Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefitsDoseWhat to ExpectSide EffectsWho Should Not Take ItWhen to See a ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Benefits
Dose
What to Expect
Side Effects
Who Should Not Take It
When to See a Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Minocyclineis a medication used to treat inflammatoryacne. The medication is typically prescribed to people aged 12 years and older who have moderate to severe acne.
Minocycline for acne has benefits, but it can take up to two months to see improvements after you start treatment.
Minocycline is part of agroup of antibioticscalled tetracyclines.Doxycyclineandtetracycline, two other acne treatments, also belong to this group. It’s also used to treat respiratory and urinary tract infections, and somesexually transmitted infections(STIs).
This article discusses minocycline for acne, including dosages, side effects, and how quickly it works.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin.
Minocycline Benefits
Minocycline has been used to treat acne for a long time—however, it’s rarely used alone. Minocycline for acne is almost always prescribed along with atopical acne medication. The combination usually leads to better results than just using minocycline.
Minocycline treats acne in two ways:
Minocycline will not help withblackheadsand othernon-inflamed blemishes.Topical retinoidsare a better choice for those skin problems. Minocycline also does not help with acne scarring.
Other Oral Antibiotics for AcneMinocycline isn’t the only oral antibiotic used to treat acne. Other options are:ClindamycinDoxycyclineErythromycinTetracycline
Other Oral Antibiotics for Acne
Minocycline isn’t the only oral antibiotic used to treat acne. Other options are:ClindamycinDoxycyclineErythromycinTetracycline
Minocycline isn’t the only oral antibiotic used to treat acne. Other options are:
Minocycline Dosage
Minocycline has a common starting dosage of 50 to 100 milligrams (mg), one or two times a day.
You’ll slowly stop taking (taper off) minocycline treatment once your acne is under control.
Sometimes, oral antibiotics have to be taken long-term to keep acne from returning.
Tips for Using MinocyclineTry to take your medication at about the same time every day. It works better when there’s a constant amount in your bloodstream.Take the entire course, even if your skin starts looking better.Do not lie down immediately after taking minocycline, as it can irritate the esophagus and lead to pain.Give it time to work. It won’t happen instantly, but gradually you’ll notice less redness and fewer breakouts.
Tips for Using Minocycline
Try to take your medication at about the same time every day. It works better when there’s a constant amount in your bloodstream.Take the entire course, even if your skin starts looking better.Do not lie down immediately after taking minocycline, as it can irritate the esophagus and lead to pain.Give it time to work. It won’t happen instantly, but gradually you’ll notice less redness and fewer breakouts.
What to Expect While Taking Minocycline
Minocycline comes in a capsule, or, as the brandSolodyn, an extended-release tablet.
If your healthcare provider prescribes the capsule, you’ll take it either two or four times a day at regular intervals. Solodyn is a once-per-day treatment.
Minocycline is sold as Minocin, Dynacin, Vectrin, and Solodyn (extended-release). It is typically more expensive than doxycycline and tetracycline but can be an effective option if other oral antibiotic treatments have failed.
All brand-name versions of minocycline can be taken with or without food, but the generic form needs to be taken either one hour before or two hours after a meal.Regardless of the brand or formulation, you should drink a full glass of water with every dose of minocycline.
For the first few days that you take minocycline capsules (not extended-release tablets), start with a single daily dose—usually recommended at bedtime—and work up to the full prescribed amount.
Side effects that you may have when you first start minocycline include:
Treatment Tips for Acne in Skin of Color
How Quickly Does Minocycline Work?
It can take six to eight weeks for minocycline to work for acne. If you’re also using a topical acne treatment, you may start seeing results from that before the minocycline is in full effect.
Since it can take two months to notice any changes, expect your provider to want you to take minocycline for at least three months to see if it’s working.
Common side effects of minocycline treatment include:
Bluish discoloration of the gums, mouth, skin, nails, tears, and urine can also happen with long-term minocycline use but it usually goes away when the medication is stopped. A bluish discoloration of the teeth is uncommon but possible and might be permanent.
Other less common side effects of minocycline include:
If you have side effects that are not getting better or are making it hard to stay on your treatment, tell your provider. They might be able to adjust your dose or recommend a different treatment.
Drug-Induced LupusIt’s not common but taking minocycline long-term can causedrug-induced lupus. It is very rare and usually goes away within weeks after stopping treatment.
Drug-Induced Lupus
It’s not common but taking minocycline long-term can causedrug-induced lupus. It is very rare and usually goes away within weeks after stopping treatment.
Who Should Not Take Minocycline?
Minocycline should not be used if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Children under the age of eight should use minocycline because of the risk of permanent tooth discoloration. Some experts recommend waiting until after age 10 or even age 12 to start minocycline.
