Skip to main content

Doryx for Acne User Reviews

Rating: 7.6

Doryx has an average rating of 7.6 out of 10 from a total of 57 reviews for the treatment of acne. 63% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 18% reported a negative experience.

10
32%
9
25%
8
7%
7
16%
6
2%
5
0%
4
2%
3
7%
2
4%
1
7%

Reviews for Doryx

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Oct...
  • October 4, 2013

"I am 37. After my last child was born, I started getting these really deep, painful pimples all around my mouth and nose. According to the dermatologist, I have a type of acne that's actually some kind of hybrid between rosacea and acne. The pustules hurt so much, and they looked so gross. I was wearing a ton of makeup to hide them, but even with all the cover-up, you could still see my skin looked terrible with huge bumps and crusted over scabs from the ones I popped. I tried all sorts of OTC stuff before I finally went to the dermatologist. He put me on Doryx, and within a week, the pustules were all gone, and I have not had any new ones in the two months since I started this medication. I can't believe how quickly, and how well, it worked."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
92 Report
  • Ter...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 15, 2013

"I had tried every combination of topical skincare routines for years and had no luck with clearing up my acne. Doryx cleared up my acne almost overnight, and I have been taking it for several weeks and have been almost completely clear--I can't even remember the last time I was! Very satisfied!"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
68 Report
  • Anonymous
  • March 20, 2008

"Doryx was originally intended to clear up a rash-like infection near my genitals. It cleared it up, but an even better effect was to clear up my adult acne. It did so in just a few days of use, taking one 100mg tab per day with lunch."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
80 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Mar...
  • November 11, 2013

"I suffered from cystic acne for years. Doryx totally and completely has changed my life. I rarely even get a pimple around the time of my period anymore. When I first started Doryx (5 months ago), I was taking 150 mg daily. Now, I take 75 mg every other day. I can't praise this drug enough! Life-changing, I wish I had started taking it years ago."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
59 Report
  • Ian...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • November 26, 2012

"I have had acne from 13 years old on and was on Accutane for most of high school. I have tried everything - all cleansers, peels, topicals, and nothing worked. Proactive seemed to moderately work (but dried my skin out and bleached every towel and pillowcase in sight). I'm now 36, and in March 2012, I was totally fed up with my constant struggle with adult acne, so I went to a dermatologist in San Francisco. She put me on Doryx, Epiduo, and Cerave hydrating (non-foaming) cleanser - hallelujah! It took about 2 months, and my face was breakout free. I haven't had a zit since. It works - call your dermatologist as soon as possible. P.S. I'm also on Ocella birth control (which is key to regulating hormone levels)."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
56 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
  • lp0...
  • March 10, 2012

"I have had problems with acne all my life. I tried everything from creams, gels, pills, and even Accutane. Accutane was extremely harsh, and my acne was back within 3 months. I finally was prescribed Doryx along with Acanya in the morning and Epiduo at night. Please be patient, as this will make you break out really bad at first, but I promise you after 2 months, you will see the results. What's great too is you can adjust the dosage once your face clears up, so you don't have to take 150 mg all the time. My face is all cleared up now, and I only take it the week of my period to prevent breakouts."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
43 Report
  • Nic...
  • July 6, 2013

"I've been struggling with mild acne on my face and severe acne on my shoulders (mostly sports-related) for the past 2 years or so, and absolutely NOTHING worked. However, I've been taking Doryx for a week now, and my face is almost completely clear, and my shoulders are clearing up FAST. However, I did experience a lot of drying out on my face, as well as (oddly enough) a decreased sex drive. I HIGHLY recommend refraining from alcohol while on this medicine, as it will only worsen the drying of your face. Stick with it. Remember, your face will get worse before it gets better."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
40 Report

More FAQ

  • Anonymous
  • September 14, 2010

"When I first started taking this medication, my acne did get worse. However, I stuck with it for four months, and then my acne completely cleared up. I had it bad for the first month. I stopped taking it because my skin was clear. That was a huge mistake. My acne came back in like less than a month and worse than before. I think I went off it too quickly. I am about to go back on it and stay on it until my dermatologist tells me otherwise this time."

