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minocycline
Used for Acne, Bacterial Infection, Lower Respiratory Infection, Pneumonia, Skin Infection, Typhoid, Upper Respiratory Infection, Urinary Tract Infection
Used for Acne, Bacterial Infection, Lower Respiratory Infection, Pneumonia, Skin Infection, Typhoid, Upper Respiratory Infection, Urinary Tract Infection
Immediate-release minocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic used to treat many types of bacterial infections in adults and children 8 years and older. These include urinary tract infections (UTIs), sinus infections, and even severe acne. It comes as a tablet or capsule, and is usually taken by mouth every 12 hours. Common side effects include headache, tiredness, and dizziness.
What is Minocycline?
What is Minocycline used for?
- Respiratory tract infections
- Tick-borne and other insect-related infections, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever or typhus
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, chancroid, and syphilis
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Severe acne
- Certain eye infections, like trachoma or pink eye
- Certain skin infections
- Certain stomach or intestinal infections, such as listeria or brucellosis
- Other serious infections, including plague, anthrax, or cholera
How Minocycline works
Minocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. It stops bacteria from making the proteins they need to grow and multiply. This helps your immune system clear the infection.
For acne, minocycline lowers the amount of the P. acnes bacteria that naturally live on your skin. This helps reduce inflammation and can improve acne.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Minocin |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Tetracycline antibiotic |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Minocycline
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
Less Common Side Effects
- Itching
- Tooth discoloration
- Sun sensitivity
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Hair loss
- Muscle or joint pain
Minocycline serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Infectious diarrhea: watery diarrhea (often several times a day), bloody stools, stomach cramps and pain, fever, loss of appetite
- High pressure around the brain: headache, dizziness, blurred vision, vision changes, blind spots
- Severe allergic reaction: shortness of breath, hives, chest tightness, facial or throat swelling
- Severe skin reactions: rash, blisters, red skin, fever, swollen lymph nodes
When do Minocycline possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
H
D
W
M
Headache
Feeling tired
Dizziness
If a line continues to the right, you'll likely keep experiencing this side effect once it starts.
More on Minocycline side effects
The following Minocycline side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Black, tarry stools
blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
blood in the urine or stools
blurred or double vision
bulging soft spot on the head of an infant
chest pain, possibly moving to the left arm, neck, or shoulder
confusion
dizziness or lightheadedness
fast heartbeat
general feeling of discomfort or illness
general tiredness and weakness
joint or muscle pain
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
loss of appetite
nausea or vomiting
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
severe headache
severe stomach pain
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
troubled breathing
unusual bleeding or bruising
upper right abdominal or stomach pain
yellow eyes and skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
difficulty with moving
hearing loss
hives or welts
muscle stiffness
redness of the skin
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
Incidence not known
discoloration of the tooth
increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
indigestion
severe sunburn
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$30.33
GoodRx discount
$20.36
Pros and cons of Minocycline
Pros
- Can take with or without food
- Treats many different types of bacterial infections
- A good alternative if you're allergic to penicillin
- Taken twice a day
Cons
- Can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight
- Can stain children's teeth during tooth development
- Interacts with blood thinners and birth control pills
- Not safe in pregnancy or breastfeeding
Pharmacist tips for Minocycline
- You can take minocycline with or without food. Take it at the same times each day. Swallow the tablets and capsules whole without crushing or splitting them.
- Drink plenty of water with minocycline and stay sitting or standing for a while after taking it. This can help prevent throat irritation.
- Finish all of your minocycline, even if you start to feel better. Stopping early can cause your infection to come back and be harder to treat.
- When you first start minocycline, you might feel dizzy or lightheaded. Be careful driving or doing tasks that require focus until you know how it affects you.
- Diarrhea can happen while taking minocycline. In rare cases, you might have watery and bloody stools, even up to 2 months after stopping it. Call your prescriber right away if this happens.
- Minocycline can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Protect your skin and wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher when outdoors.
- Take minocycline at least 3 hours before or after antacids or supplements that contain magnesium, aluminum, iron, or calcium. These products can make the medication work less well.
- Minocycline can interact with blood thinners like warfarin. Tell your prescriber if you take a blood thinner so they can monitor you closely.
- Don't take minocycline during pregnancy because it can cause permanent tooth discoloration and slow bone growth in an unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, stop it and contact your prescriber right away.
- Tell your care team if you develop a rash while taking minocycline. A rash can be a sign of a serious reaction.
Risks and warnings for Minocycline
Minocycline can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Harm to unborn babies
Minocycline can harm an unborn baby, including causing problems with bone growth and permanent tooth discoloration. You shouldn't take this medication if you're pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
Minocycline can also make some birth control pills work less well. Use a backup birth control method while taking this medication. If you become pregnant during treatment, stop taking it and contact your prescriber right away.
Tooth discoloration
- Risk factors: Children 8 years and younger | Pregnancy | Long-term use or repeated use of minocycline
Tetracycline antibiotics like minocycline can affect teeth while they are still developing in young children. The teeth can turn a permanent yellow, gray, or brown color. In rare cases, the enamel might not form correctly, which can make the teeth weaker.
These tooth changes can also happen to an unborn baby if taken during pregnancy, especially in the second half. Tooth side effects are more common with long-term use, but they can also happen after several short courses.
Slow bone growth
- Risk factors: Children 8 years and younger | Pregnancy
Tetracycline antibiotics like minocycline can slow bone growth when used during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy or in children younger than 8 years old. This happens because the medication binds to calcium in growing bones.
