Minocycline and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• rip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2018

For Acne "19 yr old, have been prescribed the 50 mg to be taken twice a day. I have been taking it for 9 days until I woke up with a slight fever and full body rash. I was sent to the ER and said it's most likely a reaction to mino. Prior to the rash, I've experienced joint and muscle pain, loss of appetite, headaches, low mood, and insomnia."

• hob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2015

For Acne "I'm 20 and have had acne since I was 13. I only started on this a week ago with the 50 mg twice a day. But the first 3 days I missed at least 4 of the tablets. This has caused me to majorly break out worse than before I started. I've had to drink lots of water because I have been getting bad headaches (nearly migraines). I haven't had problems with dizziness or infections. It's probably too early to be posting, but hope it helps."

• DDo...
• November 23, 2016

Minocycline for Acne "I just wanted to share the info I got from my doctor. I just got prescribed this medication today. Some people on here mentioned headaches, nausea, and tanning, both of which my doctor told me could be some side effects. Hope that helped! I hope this medicine helps me."

• Anonymous
• April 5, 2017

For Acne "I took this medication when I was 16 for acne. I was getting headaches that the dermatologist said couldn't possibly be from the minocycline. I woke up after being on it for 6 weeks with double vision. I had pseudotumor cerebri (intracranial hypertension). I have suffered with recurrent headaches ever since. I am now 43. Last year I was diagnosed with a Chiari malformation that was caused by pseudotumor cerebri. I also have syringomyelia that was caused by the Chiari malformation. This is a very dangerous medication. I will eventually be in a wheelchair and will not be able to care for myself because I took minocycline at age 16."

• Dan...
• September 20, 2017

For Acne "I am 18 and have had acne for a couple of years. After going to the dermatologist a second time, I was prescribed minocycline. I've been taking it for almost two weeks, along with a cream. This last week, I've had severe headaches, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea. After reading other reviews with the same side effects and this prescription leading to long-term issues, I would not suggest taking this."

• LB1...
• June 27, 2013

For Acne "Cured my acne, but made me incredibly dizzy, and I suffered from headaches. It is the only thing that has ever worked for my severe acne, and I am very sad to stop taking it, but the side effects are just unbearable. I'm trying doxycycline now, and my fingers are crossed!"

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2019

For Acne "I took minocycline for 3 weeks for cystic acne. My skin immediately started to get worse. My acne had always been contained to my left cheek and was now suddenly all along my jaw, down my neck, forehead, and on my right cheek. I was expecting this purging phase, but it was very hard to deal with mentally. I didn't want to go outside at all. It took me 2 weeks of taking this to realize it was the source of my severe exhaustion, daily headaches, and brain fog. I stopped taking it while on holiday, just to get through the day without needing to go back to bed, and my headaches went away and my skin started to improve again. The side effects were truly unbearable for me. I felt like I lost myself in those 3 weeks. My acne is definitely hormonal, and I think minocycline will only work for bacterial acne. I tried the combination birth control pill after which was amazing but gave me migraines with aura, so hoping to start Spironolactone soon."

• E-L...
• October 16, 2015

For Acne "I have been on this medicine for about 2 weeks and have actually broken out even worse than when I first started. It could possibly be that the medicine is bringing up all the pimples? My primary care doctor prescribed this until I see an actual dermatologist. I do have an appointment next week with one, so hopefully they will prescribe me something better. But with this medicine, I have been feeling very nauseous and slight headaches."

• Eir...
• May 6, 2017

For Acne "Today I was diagnosed with lupus after 1 month of taking this antibiotic. Rash, headaches, and joint pain (knees) are my complaints. After reading the other reviews, it seems like this is a common side effect of these drugs. Surely this is not okay?!"

• oph...
• May 24, 2017

For Acne "Horrible side effects! Just 4 doses and I'm still recovering from this medication. Feeling dizzy/run down was just the beginning. Symptoms progressed to headache, vomiting, nausea, chest pains, loss of balance, and a general feeling of illness and pain. Not worth it."

