Doxycycline

Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic, which is used to treat acne. It is the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects that are important, if your inflamed pimples do not respond well to topical acne antibiotics, or if you have acne on many areas of your body, antibiotics in pill form can be more effective, easier to take, and more convenient.

How Do I Use This Medication?

This can be taken with food, it is easily absorbed, but you should not take it with antacids, calcium, iron, or magnesium. You should not take this drug during pregnancy and you should avoid taking it while breast feeding.

How Well Does It Work?

In acne you will see about a 15-25% improvement in the number of inflamed pimples each month, it works much faster for rosacea.

How Does It Work?

This is bacteriostatic, that is, it inhibits the growth of bacteria. It has a broad spectrum, and is effective for retarding the growth of several different strains. It is part of the tetracycline family, and is used for syphilis, gonorrhea, Lyme’s disease, and to prevent malaria.

Will There Be Side Effects?

This antibiotic will make your skin sensitive to the sun so that it will sunburn more easily, you will need to use sun protection. You may experience gastrointestinal (GI) upsets such as indigestion and diarrhea.

Candidiasis, such as a vaginal yeast infection, is more common, as is an increase in yeast infections of the mouth. You should not use doxycycline for children under the age of 12, because there is a risk of staining their teeth.

Can I Take Other Medications?

Avoid cholestyramine, as this will reduce the absorption of doxycycline in the gastrointestinal tract and therefore make it less effective. Taking doxycycline may reduce the blood levels phenytoin and barbiturates.

Which Brands Are Available?

Minocycline (Minocin®, Dynacin®, Vectrin®)

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INTRODUCTION
Minocycline inhibits the growth of Propionibacterium acnes. Anti-inflammatory actions. Drug Class: Antibiotic, Anti-inflammatory-long acting tetracycline... | Read more ...

CLININCAL EXPERIENCE
Oral antibiotics have had a significant role in the treatment of inflammatory disease such as acne, rosacea, perioral dermatitis and others. Tetracycline has long been the first line antibiotic for acneform eruptions because of its efficacy and affordability although in inconvenience of divides doses on an empty stomach has compromised compliance in some. P. acnes resistance to Tetracycline and Erythromycin has meant looking elsewhere for an alternative antibiotic. Bacterial resistance to Minocycline has been much slower to develop... | Read more ...

INDICATIONS
Labeled Indications: Dermatologic Dermatologic: Acne vulgaris, Inflammatory acne, Anthrax, Chancroid, Granuloma inguinale, Lymphogranuloma venerum, Skin and soft tissue infections , Syphilis, Yaws... | Read more ...

PATIENT PROFILE
Any inflammatory acne or rosacea patient who is not likely to respond to topical therapy alone. If scarring present or nodulocystic acne a more aggressive approach may be necessary... | Read more ...

DOSING
Capsules: Minocycline 50 and 100mg (Minocin* Dynacin*) Suspension: Minocycline 50mg (Minocin* Dynacin*) Parenteral: Minocycline 100mg (Minocin IV*) ... | Read more ...

EFFICACY
Improvement in inflammatory lesion in acne is about a 20% reduction a month. It may take 1-2 months to see initial benefit. After 6 months there is an approximate 60-70% improvement in inflammatory acne counts. Studies over the last 20 years have shown that tetracycline, erythromycin, doxycycline and minocycline have about the same efficacy in acne... | Read more ...

COMPLIANCE
All tetracyclines are broad-spectrum bacteriostatic agents. They are well absorbed, although oxytetracycline and tetracycline should not be taken with food. Minocycline as well as Doxycycline are absorbed almost as well on an empty as full stomach... | Read more ...

SIDE EFFECTS, SAFETY AND RISKS
Discard outdated tetracyclines as degradation products may be toxic. Not recommended in pregnancy and in children under 8 years of age as permanent enamel hyperplasia, discoloration of teeth, and inhibition of fetal skeletal growth may occur... | Read more ...

COST OF TREATMENT
Cost of treatment of 1 month of standard dose for acne: Minocycline 100 mg daily for 1 month $42. Tetracycline 1gm daily for 1 month ... | Read more ...