8 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
46 Report
  • Nic...
  • July 29, 2009

"This doesn't allow me to write very much, so I can't share my whole story. I hate taking prescription drugs, but I gave Doryx a chance, and it's been a Godsend. I developed acne in my late 20s, after being acne free since puberty. The cyst-like acne would hurt badly and leave terrible marks. With Doryx, every zit on my problem areas was completely gone within 4 days, and the red marks from past zits have already faded. I was concerned about side effects, and I have had none whatsoever. I am supposed to take it every day, but I only take it Monday-Friday. I once went 5 days without taking it and got a zit, but getting back on the pills cleared it right up. I pay $25 for a month's supply, worth every penny."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
49 Report
  • The...
  • December 8, 2011

"I am 26, and nothing has worked for my acne... NOTHING! I have tried pills, creams, Proactiv, herbals, almost everything. But finally, I got something that WORKS! This pill cleared all my acne, and I even forgot to take it more than a few times... still nothing. I don't wash my face a thousand times a day... don't apply any acne cream... and there is never a pimple on my skin. There have been no side effects for me. So, you should definitely give this a try. It's the ONLY thing that has WORKED for me."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
35 Report
  • Anonymous
  • November 21, 2011

"I started taking Doryx about 4 months ago for cystic acne. So glad I did. It took almost 2 months to see results, but it was definitely worth the wait. It doesn't bother me to leave the house now without makeup. Occasionally, I'll still get cysts, but they only last a couple of days or so, and it's usually around the time of my period. I do notice, though, that it makes me thirsty, and it dries my skin/chaps my lips. But it's totally worth it. Just be patient! I almost gave up after the first month. I'm so glad I didn't."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
26 Report
  • Jen...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 10, 2015

"My dermatologist put me on Doryx a couple of months back. My acne was bad, inflamed, and painful all over my cheeks. I took half the pill once a day, and at first, it made my skin dry out. But my acne disappeared within a week and a half. Afterwards, I stopped using it. Then I noticed my skin breaking out again. So I'm back on it again, and it has settled my skin. I quit eating dairy as well while taking it, and I have yet to have a breakout. I now take it every other day as it dries out the skin all over my body. But totally worth the results!!"

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
22 Report
  • Ktt...
  • September 1, 2015

"I have never had perfect skin, always had 1 or 2 pimples at a time, and usually a cystic one too. But 5 months ago, I started breaking out BAD, mostly on my lower cheeks and chin. I tried so many face washes and scrubs, but nothing worked. I finally went to the dermatologist, and I have been taking Doryx 200 mg a day for about a week now, as well as using Epiduo at night before bed. My skin is already clearing up! I mostly have hyperpigmentation and some scarring now, which I will have to deal with, but hardly any pimples! I'm hoping it will keep getting better as the days go on, but for now, I am loving Doryx."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
25 Report
  • Anonymous
  • September 29, 2010

"I went to the dermatologist last week, and already I have been seeing AMAZING results! My acne before wasn't awful, but I wanted it to be completely gone. So my doctor prescribed me Doryx and CeraVe face lotion. So far, I haven't had any breakouts, and my pore size has shrunk. Also, I haven't had any stomach pains. Good luck!"

8 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
31 Report
  • Anonymous
  • March 9, 2010

"I have struggled since the age of 15 with acne, I am now 35 and decided to go to the dermatologist again, convinced to start using Accutane. My doctor put me on 150 mg of Doryx along with Epiduo at night. I am on day 15, and all of my existing cysts have since gone, and I have had no new breakouts. It is a big pill and I have to take it on an empty stomach, so some will have cramping, mine are not bad."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
30 Report
  • ran...
  • September 25, 2010

"Three days ago, I went to the dermatologist for the first time. I have a modestly severe problem with acne and have been using all kinds of over-the-counter acne products like Neutrogena, Clearasil, Clean and Clear, etc. She said that I have been wasting a lot of money on the acne products I have used in the past, just because they are all the same. She put me on Doryx 150 MG, Differin 0.3%, and also told me to wash my face with Cetaphil. I can say that my acne scars, which I have on both cheeks, have faded a little, and the size of my pimples has gotten smaller. She said that the first month is going to be the worst because I will break out but should see a big improvement the second month. I am really depending on this to work!"

