December 5, 2007
Minocycline - An Effective Oral Antibiotic For Acne
Minocycline is a very effective oral antibiotic for treating acne. It's also the most expensive. Minocycline is available in generic formulations and is sold under several brand names.
Minocycline is given in doses ranging from 50 milligrams twice a day to 100 milligrams once or twice a day. Minocycline's excellent absorption means it may be taken with food, even dairy products, without interfering with its efficacy, so you're less likely to get an upset stomach than if you were taking a "plain" tetracycline.
As with "plain" tetracycline and doxycycline, the dosage of the drug can be tapered when the inflammation has lessened.
Additional advantages of minocycline include
- Few, if any, sun-related problems.
- It appears to be less likely to induce vaginal yeast infections than plain tetracycline.
But, in addition to the expense, minocycline use includes other disadvantages:
- Dizziness: This side effect usually settles after a few days or when the dosage is lowered.
- Skin pigmentation: A reversible bluish darkening of the gums and/or skin may occur with long-term use.
- Nausea: Minocycline is more likely than plain tetracycline to cause such side effects as nausea, vomiting, and, in high doses (those that approach 200 milligrams per day), dizziness or vertigo.
- Permanent tooth discoloration: A very rare, irreversible blue discoloration of permanent teeth has been reported. Professional capping may be necessary to hide it.
One very rare, more serious side effect may exist with minocycline: A syndrome known as drug-induced lupus erythematosus occurs (most often in young women), and usually develops late in the course of therapy with minocycline. It has rarely proved fatal. The symptoms consist of swollen glands, rash, fever, and joint pains. This condition generally resolves within weeks or months of stopping minocycline.