Select a medication above to begin.
Minocin
minocycline
Adult Dosing .
Dosage forms: INJ
Dosage Forms Discontinued in US
- [50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg caps not avail. as brand; see generic]
infections, bacterial
- [100 mg PO/IV q12h]
- Start: 200 mg PO/IV x1; Max: 400 mg/24h; Alt: start 100-200 mg PO x1, then 50 mg PO qid; Info: duration varies w/ infection type, severity; give cap w/ adequate fluid to decr. esophageal irritation/ulceration
severe acne vulgaris, adjunct tx
- [50-100 mg PO qd]
- Start: 50-100 mg PO bid x2-3mo; Info: give w/ adequate fluid to decr. esophageal irritation/ulceration
leprosy (Hansen dz), multibacillary (off-label)
- [pts who cannot take clofazimine]
- Dose: 100 mg PO qd x12mo; Info: not 1st-line agent; part of multi-drug regimen; give w/ adequate fluid to decr. esophageal irritation/ulceration; may continue tx beyond 12mo in refractory cases
- [pts who cannot take rifampin]
- Dose: 100 mg PO qd x24mo; Info: not 1st-line agent; part of multi-drug regimen; give w/ adequate fluid to decr. esophageal irritation/ulceration; may continue tx beyond 24mo in refractory cases
leprosy (Hansen dz), paucibacillary (off-label)
- [pts who cannot take rifampin]
- Dose: 100 mg PO qd x24mo; Info: not 1st-line agent; part of multi-drug regimen; give w/ adequate fluid to decr. esophageal irritation/ulceration; may continue tx beyond 24mo in refractory cases
renal dosing
- [see below]
- renal impairment: decr. usual dose and/or frequency, amount not defined, max 200 mg/24h
- HD/PD: not defined
hepatic dosing
- [not defined]
Peds Dosing .
- Dosage forms: INJ
Dosage Forms Discontinued in US
- [50 mg, 75 mg, 100 mg caps not avail. as brand; see generic]
infections, bacterial
- [>8 yo]
- Dose: 2 mg/kg/dose PO/IV q12h; Start: 4 mg/kg/dose PO/IV x1; Max: 200 mg/24h; Info: duration varies w/ infection type, severity; give cap w/ adequate fluid to decr. esophageal irritation/ulceration
severe acne vulgaris, adjunct tx
- [>8 yo]
- Dose: 50-100 mg PO qd; Start: 50-100 mg PO bid x2-3mo; Info: give w/ adequate fluid to decr. esophageal irritation/ulceration
leprosy (Hansen dz), multibacillary (off-label)
- [15 yo and older, pts who cannot take clofazimine]
- Dose: 100 mg PO qd x12mo; Info: not 1st-line agent; part of multi-drug regimen; give w/ adequate fluid to decr. esophageal irritation/ulceration; may continue tx beyond 12mo in refractory cases
- [15 yo and older, pts who cannot take rifampin]
- Dose: 100 mg PO qd x24mo; Info: not 1st-line agent; part of multi-drug regimen; give w/ adequate fluid to decr. esophageal irritation/ulceration; may continue tx beyond 24mo in refractory cases
leprosy (Hansen dz), paucibacillary (off-label)
- [15 yo and older, pts who cannot take rifampin]
- Dose: 100 mg PO qd x24mo; Info: not 1st-line agent; part of multi-drug regimen; give w/ adequate fluid to decr. esophageal irritation/ulceration; may continue tx beyond 24mo in refractory cases
renal dosing
- [see below]
- renal impairment: decr. usual dose and/or frequency, amount not defined, max 200 mg/24h
- HD/PD: not defined
hepatic dosing
- [not defined]
Contraindications / Cautions .
- hypersensitivity to drug or ingredient
- hypersensitivity to tetracyclines
- pregnancy
- avoid: breastfeeding (>3wk tx duration)
- avoid: sun exposure
- avoid: UV light exposure, artificial
- caution: hypersensitivity to tartrazine (some generic forms)
- caution: female pts of reproductive potential
- caution: male pts of reproductive potential
- caution: overweight female pts of childbearing age
- caution: female pts of childbearing age w/ intracranial HTN hx
- caution: renal impairment
- caution: myocardial damage (IV use)
- caution: heart block (IV use)
- caution: SLE
- caution: abx-associated colitis hx, recent
- caution: botulism
Drug Interactions .
