Skin Health Acne Treatment Treating Acne With Oral Minocycline Antibiotic can clear up blemishes, inflammation By Angela Palmer Angela Palmer Facebook Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 07, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Leah Ansell, MD Medically reviewed by Leah Ansell, MD LinkedIn Leah Ansell, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Benefits What to Expect Contraindications Dosage Side Effects Minocycline is an oral antibiotic that is commonly prescribed for acne. It belongs to a group of antibiotics called tetracyclines. The acne treatments doxycycline and tetracycline also belong to this group. Minocycline is the most expensive of the three, but it can be effective against acne when other oral antibiotics have failed. Minocycline is also sold as: MinocinDynacinVectrinSolodyn (extended-release) Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin. Benefits Minocycline has been used for decades and is especially effective against inflammatory acne. However, it's rarely used alone—it's nearly always prescribed along with a topical acne medication. The combination usually leads to better results than just minocycline. Minocycline works to treat acne in two ways. First, it stops the growth of bacteria that cause acne breakouts. Second, it reduces inflammation. If you have red, inflamed pimples, this is good news. On the other hand, minocycline won't do much for blackheads and other non-inflamed blemishes. Topical retinoids are a better choice for those. Other Oral Antibiotics for Acne Minocycline isn't the only oral antibiotic used to treat acne. Other options are: Clindamycin Doxycycline Erythromycin Tetracycline What to Expect Minocycline comes in a capsule, or, as the brand Solodyn, 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. 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. Be sure you follow the instructions from your healthcare provider precisely and don't take more or less of the drug than is prescribed. For the first few days you take minocycline capsules (not extended-release tablets), it's important that you begin with a single daily dose—usually recommended at bedtime—and work up to the full prescribed amount. You may experience some side effects, including: DizzinessHeadaches However, for most people, these symptoms are gone by morning. Your healthcare provider and pharmacist should offer you guidance as to when to start taking additional daily doses. Treatment Tips for Acne in Skin of Color How Quickly It May Work It can take between six and eight weeks for the medication to have a noticeable effect on your acne, so be patient. If you're also using a topical acne treatment, you may start seeing results from that before the minocycline is in full effect. Because it can take two months to have any impact, expect your healthcare provider to keep you on the minocycline for at least three months to gauge its full effectiveness. Contraindications Minocycline shouldn't be used if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, so let your healthcare provider know if either of these applies to you. Kids under 8 years old shouldn't use minocycline because of a risk of permanent tooth discoloration. Some sources recommend waiting until after age 10 or even age 12. Talk to your healthcare provider to find out what's right in your case (or your child's). Why Your Acne Treatment Might Not Be Working Drug Interactions Minocycline can interact negatively with several classes of drugs. This may impact whether you can take certain drugs, including minocycline, or require a dosage adjustment to be safe. Potentially problematic drug classes include: Low-dose oral contraceptives (birth control pills): Minocycline may lower the effectiveness of these medications, which could lead to breakthrough bleeding or unwanted pregnancy. An additional form of birth control is recommended while you take minocycline. Anticoagulants: The dosage of these blood thinners may need to be lowered while taking minocycline. Examples of anticoagulants are Coumadin (warfarin), Xarelto (rivaroxaban), and Eliquis (apixaban). Penicillin: Minocycline may interfere with these antibiotics' function, so combining them is not advised. Examples of penicillin drugs are amoxicillin, ampicillin, oxacillin. Methoxyflurane: Combining this inhaled anesthetic with minocycline can lead to fatal kidney toxicity. The brand name is Penthrane. Other tetracyclines: Taking minocyclines with other drugs in its class may also lead to severe kidney toxicity. Absorption of minocycline can be impaired by certain metals or nutrients that are used medicinally. Let your healthcare provider know if you regularly take: Antacids, which may contain aluminum, calcium, or magnesium Calcium supplements Magnesium supplements Iron supplements Your healthcare provider should always have a complete list of all drugs—including prescription and over-the-counter—and supplements that you take. Dosage A common starting dosage is 50 to 100 milligrams (mg), one or two times a day. You'll slowly taper off minocycline treatment once acne is under control. At this point, acne can often be kept in check by topical treatments alone. Sometimes, though, oral antibiotics have to be taken long-term to keep acne from returning. 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.Don't lie down immediately after taking minocycline, as it can irritate the esophagus and lead to pain.Give it time. It won't happen instantly, but gradually you'll notice less redness and fewer breakouts. Side Effects Side effects can happen, although for most people they aren't too uncomfortable. Just make sure to check in with your healthcare provider if you notice any. Some of the more common side effects are: Nausea and vomitingDiarrheaDizziness Bluish discoloration of the gums, mouth, skin, nails, tears, and urine can also happen with minocycline use. It generally occurs only with long-term use and it is reversible. Tooth discoloration (again, of bluish nature) is also possible. While it's extremely unusual, the discoloration can be permanent. Less common side effects include: Itching of the vagina or rectumTinnitus (ringing of the ears)Hair lossDry mouthSwollen tongueSore throatInflammation in the tip of the penisMuscle painMood changesNumbness, tingling, or prickling sensations If any of those side effects are persistent or become severe, let your healthcare provider know. They may take you off the medication, depending on the nature and severity of the side effects. Drug-Induced Lupus Very rarely, taking minocycline long-term can cause drug-induced lupus. Again, this is very rare and it usually goes away within weeks after stopping treatment. When to See a Healthcare Provider Minocycline can cause some serious side effects, but they're less common. Call your healthcare provider or get medical attention immediately if you have: Blurry, double, or loss of visionRash, hives, or blistering/peeling skinSwelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, and eyesProblems breathing or swallowingYellowing eyes or skin with nausea, vomiting, or confusionBloody urineWatery or bloody stools with stomach cramps or fever (up to two months after stopping treatment)Joint pain or inflammationSwollen lymph nodesUnusual bleeding or bruisingSeizuresChest pain or irregular heartbeat If any of these occur, your healthcare provider will likely take you off of minocycline. How to Deal With the Emotional Impact of Acne Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with acne can be frustrating. Our free guide provides expert tips to help you take control. Sign up and get yours today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Minocycline. National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus. Minocycline. National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: DailyMed. Label: Minocycline hydrochloride tablet, extended release. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Full prescribing information: Solodyn (minocycline HCI) Extended Release Tablets for oral use. National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Drug-induced lupus erythematosus.