Minocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic that fights bacteria in the body.
Minocycline is used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, skin infections, severe acne, gonorrhea, tick fever, chlamydia, and others.
Minocycline may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information
Do not use minocycline if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby or cause permanent tooth discoloration later in life.
Minocycline can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while using this medicine.
Minocycline passes into breast milk and may affect bone and tooth development in a nursing baby. Do not take this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Children should not take this medication. Minocycline can cause permanent yellowing or graying of the teeth in children younger than 8 years old.
Do not take iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within 2 hours before or after taking minocycline. These products can make this medicine less effective.
Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date on the label has passed. Using expired minocycline can cause damage to your kidneys.
Before taking this medicine
You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to minocycline or to similar antibiotics such as demeclocycline, doxycycline, or tetracycline.
If you are using minocycline to treat gonorrhea, your doctor may test you to make sure you do not also have syphilis, another sexually transmitted disease.
To make sure minocycline is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
You should not use minocycline if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby or cause permanent tooth discoloration later in life. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment.
Minocycline can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while using minocycline.
Minocycline passes into breast milk and may affect bone and tooth development in a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are taking this medicine.
Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice. Minocycline can cause permanent yellowing or graying of the teeth in children younger than 8 years old.
How should I take minocycline?
Take minocycline exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
You may take minocycline with or without food.
Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow it whole.
Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics. Minocycline will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.
If you use this medicine long-term, you may need frequent medical tests.
This medicine can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using minocycline.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Throw away any minocycline not used before the expiration date on the medicine label. Using expired minocycline can cause damage to your kidneys.
Minocycline dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Acne:
Immediate-release formulations:
Initial dose: 50 to 100 mg orally twice a day for 3 to 6 weeks or until improvement occurs
Maintenance dose: 50 to 100 mg orally once a day
Extended-release tablets:
45 to 49 kg: 45 mg orally once a day
50 to 59 kg: 55 mg orally once a day
60 to 71 kg: 65 mg orally once a day
72 to 84 kg: 80 mg orally once a day
85 to 96 kg: 90 mg orally once a day
97 to 110 kg: 105 mg orally once a day
111 to 125 kg: 115 mg orally once a day
126 to 136 kg: 135 mg orally once a day
Duration: 12 weeks
Usual Adult Dose for Actinomycosis:
100 mg orally or IV every 12 hours
Duration: Initial parenteral therapy for 2 to 6 weeks, followed by oral therapy for a total duration of 6 to 12 months
Clinical response should be monitored by CT or MRI.
Usual Adult Dose for Bacterial Infection:
Oral: 200 mg initially followed by 100 mg orally every 12 hours; alternatively, 100 to 200 mg initially followed by 50 mg orally 4 times a day has been used
IV: 200 mg initially followed by 100 mg IV every 12 hours (maximum dose: 400 mg/24 hours)
Usual Adult Dose for Meningitis - Meningococcal:
Elimination of Neisseria meningitidis carrier state: 100 mg orally every 12 hours for 5 days
Rifampin, ciprofloxacin, or ceftriaxone are considered first-line agents.
Usual Adult Dose for Skin or Soft Tissue Infection:
Mycobacterium marinum: 100 mg orally or IV every 12 hours for at least 3 months
Vibrio vulnificus: 100 mg IV or orally every 12 hours plus cefotaxime 2 g IV every 8 hours or ceftazidime 1 to 2 g IV every 8 hours
Usual Adult Dose for Skin and Structure Infection:
Mycobacterium marinum: 100 mg orally or IV every 12 hours for at least 3 months
Vibrio vulnificus: 100 mg IV or orally every 12 hours plus cefotaxime 2 g IV every 8 hours or ceftazidime 1 to 2 g IV every 8 hours
Usual Pediatric Dose for Acne:
12 years or older:
Extended-release tablets:
45 to 49 kg: 45 mg orally once a day
50 to 59 kg: 55 mg orally once a day
60 to 71 kg: 65 mg orally once a day
72 to 84 kg: 80 mg orally once a day
85 to 96 kg: 90 mg orally once a day
97 to 110 kg: 105 mg orally once a day
111 to 125 kg: 115 mg orally once a day
126 to 136 kg: 135 mg orally once a day
Duration: 12 weeks
Usual Pediatric Dose for Bacterial Infection:
Above 8 years of age: 4 mg/kg orally or IV initially followed by 2 mg/kg every 12 hours
The usual adult dosage should not be exceeded.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include dizziness, nausea, or vomiting.
What should I avoid while taking minocycline?
This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Minocycline can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.
For 2 hours before or after you take minocycline, avoid taking antacids, laxatives, multivitamins, or supplements that contain calcium or iron. These other medicines can make it harder for your body to absorb minocycline.
Minocycline side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to minocycline: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
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kidney problems - little or no urinating; painful or difficult urination; swelling in your feet or ankles; feeling tired or short of breath;
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liver or pancreas problems - nausea, vomiting, upper stomach pain that may spread to your back, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
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increased pressure inside the skull - severe headaches, ringing in your ears, dizziness, vision problems, pain behind your eyes;
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signs of inflammation in your body - swollen glands, flu symptoms, easy bruising or bleeding, severe tingling or numbness, muscle weakness, chest pain, new or worsening cough with fever, trouble breathing; or
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severe skin reaction - fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Common minocycline side effects may include:
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nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite;
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dizziness, spinning sensation;
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headache;
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swollen tongue, cough, trouble swallowing;
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muscle or joint pain;
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rash; or
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discoloration of you skin or nails.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
What other drugs will affect minocycline?
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:
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isotretinoin;
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a penicillin antibiotic - amoxicillin, ampicillin, dicloxacillin, oxacillin, penicillin, ticarcillin, Amoxil, Moxatag, Augmentin, Principen, and others;
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a blood thinner - warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven; or
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ergot medicine - dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, methylergonovine.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with minocycline, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.