7 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
29 Report
  • Sof...
  • July 2, 2015

"I have been taking this medication for about three months now. It has cleared up 80% of my acne, and I have not gotten any new acne since I've been on it. Also, I haven't lost any hair or had any side effects/problems while on this medication."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
19 Report
  • syd...
  • May 25, 2015

"I have been on Doryx for nearly 3 months. The pimples on my face and back have gotten worse and worse. I am constantly breaking out. To be honest, my face is worse being on this medication than it was before I started it."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
24 Report
  • Anonymous
  • December 12, 2011

"I went on Doryx almost 3 months ago because I had severe cystic acne. It was awful, I was mortified to the point where I would even call out of work. Not only was it embarrassing, but at times it was also painful. My dermatologist put me on Doryx, and I noticed NO change until about the 6-week mark. By the 8-week mark, my cysts were gone! It took time, but I am SO glad I stuck with it. I have had people tell me how much better my skin looks. It is not 100% clear as it had been a year ago, but I am very pleased with it so far. The doctor told me it takes up to 6 months to get the full effect, so be patient. In addition to the pill, I also wash my face once a day with Neutrogena Red Reducer (Green), Proactive, and I use Clinique Acne foundation."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
18 Report
  • Anonymous
  • July 7, 2011

"I have tried many acne medications, but this is the only one that consistently worked for me. I took it for a few weeks, and I don't even have to use it anymore. My face is acne-free. I didn't feel any side effects."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
18 Report
  • fin...
  • March 22, 2011

"I went on Doryx about 2 weeks ago, and I've already seen a huge improvement. At first, I thought the pills were really big, but they're not that bad at all (don't make it a bigger deal than it is!). You can take it at any time of day, and watching the progress of your skin getting clearer is so awesome. I used this product with Differin and a prescribed face wash. I don't know if it will work for everyone, but I do know it did for me. I didn't have much trouble getting a lot of acne so far. I think it just doesn't happen for some people. I'm seeing improvement right away. RECOMMENDED!"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
17 Report
  • Anonymous
  • January 19, 2010

"If you listen to your doctor, they tell you that while taking Doryx, your acne may get worse in the first few months. That is no reason to quit. Thankfully for me, this has not happened; in fact, Doryx cleared up my acne in about a month! I'm so happy that it did not irritate my stomach like most other antibiotics do."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
14 Report
  • Anonymous
  • June 23, 2010

"I have been using Doryx for a month with the Acanya acne gel, and it helped so much I have not had any new pimples (well, maybe 1 or 2) since then. It's amazing. I'm 16 years old, and my dermatologist first recommended Solodyn, it did not help at all. I'm so glad Doryx is working, and it's apparently supposed to get better. The only thing is the pills are really big, but other than that, awesome."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
11 Report
  • Sar...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • September 4, 2022

"I have taken this medication for 6 months, and I have to say it truly changed my life. I struggled with cystic acne for years on and off, and nothing had ever helped it. Within 2-3 weeks of taking Doryx, it started to seriously clear up. I took it for 6 months but kept getting yeast infections, which led me to stop taking it. I was off of it for 3 months, and my acne came back all at once one week, making my face look just as inflamed as before. I decided to go back on it. If you’re also struggling, try to take it with a probiotic every day! It really is worth it for cystic acne, but it will not continue working once you stop it. So, if you’re looking for a long-term treatment where you eventually stop taking the medication, you should try Accutane."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
3 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 20, 2013

"I'm 38 and have had acne since 13. I have tried everything and finally, a few years ago, just decided to live with it. I had a spot on my forehead that never seems to clear up, so the dermatologist put me on this, and my acne has cleared up, similar to the results I had years ago from being on birth control pills. Although my acne is cleared up, the spot I was concerned about hasn't changed, and next dermatologist appointment I'll have to have it biopsied. The only side effect is that I have more hair loss than what I consider normal in a day. My dermatologist had a $25 coupon for the prescription. Otherwise, even with insurance, it is very expensive."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
15 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.

Learn more about Acne

Care guides

Symptoms and treatments

Medicine.com guides (external)