mynocyline on the long term

[Franco]

Dear Dr Rockoff

I’m 32 y old, white male. I’ve been suffering from chest and back acne since my teens. Through ups and downs, it’s still there. From about 1 ½ year I take 50 mg  mynocicline pills per day. As long as I take the pills it’s under control, but as I stop for one week or two, it breaks out again. My impression is that at each stop the outbreak gets worse. My doctor says minocycline it’safe. I don’t have side effects for the moment, but I really wonder what would happen if I should stop minocycline permanently. Thanks for your advice.



Franco

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Franco:



Minocycline is indeed safe for long-term use.  My hunch is that eventually your acne will give up, and if you stop the minocycline once in a while, you'll find out when.  Chances are other antibiotics would do no better, so as long as minocycline helps while you use it, it's probably a good (and safe) bet.



Best.



Dr. Rockoff