Infectious diarrhea
- Risk factors: Use of multiple antibiotics | Long-term use of antibiotics | Older age | Recent hospital stay | People with weakened immune systems | Previous infection from or known exposure to C. diff
Antibiotics, including minocycline, can cause a serious infection called Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). This happens when antibiotics change the normal bacteria in your gut, allowing harmful C. diff bacteria to grow too much. Call your care team right away if you have watery diarrhea, fever, stomach pain or cramps, nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite. Tell your prescriber if you develop diarrhea during treatment or even up to 2 months after stopping the antibiotic.
Severe allergic and serious skin reactions
In rare cases, minocycline can cause serious and life-threatening allergic and skin reactions, including a condition called drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptom (DRESS). Stop taking it and get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing, facial swelling, fever, rash, or swollen lymph nodes.
Kidney and liver damage
- Risk factors: History of kidney or liver problems
In rare cases, minocycline can harm your kidneys, especially if you already have kidney problems. It can also cause liver damage, which can lead to liver failure. Contact your prescriber right away if you notice dark urine, changes in how much you urinate, stomach pain, or yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
Brain and nerve effects
Minocycline can cause you to feel lightheaded, dizzy, or like the room is spinning (vertigo). If this happens, don't drive or use heavy machinery until you know how this medication affects you. These symptoms might improve while you're taking it and usually go away after you stop the medication.
High pressure in the brain
- Risk factors: Women of childbearing age who are overweight | History of high pressure in the brain | Also taking isotretinoin
Tetracycline antibiotics, including minocycline, have been linked to a rare condition called intracranial hypertension. This is when pressure builds up around your brain. Symptoms can include headache, blurry vision, double vision, or vision loss. Women of childbearing age who are overweight or who have had this condition before have a higher risk. Taking isotretinoin with minocycline can raise this risk and should be avoided.
This condition usually improves after stopping the medication, but permanent vision loss is possible. Tell your prescriber right away if you notice vision changes. You might need an eye exam, and your care team will monitor you for several weeks after stopping the medication.
Autoimmune problems
- Risk factors: Taking minocycline long-term
Taking tetracycline antibiotics like minocycline might be linked to rare autoimmune problems, especially with long-term use. Symptoms can include fever, rash, joint pain, and feeling very tired. If you notice these symptoms after taking the medication for a while, stop it and check in with your prescriber.
Sun sensitivity
Some people taking minocycline can become sensitive to the sun. This means your skin may burn more easily in the sun and you might get a stronger sunburn than usual. To protect yourself, limit direct sunlight, avoid tanning beds, wear protective clothing like a wide-brimmed hat, and use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher when outdoors.
Darkening of body tissues
Minocycline can cause your skin and nails to become darker. This can happen even if you haven't been taking it for very long. It can also affect other areas, such as your eyes, inside your mouth, or even some internal organs.
These color changes are usually not harmful. But if you notice them, contact your prescriber to make sure they aren't a sign of another condition.
New infection
- Risk factors: Taking minocycline long-term
Taking minocycline for a long time can sometimes lead to a new infection caused by bacteria or fungi that this medication can't treat. Don't take minocycline longer than your prescriber recommends. Tell your prescriber if you notice signs of a new infection or if your original symptoms don't improve.
Minocycline dosage
The average cost for 30 capsules of 100mg of Minocycline is $20.36 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 32.87% off the average retail price of $30.33.
Typical dosage for Minocycline
-
Adults: Your dose will depend on the reason why you're taking minocycline.
- For most infections, the typical dose is 200 mg by mouth once, then 100 mg by mouth every 12 hours.
- Another dosing option is 100 mg or 200 mg by mouth once, then 50 mg by mouth 4 times a day.
-
Children over 8 years old: Your child's prescriber will calculate their dose based on their weight. The typical dose is 4 mg/kg (up to 200 mg per dose) by mouth once, then 2 mg/kg (up to 100 mg per dose) by mouth every 12 hours.
Minocycline is also available as an intravenous (IV) injection that's given by a healthcare professional.
Interactions between Minocycline and other drugs
Minocycline may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Minocycline. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Amoxicillin
- Ampicillin
- Atazanavir
- Bacampicillin
- Bexarotene
- Cholera Vaccine, Live
- Cloxacillin
- Desogestrel
- Dicloxacillin
- Dienogest
- Digoxin
- Drospirenone
- Estradiol
- Ethinyl Estradiol
- Ethynodiol
- Etretinate
- Gestodene
- Isotretinoin
- Levonorgestrel
- Mestranol
- Methicillin
- Methoxyflurane
- Nafcillin
- Nomegestrol
- Norethindrone
- Norgestimate
- Norgestrel
- Oxacillin
- Penicillin G
- Penicillin G Benzathine
- Penicillin G Procaine
- Penicillin V
- Piperacillin
- Pivampicillin
- Porfimer
- Sultamicillin
- Temocillin
- Tretinoin
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Aluminum Carbonate, Basic
- Aluminum Hydroxide
- Aluminum Phosphate
- Aminolevulinic Acid
- Calcium
- Dihydroxyaluminum Aminoacetate
- Dihydroxyaluminum Sodium Carbonate
- Iron
- Magaldrate
- Magnesium Carbonate
- Magnesium Hydroxide
- Magnesium Oxide
- Magnesium Trisilicate
- Vitamin A
How much does Minocycline cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Minocycline (generic)
$20.36
Minocycline contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Minocycline will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergy to tetracycline antibiotics
What are alternatives to Minocycline?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Minocycline. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
Used for:
Doxycycline hyclate is used to prevent malaria due to the parasite Plasmodium falciparum and to treat many different infections caused by bacteria. Some examples include:
$10.14View prices
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Minocycline images
