eMedExpert Home > Products Advertisement

• Generic name : Minocycline
• Brand names: Dynacin®, Minocin®, Vectrin®
• Legal status: Prescription only, RX
• Pregnancy Category: D

Minocycline (Minocin®) is a prescription tetracycline antibiotic with anti-inflammatory properties. The most common indications for prescribing minocycline are inflammatory acne vulgaris and rosacea.

Minocycline is one of the most effective antibiotics for acne treatment. It is usually prescribed for moderate to severe acne vulgaris, including cystic and pustular acne.

Minocycline is highly active in the pilosebaceous complex. It kills the acne bacteria and has a separate anti-inflammatory effect. It reduces the redness, swelling and tenderness of pimples whether it kills the acne bacteria or not.

Minocycline has several advantages over other tetracyclines 4-5, including more rapid and sustained improvement in acne and high absorption regardless of food.

The majority of strains of P. acnes are sensitive to minocycline. The percentage of P. acnes resistant strains are still inferior to 5% 2. It is extremely important becuase of increasing rate of P. acnes resistance to other antibiotics.

Minocycline dosage for acne: 50 mg 1 to 3 times per day.

Note: Minocycline is no longer considered the first-line treatment for acne due to safety concerns (see Precautions). It makes sense to buy minocycline for people with deep, swollen blemishes or with more than 10 blemishes on one part of the face.

Rosacea is a common inflammatory condition of the skin on the face that causes redness that looks like a flush or blush. It is sometimes called acne rosacea, which is misleading because rosacea and acne are two totally different conditions.

Minocycline reduces the redness, papules, pustules and eye symptoms of rosacea.

Minocycline dosage for rosacea: 50 to 100 mg twice per day. It is usually prescribed for 6 to 12 weeks.

• Hypersensitivity to minocycline, other tetracyclines, or any component in the preparation.
• Severe renal insufficiency.
• Children <8 years of age.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding.

Hyperpigmentation: Minocycline may cause brown or blue-grey hyperpigmentation, which is a granular pigment deposition within the dermis. Steroid use, advanced age, cumulative minocycline dosage, and possibly the brand of minocycline may be predisposing risk factors for developing hyperpigmentation 3.

Increased BUN: may increase BUN secondary to antianabolic action.

Pseudotumor cerebri (benign intracranial hypertension): has been reported, usually manifested as pulsatile headache and blurred vision.

Hepatotoxicity: use with caution in patients with hepatic function impairment and in conjunction with hepatotoxic drugs.

Hypersensitivity: rash, eosinophilia, anaphylaxis, exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus, transient lupus-like syndrome, and serum sickness-like reaction have been reported.

Common adverse reactions: dizziness, vertigo, lightheadedness, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and discoloration of teeth in children.

• 1. Lacy CF, Armstrong LL, Goldman MP, Lance LL. Drug Information Handbook, 18th ed. Hudson, Ohio, Lexi-Comp, Inc.; 2010: 999-1001.
• 2. Maffeis L, Veraldi S. Minocycline in the treatment of acne: latest findings. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2010 Jun;145(3):425-9.
• 3. Messner EJ, Finger DR, Crowe MA, Royer MC. Minocycline hyperpigmentation. J Clin Rheumatol. 1999 Oct;5(5):273-8.
• 4. Hubbell CG, Hobbs ER, Rist T, et al. Arch Dermatol 1982 Dec;118(12):989-92.
• 5. Garner SE, Eady EA, Popescu C, Newton J, Li WA. Minocycline for acne vulgaris: efficacy and safety. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;(1):CD002086. PubMed

Last updated: May 02, 2012