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Intro to the 'Cycline' Cycle
If you have ever been treated with antibiotics for your acne, there is a good chance you took a drug that fell somewhere on the ‘cycline’ cycle. There are three different drugs that end with that suffix that are, for many physicians, the first choices when prescribing antibiotics for acne treatment.
Tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline all successfully achieve the same goal – to inhibit the development of acne-causing bacteria that can lead to serious breakouts. However, there are subtle differences across the three drugs that may lead a physician to prescribe one over the other, according to information from the National Institutes of Health.
Tetracycline is commonly prescribed for acne treatment. It is a very popular antibiotic that is prescribed for everything from acne to pneumonia to exposure to anthrax. It comes as a capsule or as a liquid and is usually taken somewhere between 2-4 times a day. The most common side effects of tetracycline are related to the bowels – you may develop upset stomach, diarrhea or stomach pain. Tetracycline may also make you more susceptible to sunburn. There are some additional but very rare side effects, such as vision loss and lethargy, that few people experience, but your doctor should still discuss all possible side effects with you.
Doxycycline is similar to tetracycline, except it absorbs faster and may work more quickly. It is more expensive and many doctors will simply prescribe tetracycline first, unless there is a medical or personal preference issue. The side effects are similar to those associated with tetracycline, and NIH recommends people taking doxycycline wear sunscreen in case they are in the small percentage of people who will develop greater sensitivity to the sun’s rays.
The real advantage of minocycline is that it does not carry the potential side effect of making users more susceptible to sunburn. If you experienced that side effect with one of the other drugs, your doctor may prescribe minocycline to protect your skin. There are possible bowel-related side effects, as with tetracycline and doxycycline, and headaches and dizziness are also sometimes experienced.
Tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline may all interfere with the functioning of oral contraceptives. If you are a woman on the pill, you will need to use a different form of contraceptive while on these drugs.
Tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline all successfully achieve the same goal – to inhibit the development of acne-causing bacteria that can lead to serious breakouts. However, there are subtle differences across the three drugs that may lead a physician to prescribe one over the other, according to information from the National Institutes of Health.
Tetracycline is commonly prescribed for acne treatment. It is a very popular antibiotic that is prescribed for everything from acne to pneumonia to exposure to anthrax. It comes as a capsule or as a liquid and is usually taken somewhere between 2-4 times a day. The most common side effects of tetracycline are related to the bowels – you may develop upset stomach, diarrhea or stomach pain. Tetracycline may also make you more susceptible to sunburn. There are some additional but very rare side effects, such as vision loss and lethargy, that few people experience, but your doctor should still discuss all possible side effects with you.
Doxycycline is similar to tetracycline, except it absorbs faster and may work more quickly. It is more expensive and many doctors will simply prescribe tetracycline first, unless there is a medical or personal preference issue. The side effects are similar to those associated with tetracycline, and NIH recommends people taking doxycycline wear sunscreen in case they are in the small percentage of people who will develop greater sensitivity to the sun’s rays.
The real advantage of minocycline is that it does not carry the potential side effect of making users more susceptible to sunburn. If you experienced that side effect with one of the other drugs, your doctor may prescribe minocycline to protect your skin. There are possible bowel-related side effects, as with tetracycline and doxycycline, and headaches and dizziness are also sometimes experienced.
Tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline may all interfere with the functioning of oral contraceptives. If you are a woman on the pill, you will need to use a different form of contraceptive while on these drugs.
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