Why Your Acne Treatment Might Not Be Working
Drug Interactions
Minocycline can interact with several medications. If you take any of these medications, your provider might need to change your dose or change your medication.
Drugs that can interact with minocycline include:
Your provider should always have a complete list of all the medications you take, including prescription, over-the-counter, and supplements.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Minocycline can cause serious side effects, but they’re less common. Call your healthcare provider or get medical attention immediately if you have:
If any of these symptoms occur, your provider will likely want you to stop taking minocycline. However, do not stop the medication without talking to a provider first.
Summary
Minocycline is used to treat acne. You will usually take it along with another kind of acne treatment.
It can take weeks or even a couple of months to work but minocycline is very effective for inflammatory acne. It won’t help with milder forms of acne, though.
Like most medications, there are side effects and risks of minocycline and some people cannot take it. Talk to your provider about whether minocycline is an acne treatment option that you could try.
Coping With Acne
There’s some evidence of liver toxicity when taking minocycline, so it should be used with caution in people with impaired liver function.Hepatitisand liver failure have been reported in people taking the drug.Learn MoreAn Overview of Liver Failure
There’s some evidence of liver toxicity when taking minocycline, so it should be used with caution in people with impaired liver function.Hepatitisand liver failure have been reported in people taking the drug.
Learn MoreAn Overview of Liver Failure
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Minocycline Hydrochloride.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Minocycline.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Label: Minocycline hydrochloride tablet, extended release.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus.Minocycline.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Drug-induced lupus erythematosus.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Full prescribing information: Solodyn (minocycline HCI) Extended Release Tablets for oral use.Perez-Gomez A, Carretero M, Weber N, Peterka V, To A, Titova V,et al.A phenotypic Caenorhabditis elegans screen identifies a selective suppressor of antipsychotic-induced hyperphagia.Nat Commun. 2018 Dec 10;9(1):5272. doi:10.1038/s41467-018-07684-y.Garrido-Mesa N, Zarzuelo A, Gálvez J.Minocycline: far beyond an antibiotic.Br J Pharmacol. 2013 May;169(2):337-52. doi:10.1111/bph.12139.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Minocycline Hydrochloride.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Minocycline.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Label: Minocycline hydrochloride tablet, extended release.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus.Minocycline.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Drug-induced lupus erythematosus.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Full prescribing information: Solodyn (minocycline HCI) Extended Release Tablets for oral use.Perez-Gomez A, Carretero M, Weber N, Peterka V, To A, Titova V,et al.A phenotypic Caenorhabditis elegans screen identifies a selective suppressor of antipsychotic-induced hyperphagia.Nat Commun. 2018 Dec 10;9(1):5272. doi:10.1038/s41467-018-07684-y.Garrido-Mesa N, Zarzuelo A, Gálvez J.Minocycline: far beyond an antibiotic.Br J Pharmacol. 2013 May;169(2):337-52. doi:10.1111/bph.12139.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Prescribers' Digital Reference.Minocycline Hydrochloride.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Minocycline.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Label: Minocycline hydrochloride tablet, extended release.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus.Minocycline.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Drug-induced lupus erythematosus.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Full prescribing information: Solodyn (minocycline HCI) Extended Release Tablets for oral use.Perez-Gomez A, Carretero M, Weber N, Peterka V, To A, Titova V,et al.A phenotypic Caenorhabditis elegans screen identifies a selective suppressor of antipsychotic-induced hyperphagia.Nat Commun. 2018 Dec 10;9(1):5272. doi:10.1038/s41467-018-07684-y.Garrido-Mesa N, Zarzuelo A, Gálvez J.Minocycline: far beyond an antibiotic.Br J Pharmacol. 2013 May;169(2):337-52. doi:10.1111/bph.12139.
Prescribers' Digital Reference.Minocycline Hydrochloride.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Minocycline.
National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Label: Minocycline hydrochloride tablet, extended release.
National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus.Minocycline.
National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Drug-induced lupus erythematosus.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Full prescribing information: Solodyn (minocycline HCI) Extended Release Tablets for oral use.
Perez-Gomez A, Carretero M, Weber N, Peterka V, To A, Titova V,et al.A phenotypic Caenorhabditis elegans screen identifies a selective suppressor of antipsychotic-induced hyperphagia.Nat Commun. 2018 Dec 10;9(1):5272. doi:10.1038/s41467-018-07684-y.
Garrido-Mesa N, Zarzuelo A, Gálvez J.Minocycline: far beyond an antibiotic.Br J Pharmacol. 2013 May;169(2):337-52. doi:10.1111/bph.12139.
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