What is the difference between minocycline and tetracycline

The following list may not include all uses of minocycline and doxycycline. Consult your healthcare provider with questions about specific use.

The effectiveness of minocycline or doxycycline is relative to the indication being compared. One of the most common mutual indications for these two drugs is acne rosacea. A randomized controlled trial , published in , sought to compare the efficacy and safety of these two drugs in the treatment of rosacea.

Eighty patients with mild to severe rosacea were randomized to either doxycycline 40 mg or minocycline mg. The results of the study found that improvement scores were significantly better for the minocycline group. The minocycline group also had fewer relapses in symptoms and had a longer remission period. There was no significant difference in safety between the two drugs.

A systematic review of literature was done to also compare and evaluate the safety and adverse events between minocycline and doxycycline. The review looked at 15 years of data. Doxycycline was prescribed three times more often than minocycline. While adverse events for either drug are relatively low, doxycycline was associated with fewer adverse events than minocycline.

Minocycline is a prescription drug that is typically covered by both commercial and Medicare prescription drug plans. Doxycycline is a prescription drug that is also typically covered by commercial and Medicare prescription drug plans. Minocycline and doxycycline each have a tendency to cause gastrointestinal side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia. These side effects can be difficult to tolerate over longer periods of time and may be responsible for premature termination of therapy due to intolerability.

Minocycline has been associated with rare instances of liver failure and hepatitis. Patients with known hepatic impairment should avoid minocycline or be monitored closely while taking. Doxycycline has been associated with the rare but serious adverse event of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. It is a very serious condition that requires immediate medical attention.

The following list is not intended to be a complete list of adverse events. Please consult a pharmacist, doctor, or another medical professional for a complete list of possible side effects. Minocycline and doxycycline are both antibiotics from the same class of tetracyclines, and their list of potential drug interactions is similar. Common antacids containing aluminum hydroxide, such as Gaviscon, may impair the absorption of minocycline and doxycycline. This can lead to a decreased efficacy of minocycline and doxycycline.

To avoid this interaction, antacids should not be taken with these antibiotics. Ideally, there would be at least two hours between the administration of an antacid and either minocycline or doxycycline.

Tetracycline antibiotics such as minocycline and doxycycline interfere with the bactericidal action of another common antibiotic class, penicillins. This class includes common antibiotics such as amoxicillin and penicillin. There are instances where patients may need to take more than one antibiotic at a time, and it is important to be aware of this interaction when selecting therapies.

The following list is not intended to be a complete list of drug interactions. It is best to consult your provider or pharmacist for a complete list. Minocycline and doxycycline are categorized by the Food and Drug Administration FDA as a category D drug, meaning that there is positive evidence of potential fetal risk. These drugs should be used only when there is a life-threatening risk to the mother.

There is evidence of a negative impact on the skeletal development of the fetus. Updated in July Tetracyclines are a family of related oral antibiotics often used to treat skin diseases. There has been over 50 years' experience with these medications, which were originally derived from the soil bacterium Streptomyces aureofaciens.

The original base medicines, chlortetracycline, tetracycline, and oxytetracycline, have been replaced by products that are better absorbed and more lipophilic , with excellent tissue distribution. These include:. Chemically modified tetracyclines are under development to reduce antibiotic activity and to increase their non-antibiotic, anti- inflammatory effect.

Tetracyclines are broad spectrum antibiotics often used to treat skin, chest, urethral , and pelvic infections. Doxycycline is indicated in a wide range of infections including syphilis , Lyme disease , Q fever , Rocky Mountain spotted fever , and plague. It is also widely used for malaria prophylaxis. Doxycycline is also effective at controlling non-infectious, inflammatory skin and mucosal diseases, including:. It is important to note that the use of tetracyclines does not increase Staphylococcus aureus resistance see MRSA.

As antibiotics, tetracyclines interfere with protein synthesis of susceptible bacteria. The antibiotic dose of doxycycline is mg once or twice daily. It should be taken while upright, with plenty of water. Lower doses of doxycycline have been shown to be effective in rosacea 20 mg twice daily or 40 mg once daily. The lowest dose of doxycycline available in New Zealand is 50 mg. Perspectives and concerns regarding antimicrobial agent shortages among infectious disease specialists.

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