Overview
minocycline
tetracycline
- affected by altered gastrointestinal motility
- alters GI flora
- bacteriostatic agent
- binds to anion exchange resin/polymer
- binds to polyvalent cations
- impairs immunomodulatory bacterial infective agent
- photosensitivity
- potentiates neuromuscular blockade
- pseudotumor cerebri
Contraindicated
- acitretin
Avoid/Use Alternative
- aminolevulinic acid topical
- BCG live intravesical
- bremelanotide
- cholera vaccine, live
- fecal microbiota, live
- isotretinoin
- methotrexate
- palovarotene
- porfimer
- typhoid vaccine, live
Monitor/Modify Tx
- aluminum hydroxide
- atracurium
- bismuth subsalicylate
- calcium acetate
- calcium carbonate
- calcium citrate
- calcium gluconate
- cholestyramine
- chromium
- ciprofloxacin
- cisatracurium
- colestipol
- cyclosporine
- cysteamine
- danazol
- delafloxacin
- exenatide
- ferric citrate
- ferric maltol
- ferrous fumarate
- ferrous gluconate
- ferrous sulfate
- goserelin
- histrelin
- lanthanum
- leuprolide
- levofloxacin
- lithium
- magnesium carbonate
- magnesium citrate
- magnesium hydroxide
- magnesium oxide
- magnesium supplement
- mecasermin
- molindone
- moxifloxacin
- nafarelin
- ofloxacin
- pancuronium
- pramlintide
- quinapril
- rocuronium
- somapacitan
- somatrogon
- somatropin
- succinylcholine
- sucralfate
- sucroferric oxyhydroxide
- sulfate bowel prep
- tretinoin
- triptorelin
- vecuronium
- warfarin
- zinc oral
Caution Advised
- amoxicillin
- ampicillin
- cefaclor
- cefadroxil
- cefazolin
- cefdinir
- cefepime
- cefiderocol
- cefixime
- cefotaxime
- cefotetan
- cefoxitin
- cefpodoxime
- cefprozil
- ceftaroline
- ceftazidime
- ceftobiprole
- ceftolozane
- ceftriaxone
- cefuroxime axetil
- cefuroxime sodium
- cephalexin
- dicloxacillin
- dihydroergotamine
- dulaglutide
- ergotamine
- lactulose
- liraglutide
- methoxsalen
- methylergonovine
- nafcillin
- oxacillin
- penicillin G
- penicillin V
- piperacillin
- sodium picosulfate
- tirzepatide
- verteporfin
Adverse Reactions .
Serious Reactions
- pseudotumor cerebri
- hepatotoxicity
- photosensitivity
- autoimmune disorders
- lupus erythematosus
- vasculitis
- serum sickness-like rxn
- hypersensitivity rxn
- anaphylaxis
- angioedema
- skin rxn, severe
- erythema multiforme
- toxic epidermal necrolysis
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- drug rxn w/ eosinophilia and systemic sx
- acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis
- thrombocytopenia
- neutropenia
- hemolytic anemia
- thyroid CA
- C. difficile-assoc. diarrhea
- pancreatitis
- esophagitis (PO use)
- esophageal ulcer (PO use)
Common Reactions
- fatigue
- dizziness
- pruritus
- malaise
- somnolence
- urticaria
- tinnitus
- BUN incr.
- tooth discoloration, reversible
- lightheadedness
- vertigo
- photosensitivity
- skin hyperpigmentation
- tissue hyperpigmentation
- injection site rxn (IV use)
Safety/Monitoring .
Monitoring Parameters
BUN/Cr at baseline, then periodically; CBC; LFTs; Mg if renal impairment w/ IV use
Look/Sound-Alike Drug Names
Minocin confused with: minoxidil
minocycline confused with: doxycycline
Pregnancy/Lactation .
Pregnancy
Clinical Summary
avoid use during pregnancy; inadequate human data available, though possible risk of spontaneous abortion; risk of permanent fetal teeth discoloration, abnormal bone development, and enamel hypoplasia based on human data w/ tetracycline class; possible risk of embryo-fetal toxicity based on conflicting animal data w/ tetracycline class
Individuals of Reproductive Potential
avoid pregnancy by using 2 forms of contraception during tx in female pts; avoid use in male pts trying to conceive
Lactation
Clinical Summary
avoid breastfeeding if >3wk tx duration, otherwise may use short-term while breastfeeding; no human data available, though no known risk of infant harm w/ short-term use based on limited human data w/ other tetracyclines; possible risk of milk discoloration based on limited human data; theoretical risk of permanent infant teeth discoloration and abnormal bone development w/ prolonged use based on drug's mechanism of action; inadequate human data available to assess effects on milk production
Pharmacology .
Metabolism: liver partially; CYP450: unknown
Excretion: urine, feces; Half-life: 11-23h
Subclass: Acne, Systemic Agents ; Leprosy (Hansen Disease) ; Tetracyclines
Mechanism of Action
exact mechanism of action in acne vulgaris unknown; binds to 30S and possibly 50S ribosomal subunit(s), inhibiting protein synthesis
Formulary .
No Formulary Selected
Join Now to View Patient Handouts!
Create a FREE epocrates Online account to access patient medication instructions. Your patients and caregivers will appreciate you printing these friendly handouts, available in English and Spanish. Each handout addresses common concerns such as how to take the medication, and possible side effects.
Current Members: Sign In.
Pill Pictures
Join Now to View Pill Pictures!
Create a FREE epocrates Online account to access full-color images of medications within the drug monograph.
Current Members: Sign In.