About 1 yr ago I was put on Minocycline by my Dermatologist for mild acne. I took it every day for about 4 months and it did help with my acne BUT..... I then started having severe instances of dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, and nausea. It got so bad I had to pull off the side of the road one day because i was to dizzy to drive. My primary physician did not know what was wrong with thought maybe I was pregnant (I was 28 at the time). I was not pregnant so he sent me to a neurologist. I had to have an MRI (which was normal) so the neurologist said he believed the minocycline was causing me to produce an increased amount of spinal fluid!! I had to have a SPINAL TAP and when they saw how high my spinal fluid pressure was i had to have some drained. It was scary and painful but the symptoms went away almost right away. I believe this med is dangerous if taken for an extended period. BE AWARE of what your body is telling you!!! I can no longer take any tetracyclines.

The first time I took this medication I had large pimples and I took it for a year straight. Then I tried it again the next time my skin broke out a year or more later for one or two months. I always have good and fast results. I am on my 4th and 5th year and my third try. Its been the only thing for me that has ever worked. I have also noticed excellent heath during my periods on it - no type of infections at all but will hopefully only take it for 2-3 months.

I haven't been on minocycline long so it hasn't started to work yet. I think you have to wait 6-8 weeks before you can actually see a difference. My friend has been taking it for a few months though and her face is clear. I'm just going to have to be patient...

I really like this medication. I think it has helped more than any other oral antibiotic, and I have been on MANY.

I am so glad I have found this page, and I dont even no how I really came across it, I have had a continuing problem with my skin for a couple of years now, and lately I have been spending most evenings on the net trying to search for things/medications that may help! I feel like ive been to hell and back with my skin haha, exeactly a year and a half ago now, I went to see a doctor who prescribed me with minocycline, I was on it for about 2 weeks,saw a little improvement, then reasearched on the net and thought it sounded a little serious so went off it. I then went to a Naturopath, and was put on alot of drop and herbal tablets etc, if your into all that, but i was willing to give it a go. I was doing all this for 5 months, and got fed up in the end, i wasnt seeing the results I wanted and it was more of a cleansing process which was going to take time, and I was getting impatient. I then consulted the doctor again, and was put on a strong dose of doxycyclin for 3 weeks, this controlled my breakouts but i still had bad scarring. I was then dropped back to a lesser dose of DXC. and was on this for 5 months, my skin platoed, and didnt change, wasnt getting worse but wasnt gettin better. So back to the doctor I went, going insane at this stage, and my social life starting to go down the drain, due to being to imbarrassred to leave the house. GP then put me on Erythromycin and was prescribed to be on this for 6 weeks, I had extreme abdomonal pain from this, and it broke my skin out something shocken, having boils all around my mouth area, very painful my whole face was swallen, this could just have affected me, but I do not recommend any one to use this, has anyone had any problems with this also? I actually went back to the doctors today, and they have put me on minocycline, they seem to think this will work I am also combining it with a cream, adapalene, and hope this works, I am booked for a skin speacalist in march as next step is Accutane, does anyone hve any positive feedback for me, or warnings, same situations etc?? Would love to hear from you. please email tpatt6@hotmail.com, thanks:)

Ugh! I have to give only 1 star because I was VERY allergic to this medication. After only ONE pill, I developed huge lumps under the skin around both elbows (outside, not inside). Well, they continued to grow and I started to get them on my knees too. Went to the ER and guess what! I was allergic to that med! The doctor said it was good I didn't take more than 1 because I would have been in serious trouble! I had hoped this stuff would work for my acne but I now know to stay far away from it! I have never had an allergic reaction that bad....I'm not too sensitive to most things!

