Minocycline
Description
Minocycline is an antibiotic medicine containing Minocycline. It is used to treat various bacterial infections occurring in different areas of the body such as lungs, ears, throat, reproductive organs, skin, urinary tract, etc.
Minocycline may also be used as a preventive treatment for meningitis (swelling of the protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord). It works by preventing the growth of bacteria.
Minocycline may cause side effects like diarrhoea, loss of appetite, dry mouth, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Inform your doctor if the side effects become severe or persist for a long time. The oral form of Minocycline is not recommended for use in children below 12 years of age.
Minocycline is a prescription medicine available as a tablet, tablet ER, capsule and injection. The dose and duration of treatment will be decided by your doctor based on the severity of the infection and other underlying conditions. The oral form of Minocycline can be taken 30 minutes before food to avoid food interactions. The injectables will be administered by your doctor in a hospital setting. Avoid taking an antibiotic without your doctor's recommendation, as it can make the medicine less effective for future infections.
Minocycline is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. If you have kidney, liver, or heart problems, you should consult your doctor before taking Minocycline. Inform your doctor about all the other medications you are taking, as there are chances that any of these medicines may interact with Minocycline and cause severe side effects. Also, inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, before using Minocycline.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Minocycline
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Skin rash
- Hearing impairment
- Tooth discoloration
- Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
- Indigestion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle pain
- Dry mouth
- Pain at the injection site
Uses of Minocycline
What is it prescribed for?
- Bacterial infections
- Meningococcal Meningitis
- Skin and Structure Infection
- Gonococcal Infection
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Pneumonia
- Urinary tract infection
- Acute bacterial otitis media
- Pharyngitis/Tonsilitis
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe time taken for Minocycline to show it's initial effect is clinically unknown.
- Duration of effectThe time until which Minocycline remains active in the body is clinically unknown.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendency has been reported for Minocycline.
- Usage in pregnancy?Minocycline is unsafe for use during pregnancy as it can cause harm to the developing foetus. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Use of Minocycline should be avoided while breastfeeding as it may cause side effects in your baby. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Allergy
Avoid taking Minocycline if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of allergic reactions such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulties, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Minocycline is unsafe for use during pregnancy as it can cause harm to the developing foetus. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
Breast-feeding
Use of Minocycline should be avoided while breastfeeding as it may cause side effects in your baby. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings
Photosensitivity
Photosensitivity, also known as a sun allergy, is an immune system reaction that occurs when exposed to sunlight. Minocycline should be used with caution as it may cause photosensitivity. Hence, avoid exposure to sunlight or other artificial light during treatment with this medicine. Discontinue the treatment and consult your doctor if any symptoms of skin rash appear.
Impaired liver/kidney function
Minocycline should be used with caution if you have a kidney/liver problem due to the increased risk of liver or kidney toxicity. Your doctor may recommend tests to monitor your liver/kidney function and recommend dose adjustment, if necessary, based on your clinical condition.
Use in children
Oral form: Minocycline is not recommended for use in children less than 12 years of age due to the lack of safety and efficacy data.
Injectables: Minocycline is not recommended for use in children less than 8 years of age as this can lead to the risk of permanent teeth discolouration.
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria develop the ability to defeat the antibiotic intended to kill them. This occurs due to the long-term use of antibiotics or not completing the course of treatment. Hence ensure that you take Minocycline for the recommended duration to avoid antibiotic resistance.
Missed Dose
Oral forms: Try not to skip a scheduled dose of Minocycline. In case you forget to take the scheduled dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it has been delayed for more than 12 hours, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Do not double the dose.
Injectables: It is always important to take your Minocycline injection at the scheduled time. If you missed taking the dose, inform your doctor, and get an appointment for further instructions.
Overdose
Oral forms: Never take more than the prescribed dose. Seek emergency medical treatment or contact your doctor in case you suspect an overdose of Minocycline.
Injectable form: Minocycline injection is administered in a hospital setting by your doctor, so the likelihood of an overdose is rare. Contact your doctor if an overdose with Minocycline is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Warfarin
Ethinyl Estradiol
Digoxin
Calcium gluconate
Live cholera vaccine
Disease interactions
Colitis
Minocycline can kill the helpful bacteria in your stomach or intestine and may lead to diarrhoea. Therefore, this medicine should be used with extreme caution if you have gastrointestinal (disorders of the digestive system) diseases, particularly colitis (swelling in the lining of the colon, the large intestine), as it may worsen your condition.
Food interactions
Avoid using Minocycline along with iron and calcium preparations due to the decreased absorption of Minocycline. Maintain a minimum time gap of three hours for better absorption.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Minocycline is used for treating various bacterial infections. Minocycline is available in different dosage forms.
Oral forms: Take Minocycline as advised by your doctor with food. Your doctor will determine an appropriate dose for you.
Never take more than the prescribed dose. Do not give your medicine to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours. Complete the entire course of treatment for the best results.
Injectables: Minocycline is usually given in a clinical/hospital setting under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
Follow all the instructions given by your doctor. Inform the doctor if you have an allergy to this medicine.
Report all your current medicines as well as your medical conditions to your doctor before receiving this medicine.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Minocycline inhibits the growth and multiplication of bacteria, eventually killing them.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Tetracyclines, Antibiotics
Schedule
Schedule H
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Drugs, H., 2021. Minocycline: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: [Accessed 15 March 2021].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - MINOCYCLINE- minocycline hydrochloride tablet, film coated. [online] Available at: [Accessed 15 March 2021].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: [Accessed 15 March 2021].
Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Minocycline. [online] Available at: [Accessed 15 March 2021].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: [Accessed 15 March 2021].
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Bauschhealth.com. 2021. [online] Available at: [Accessed 15 March 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 13 Feb 2023
Disclaimer
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