Skin Therapy Letter: Canadian Edition
Skin Therapy Letter .ca
Comprehensive Treatment Information for Canadian Dermatologists
Skin Care Guide - Canadian Edition
Skin Therapy Letter STL Family Practice STL Pharmacist STL Pediatric About STL Subscribe Today Dermatology Dictionary Skin Care Network

 

Rosacea - Patient's guide

Isotretinoin - Side Effects That Need Medical Monitoring By Your Physician

Minocycline (Minocin®, Dynacin®, Vectrin®)

View the A-Detail™ on Accutane®.

Certain Isotretinoin (Accutane®) side-effects will not be as apparent to you and will need to be monitored by your doctor during your rosacea treatment. These include effects on your bones, lipids, liver, and pregnancy status.

Pregnancy:

  • This drug is teratogenic and causes fetal abnormalities.
  • YOU CANNOT RISK BECOMING PREGNANT. YOU MUST AVOID PREGNANCY 1 MONTH BEFORE, DURING, AND 1 MONTH AFTER USE OF THIS DRUG.
  • Pregnancy prevention programs are offered to ensure that you avoid getting pregnant. Talk to your doctor about this.

Bones:

  • Hyperostosis, osteophytes (bony spurs) may develop, but are usually of little consequence.
  • There is a possible risk that your bones will become thinner (osteoporosis). However, more work needs to be done, as studies have been inconclusive.
  • Premature closure of bony epiphyses can occur in children, which may reduce long bone growth.

Lipids:

  • Cholesterol/ triglyceride levels may increase: this must be followed by your doctor.
  • You may experience a short-term increase in cholesterol, though this is not thought to be very significant.
  • Pancreatitis is a risk if your triglycerides rise quickly and the level becomes high. This is very rare, however.

Liver:

  • May be mildly irritating to your liver. Blood tests occasionally show changes but they are usually of little consequence. It is rare to have to discontinue Accutane® because of liver abnormalities. Drug induced hepatitis has been reported

Neurologic:

  • A pseudotumor in the cerebrum can occur, which can cause increased brain fluid pressure, headaches, vomiting, and visual disturbances.
  • Depression and suicidal thoughts have been reported in some patients. Nobody knows for sure, though, if it was isotretinoin or other factors that caused these feelings.
  • You may experience Headaches

Muscloskeletal:

  • There is a risk of inflammation around joints, and tendonitis.
  • Aches and pains around joints, and lower back pain are common.
  • These symptoms do not produce permanent damage in the joints and often taking anti-inflammatory painkillers can give you relief.

Blood:

  • Your ability to produce white blood cells may be diminished (called leukopenia). However, this is rare.
Minocycline (Minocin®, Dynacin®, Vectrin®)

Close   |   Move

Click to view the entire Minocycline (Minocin®, Dynacin®, Vectrin®) presentation.
  • 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 ...

View the entire Minocycline (Minocin®, Dynacin®, Vectrin®) presentation.

All content ©2005-2012 SkinTherapyLetter Canadian Edition