Minocycline
Minocycline is an oral antibiotic; a derivative of tetracycline that is commonly prescribed for moderate to severe cases of acne. It has both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Dermatologists often recommend minocycline when topical treatments fail to give results. Also, being an internal treatment, minocycline is often more practical than topical skin care products for the treatment of back and body acne.
While it has long been one of the most common prescription acne treatments, minocycline has come under fire recently due to the fact the two patients have died following its use. Studies indicate the drug may have been responsible for resipitory failure and pulmonary complications. More common side effects include indigestion, stomach irritation and dizziness, but these usually wear off after a short time. Skin pigmentation (such as purple blotches) may occur with chronic use, as well as discoloration of the teeth and gums. This is more common in younger age groups. Rashes are rare but can be very severe if they occur, and intracranial hypertension (symptoms include headaches and blurry vision) and hypersensitivity lupus (symptoms: joint pain) are also rare but likewise can be serious.
In terms of effectiveness, minocycline has been shown to reduce most serious cases of acne by about 60%, although it may take a few months for users to see significant results. Minocycline reduces the swelling of acne spots and kills the underlying bacteria, but does not target oil production or hormonal factors. For many users, the alternative drug doxycycline may be a preferable choice, since it has shown to be about equal in effectiveness, but is not linked to some of the more serious side effects of minocycline.
For best results, minocycline should be taken on an empty stomach. Food can reduce its absorption by 10%, with milk reducing it as much as 33%. Proper vitamin supplementation, such as taking 500mg daily of vitamin C, can also help prevent some of the skin-related side effects.
