How Does Minocin Work?

Minocin contains the active ingredient minocycline hydrochloride, which belongs to a group of antibiotics called the tetracyclines. It is used to treat infections caused by bacteria.

Minocycline works by interfering with the ability of bacteria to produce proteins that are essential to them. Without these proteins the bacteria cannot grow, multiply and increase in numbers. Minocycline therefore stops the spread of the infection and the remaining bacteria are killed by the immune system or eventually die.

Minocycline is a broad spectrum antibiotic that is active against a wide variety of bacteria. However, some strains of bacteria have developed resistance to this antibiotic, which has reduced its effectiveness for treating some types of infection. Minocycline is used to treat infections caused by susceptible bacteria, which may affect the skin, genitals (eg gonorrhoea, urethritis, prostatitis, pelvic inflammatory disease), urinary tract, lungs (eg bronchitis, pneumonia, lung abcess, nocardiosis), eye, ear, nose and throat. It may also be used to prevent infections before and after surgery.

To make sure the bacteria causing an infection are susceptible to minocycline your doctor may take a tissue sample, for example a swab from the infected area, or a urine or blood sample.

Minocycline is also used to treat acne, as it is active against the bacteria associated with acne, Propionebacterium acnes. This is a common type of bacteria that feeds on sebum produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. It produces waste products and fatty acids that irritate the sebaceous glands, making them inflamed and causing spots. By controlling bacterial numbers, minocycline brings the inflammation of the sebaceous glands under control, and allows the skin to heal.


What is it used for?

• Acne vulgaris
  
  
• Bronchitis
  
  
• Eye infections
  
  
• Gonorrhoea
  
  
• Infections of the ears, nose or throat
  
  
• Infections of the urinary tract
  
  
• Inflammation of the prostate gland due to infection (prostatitis)
  
  
• Inflammation of the urethra due to infection (urethritis)
  
  
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
  
  
• Pneumonia
  
  
• Prevention of infections following surgery
  
  
• Skin or soft tissue infections
  
  

• This medicine may reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you and you are sure it won't affect your performance.
  
  
• Slight blue/black/grey staining of the skin, teeth, nails, inside of mouth, eyes, tears, breast milk or sweat has sometimes been reported with this medicine. This can occur at any time but is more common during long-term treatment. Any skin or mouth staining usually disappears a few months after stopping treatment, but staining in other parts of the body, although less common, may persist. A persistent muddy-brown skin stain has also been reported, particularly in sun-exposed areas of skin. Consult your doctor without delay if you notice any staining so your treatment can be reviewed.
  
  
• If treatment with this medicine is continued for longer than 6 months, then your doctor should ask to see you regularly, usually every three months, to monitor for possible side effects on the liver or a condition called systemic lupus erythmatosus.
  
  
• Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is important that you finish the prescribed course of this antibiotic medicine, even if you feel better or it seems the infection has cleared up. Stopping the course early increases the chance that the infection will come back and that the bacteria will grow resistant to the antibiotic.
  
  
• Broad-spectrum antibiotics can sometimes cause diarrhoea. If you experience diarrhoea that becomes severe or persistent or contains blood or mucus, either during or after taking this medicine, you should consult your doctor immediately.
  
  
• This medicine should be swallowed whole with plenty of water while you are sitting or standing. This is to prevent the medicine irritating the throat. Avoid taking a dose just before going to bed.
  
  
• Consult your doctor if you get a severe persistant headache, or double or blurred vision while taking this medicine.
  
  

• Abnormal muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis)
  
  
• Decreased liver function
  
  
• Long-term inflammation of skin and some internal organs (systemic lupus erythematosus)
  
  
• People taking medicines that may have side effects on the liver
  
  
• Severely decreased kidney function
  
  

• Allergy to other tetracycline antibiotics, eg doxycycline, minocycline
  
  
• Breastfeeding
  
  
• Children under 12 years of age
  
  
• Kidney failure
  
  
• Pregnancy
  
  

• This medicine should not be used during pregnancy as it may be harmful to the unborn baby. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
  
  
• Significant amounts of this medicine may pass into breast milk. It should not be used by breastfeeding mothers. Discuss this with your doctor.
  
  

• Do not take iron preparations or indigestion remedies at the same time of day as this medication.
  
  
• Take at regular intervals. Complete the prescribed course unless otherwise directed.
  
  

• Diarrhoea
  
  
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
  
  
• Abnormal reaction of the skin to light, usually a rash (photosensitivity)
  
  
• Balance problems involving the inner ear (vertigo)
  
  
• Dizziness
  
  
• Nausea and vomiting
  
  
• Sensation of ringing, or other noise in the ears (tinnitus)
  
  
• Loss of appetite
  
  
• Skin reactions such as rash and itch
  
  
• Bowel infection resulting in inflammation of the bowel lining (pseudomembranous colitis)
  
  
• Liver disorders
  
  
• Difficulty or pain when swallowing (dysphagia)
  
  
• Mild increase in pressure within the skull (benign intracranial hypertension)
  
  
• Overgrowth of the yeast Candida, which may cause infection such as thrush
  
  
• Staining of skin, nails, teeth, sweat, tears, eyes, breast milk (see warning above)
  
  

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.

For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

Always tell your doctor what medicines you are taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Likewise, always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while you are taking this one.

The following medicines may reduce the absorption of minocycline from the gut, which may make it less effective. If you are taking medicines containing any of the following ingredients they should be taken at least three hours before or after your minocycline dose:
- antacids (for heartburn and indigestion) or vitamins that contain aluminium, bismuth, calcium, magnesium or iron
- quinapril (brand name Accupro, because these capsules also contain magnesium carbonate)
- iron tablets, eg ferrous sulphate (the absorption of iron tablets from the gut is also reduced by the minocycline)
- zinc salts (the absorption of zinc salts from the gut is also reduced by the minocycline)
- kaolin
- tripotassium dicitratobismuthate (TDB).

If minocycline is taken with acitretin, isotretinoin or tretinoin there may be an increased risk of developing raised pressure within the skull (benign intracranial hypertension), and minocycline should be avoided in people taking these medicines.

Minocycline may increase the blood thinning effects of anticoagulants such as warfarin.

There may be an increased risk of side effects on the kidneys if minocycline is taken with diuretic medicines, particularly in people with decreased kidney function.

Minocycline may decrease the effectiveness of penicillin antibiotics in the treatment of serious infections such as meningitis. It is recommended that minocycline should not be used with penicillins.

Reference: Netdoctor.co.uk                                     

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                                                                                Minocin Acne / Side Effects