I took Minocycline for one month as directed by my dermatologist. In a few weeks, my acne cleared up, and I had no acne coming out. For six full months I had no acne except before my period I got very mild acne that would go away very quickly. After six months, my acne came back worse than ever. I was having real big inflamed whiteheads daily that would leave my face scared. My dermatologist then put me on Doxycycline for two months and the next time again for 3 months. Doxy didn't do much for my acne, and now my acne came back worse than the last time along my jawline. I have acne coming out daily. On my last visit to ANOTHER dermatologist for another opinion--he only recommended Minocycline for 6 months. He had NO other recommendations just because it worked for me for only six months. I was very doubtful, and I am so doubtful about this antibiotic. The things I have noticed from taking antibiotics is that the acne become worse each time. I can't take antibiotics forever, I can't make my face produce bad acne each time. I am glad I found this page, it's ridiculous, and take my advice--antibioticis usually don't work, and your acne can get worse, so if you ever consider it. Do NOT use it long term, and see the results from one time first, and if you notice the acne come back, just know that for sure that NO other antibiotics are going to cure it or make it better. It's not worth the ugly acnes. I am going to pray to the Lord for a healing miracle. I have exhausted all medications. I don't want 6 months of antibiotic use. It's ridiculous and doctors are abusing this. Turn to the Lord for healing. Forget medications if your acne returns later. It's not for you.

Started with Minocyclin 100% results, became immune after 12 months approx, switched to Doxycline - 100% results, became immune to it after 6 months or so, switched back to Minocycline 100% results now becomming immune also (12 months). Side effects from D was the throat thing (felt constricted) and side effects the 2nd time around from M has been discharge (not itchy but yuk!), visual disturbances occasionally, not so sharp mentally :( I read the brochures, was aware of possible side effects and enjoyed 3 years of great skin....now I want/NEED to have a break and give my body time to heal - then I'll go again and I really hope I'm not still immune. Vain - yes, Happy - yes, if it works again...

I've been on it for two weeks and my acne has gotten worse, I know it takes time, but does it get worse before it gets better? Email me: twofeatherinc@hotmail.com Thanks.

I have had persistent mild/moderate acne for four years, I finally saw a derm and was prescribed three meds,one is minocycline, the other two are differin and plexion TS. I take 100mg. twice a day, in capsule form. I have been on it for almost two and a half months, and have yet to see any side-effects. I really dont have anymore breakouts, my chief acne dilemma is now dealing with the red amrks from old pimples. I imagine using this for over a year would create problems with the good bacteria in the intestinal tract, but it's a really good drug for moderate acne. For mild acne, try tetracycline, its more gentle. The main drawback is cost, this drug is really expensive, thankfully I have insurance.

I've only been on this medication for a week, and I've seen no improvement so far. I decided to research the drug today to learn about effectiveness, and I'm now pretty worried about what this will do to me. I think that its important not to take this medication for a long period of time since thats when most people seem to have problems. My docter really didn't say anything about dangerous side effects, so I'm definently going to ask about them next time. Luckily, I've had no problems myself so far, not even headaches or dizziness

When it comes to antibiotics for acne, Minocin is a very good option. I broke out pretty badly after having chemical peels, and Minocin cleared me up quickly. I had tried tetracycline before, but it didn't clear up my acne at all.

I have been taking minocyline for about 6 weeks now. Reading the opinions, I have to agree with NorCal it seems that the ones that have complaints were not properly informed or monitored on this medication.

After reading the ratings on this particular drug,I tend to agree with alot of what was said. I have taken minocycline for 3 months. I stopped taking it 2 weeks ago today(5/22/03) and I still have the following side affects. Itching in the vaginal and rectal area, darkend gums/inside of my mouth,damaged hair(overly dry)clumsiness and dizziness. It is getting better but the oiliness of the skin on my face has returned! If not for the side effects this medication would have worked greatly. But now I worry about any possible internal damage that may arise as a result of this drug. I have had oily skin/acne for what seems like all of my 42 years and I was excited at the prospect of finding something that worked. But after dealing with these side effects, I think I need to find something else. I will continue to use the differin cream on its own.

