One of the treatments at the disposal of doctors is a course of antibiotics. When the acne becomes severe enough that it appears topical treatments are not going to be enough, antibiotics such as minocycline are used.

The idea behind using antibiotics to treat acne is that they will help to reduce the bacteria in and around the hair follicles. These acne causing bacteria are at the heart of the continued existence of the acne and a course of antibiotics will hopefully result in a reduction of the inflammation.

One of the frequently used antibiotics is minocycline. A minocycline acne treatment has been long been used to treat pustular acne. Minocycline is a tetracycline derivative, tetracycline being a broad spectrum protein synthesis inhibiting antibiotic effective against bacterial infections. The reason that minocycline is a preferred antibiotic over tetracycline is that, although its effectiveness is reduced when someone eats food, the decrease is not nearly as pronounced as it is with tetracycline.

Minocyclides come in pill form and you must follow the doctor’s instructions on dosage closely. Some types of minocycline can be taken with food in the stomach while others must be taken on an empty stomach.

The problem with minocycline is that although it can effectively fight bacteria and has been found to be more superior than some other acne treatments, it comes with a plethora of downsides. The fact is, though, that minocycline for acne is no more effective than other tetracycline treatments and is not really worth the lousy feeling that you will inevitably get from using it.

When you start a course of antibiotics such as minocycline you’ve got to complete the entire dosage and the chances are, partway through you’re going to suffer the symptoms set out below. It could be difficult to continue taking drugs that are going to make you sick to your stomach.

Side Effects From Using Minocycline

There is quite a long list of cautions and warnings about taking minocycline for acne treatment. Firstly, there are side effects that people should be aware of.

A general upset stomach, dizziness, diarrhea, headache and vomiting are all linked to the drug. Patients also become increasingly sensitive to sunlight while taking it. The effectiveness of the oral contraceptive is also reduced by minocycline.

Prolonged use of the antibiotic can bring on more serious problems such as liver infections. There have been other reports of severe allergic reactions to taking minocycline with symptoms such as hives, rash, fever and breathing difficulties.