Minocycline For Acne
Minocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic that is commonly used in the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris. Although it is more convenient for patients to take than first-generation tetracyclines, as it only needs to be taken once or twice a day and can be taken with food, it is more expensive. Concerns have also been expressed over its safety following the deaths of two patients taking the drug.
How Does Minocycline for Acne Compare to Other Antibiotics?
Minocycline has proven valuable for the treatment of acne because it usually responds better than other antibiotics used to treat the condition. It also tends to be easier to take and generally has fewer side effects than other antibiotics. It is, however, typically more expensive than other antibiotics.
Minocycline is widely used, and serious reactions are rare. However, its unusual propensity for causing immunologically mediated reactions may make it less safe than other tetracyclines, and this should be taken into account when treating essentially benign conditions such as acne. It is also very expensive, as Gough et al point out
Minocycline is a tetracycline derivative that has been used effectively for decades as a treatment for acne. It is especially useful for pustular type acne. While the absorption of minocycline is decreased with food, it is not as significant as the decrease seen with tetracycline. The usual starting dose is 50 to 100 mg twice a day. Major side effects of minocycline include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, skin pigmentation changes, and tooth discoloration.
Side Effects of Minocycline
Despite the benefits, a debate continues among dermatologists on the benefits and real dangers of minocycline since this medication does in fact have few but nevertheless rather serious side effects. For example, pseudotumor cerebri: an aggregation of fluid surrounding the brain which progressively causes more serious headaches as well as vision related problems. Another side effect to take note of is hypersensitivity lupus/hepatitis: this causes skin rash and swollen painful joints.
Rashes are uncommon but when they are seen, such as with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, they can be severe. Benign intracranial hypertension is only seen rarely, symptoms include headaches and blurry vision. However, you can get headaches without developing this complication. Suppression of bone marrow and kidney toxicity is very rare.
