Solodyn (minocycline) is a tetracycline antibiotic supplied as an extended release tablet.
Solodyn is a prescription medicine used to treat pimples and red bumps (non-nodular inflammatory lesions) that happen with moderate to severe acne vulgaris in people 12 years and older.
Solodyn is not effective for acne that is not red-looking (this means acne that is not inflammatory).
Important information
Do not use Solodyn if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby or cause permanent tooth discoloration later in life.
Solodyn 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 Solodyn.
Minocycline passes into breast milk and may affect bone and tooth development in a nursing baby. Do not take Solodyn 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.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Solodyn can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.
Do not take iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within 2 hours before or after taking Solodyn. 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 Solodyn if you are allergic to minocycline or to other tetracycline antibiotics such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin), or tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap).
To make sure you can safely take Solodyn, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
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liver disease;
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kidney disease;
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asthma or sulfite allergy; or
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if you are also using a penicillin antibiotic such as amoxicillin (Amoxil, Augmentin, Dispermox, Moxatag), ampicillin (Principen, Unasyn), dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen), oxacillin (Bactocill), or penicillin (Bicillin L-A, PC Pen VK, Pfizerpen).
FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use Solodyn 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.
See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)
Solodyn 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 Solodyn.
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 Solodyn. Children should not use this medicine. Minocycline can cause permanent yellowing or graying of the teeth in children younger than 8 years old.
How should I take Solodyn?
Take Solodyn extended release tablets exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Take the extended release tablet with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
Solodyn may be taken with or without food. Taking this medicine with food may lower your chances of getting irritation or ulcers in your esophagus. Your esophagus is the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach.
Swallow the extended release tablets whole. Do not chew, crush, or split the tablets.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using Solodyn. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Minocycline can cause false results with certain urine tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medication.
Store this medicine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Throw away any unused Solodyn when it expires or when it is no longer needed. Do not take this medicine after the expiration date printed on the label. Using expired minocycline can cause damage to your kidneys.
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 nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What should I avoid?
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, stop taking Solodyn and call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Solodyn can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.
Do not take iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, antacids, or laxatives within 2 hours before or after taking Solodyn.
Minocycline may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
Solodyn side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Solodyn: 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 Solodyn 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 Solodyn?
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.