I have been on Minocycline for less than a month now, and seem to be doing fine. Reading some of the comments made me think that maybe people were not informed about the drug properly. And taking it for several years will obviously cause build up of the drug in the body, causing the discoloration. Please, before taking this antibiotic, get all the facts from your doctor and do your own research, because I was informed of all this before I started to take it, and know not to take it for so long.

I was on this medication in cojuction with Retin-A. I read alot about this product before I started taking it so I knew that people had a tendancy to become immune to it and have their face break out even worse once the stopped taking it. It did amazing things for me!!! For the first month, I took one pill at bedtime. Then for the second month, I started taking the pill 5 days a week instead of 7. Then for the third month I took it every third day until the bottle was done. I have been off it for about 4 months now and my face still looks amazing! Normally I would never advise going against a doctor's instructions, but I think that gradually weaning your body off it instead of abruptly stopping taking it is much better for your system. This med is very expensive, luckily in Canada we get it for free though.

I used minocycline for about 2 years, and did notice a small improvement. However, when I got off of the medicine my acne became severe when before I had only two or three pimples. I also suffered from severe facial flushing my doctor said was from the minocycline. When a blood test showed that my liver was functioning abnormally, I was furious. Drug-induced lupus-the cause-minocycline.

I have been on minocycline for five years and have developed many complications. My liver function tests came back abnormal and my cpk level came back abnormal...basically I had developped drug induced lupus. However, once you stop the antibiotic everything goes back to normal. Never again will I ever touch any medicine for long periods of time. Moderation of everything is the key. Now, I am rebuilding my immune system. I would love to sue the makers of this drug.

I have seen incredible results from using Minocycline, along with Retin-A micro. After using the combination of those products, my skin became totally clear after about 3 months or so. I never have a pimple anymore & I had been having deep acne lesions that were leaving marks, etc.

Been using it for a little less than 3 weeks, and its working pretty well. My pimples are almost cleared up. I'm using this in conjunction with Adapalene cream though. No side effects so far. And Lisam, what were you thinking, using Minocycline for 5 years?

I was on minocycline for about 6-8 months. During this period, i was having lot of vision problems, even though my skin had cleared up. Only one day, when i read about the possible side effects of this drug did i find one was "blurred vision". As soon as I stopped taking this drug, my acne returned and more severe than ever.

I have been on minocycline for about 5 years and it has been actually been working pretty good. However, my dentist recently noticed that the roof of my mount was black and blue, and he didn't know what it was. shortly after that, my fiance noticed that my gums were also blue. i went to four doctors who didn't have a clue what the discoloration was from until the last doctor referred me to someone who specialized in mouths. he knew what it was right away. it was the minocycline. he even showed me a book that said that minocycline can turn a person's bones black! the reason it was showing up in my mouth was because a person's gums are naturally clear, so you can see through them. then i did some research on my own and found sites that said that minocycline can turn bones black, although it is rare. well, i guess i was the rare case. maybe you just need to be on it for a long time in order for it to show up. i just wanted to warn everyone out there who is considering trying minocycling to be aware that it can do this. and it is irreversible. my mouth will be blue for the rest of my life because of minocycline.

Worked at first but didnt really do a great deal in the long term. (think i became immune to them!)

This didnot work for me at all after using it for 2 months. NOt only that, but I had muscle weakness which still hasn't gone away not that i'm off minocycline for a week. This product either works really well or not at all (like in my case). It usually takes 2 months for best results to be seen so be patient. Its the last resort before accutane.

I am 16, and have been on Minocycline for 2 months now, and I haven't seen that much of a difference. I am going to start taking Accutane tomorrow, because I am not satisfied with the results of Minocycline.

I have been on this medication for about 6 months. I have noticed little to no change in overall blemishes. Also, I am somewhat worried that I am going to develop (or already have developed) resistant strains of bacteria.

This prescription did nothing for my acne. In fact, it even mad me dizzy and I had to stop taking it.

I used this for 6 months due to facial blemishes as well as blemishes on my back, and in 6 months, I was taken off of the medication because it had cleared up enough, ususally though, this has to be taken with some sort a contact cream.