, gums and the mucous membranes.

Children below eight years old who take this medication may see blue discoloration of their teeth. This condition is very rare but the effect is permanent and irreversible. Dental capping of the teeth will be able to hide the discoloration. This condition, however, rarely affects adults.

Minocycline, upon reaching 200 mg daily doses, is more likely to trigger vertigo, nausea and vomiting than its plain counterpart. It is advised to start with low doses until your tolerance builds up.

Avoid the use of minocycline if you are pregnant as it can bring harm to your unborn child, which includes permanently discolored teeth. Do not breast-feed if you are under medication. Minocycline can reach the nursing baby through the breast milk and may affect the growth of their bones and teeth. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding before taking this medication. Children below 8 years of age should not take minocycline.