• ali...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2018

For Acne "I've been on this medication for 3 months. For the first few weeks, I had nausea and headaches, but that got better. However, ever since being on the pills, I've felt like I've had very low energy. It seemed to help my acne at first, but 3 months in, and I still have acne all over my forehead. It will clear up one week, and then I'll have new breakouts the next. The only positive is that all my pimples have been really small and painless, I don't get large, inflamed, painful pimples anymore. However, my forehead is normally covered in these tiny red dots, and it really hasn't cleared up my skin."

• May...
• July 7, 2016

For Acne "I took minocycline for acne. Bad cystic acne. I have been on it on and off. I always take it with food to avoid getting nauseous. As long as I take it, my skin remains so clear. However, side effects: headaches sometimes, extreme anxiety/nervousness, and super loud buzzing in one ear that goes away once I stop taking this medication."

• shy...
• September 13, 2016

For Acne "Be attentive to your body and take note of any side effects. I've been on this for 2 weeks and had to stop because of debilitating headaches, blurry vision, and neck/back pain, which could have led to a worse condition. Yes, it was working, but it wasn't worth the side effects."

• Gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2018

For Acne "I have been dealing with acne for 3 months and was getting two to three new zits every week, some were really big ones that won't go away. I came to my doctor and was prescribed this medication, minocycline 50 mg twice a day, and I did see positive results after roughly taking it for 2 weeks, but man, the side effects were not comfortable. After 10 days, I started getting sore muscles in my shoulder and neck, headache, lightheadedness, feeling sick, and coughing. I decided to stop it because I can't deal with these side effects and worried that it might get worse. However, it did help with my acne, as I only had 2 new zits after taking it with the help of an acne cream that a friend gave me. For me, it’s not worth the pain to have clearer skin. I will probably go to a dermatologist to opt for a cream instead of an oral medication."

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2016

For Acne "This was prescribed for my 13-year-old daughter's moderate acne by her pediatrician after Epiduo and an expensive sulfur wash product did not work. After what looked like some good initial results the first week, her acne returned and was worse. We stuck it out for 2 months, hoping it was 'getting worse before it gets better' while also waiting for an appointment with an actual dermatologist - but it never got better. Once we finally saw the derm, he said it is not working if not better in 2 months, and that he doesn't like minocycline for acne due to side effects anyway. He then prescribed amoxicillin and a topical cream called Veltin that have worked MUCH better. I will say her side effects on minocycline were minimal (slight headaches the first week), but it didn't work for us."

• Ife...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2018

For Acne "This drug sucks. My doctor put me on it almost a week ago for my acne, and it didn't help at all. About a day later, I got a headache and my stomach hurt. I thought it would go away, but five days later it hurt worse and felt like my head was being condensed into the side of a tennis ball. I got dizzy going upstairs, and being in cars made me extremely nauseous. Last night I started freaking out, everything was abnormally/painfully loud, and I was in so much pain I just wanted someone to knock me out. The doctors started me on an IV with some drugs mixed in it that got rid of my massive headache. Sadly, my stomach ache has just gotten worse. All in all, this drug has made my week the worst of my life."

• Ami...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2018

For Acne "I took Minocycline for exactly 15 days. At first, I only got intense headaches. After taking the pills for 10 days, I told my mom that the pills made me feel uncomfortable (I had severe headaches and stomach pain). My mom suggested that I should keep taking them. On December 31, I noticed my hands swelling up. I put ice on it, yet it stayed the same. On New Year's, my neck, wrist, knees, elbows, and shoulders were swollen and red. I went to the hospital, and they gave me a shot of Benadryl. It worked for a few hours, yet on January 2, I got more hives and swelling. I bought liquid Benadryl, and I take it every 4-6 hours. Today is January 3, and I still have hives and swelling. The Minocycline didn’t even help my acne, it made it worse."

• Ami...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2018

For Acne "I took Minocycline for exactly 15 days. At first, I only got intense headaches. After taking the pills for 10 days, I told my mom that the pills made me feel uncomfortable (I had severe headaches and stomach pain). My mom suggested that I should keep taking them. On December 31, I noticed my hands swelling up. I put ice on it, yet it stayed the same. On New Year's, my neck, wrist, knees, elbows, and shoulders were swollen and red. I went to the hospital, and they gave me a shot of Benadryl. It worked for a few hours, yet on January 2, I got more hives and swelling. I bought liquid Benadryl, and I take it every 4-6 hours. Today is January 3, and I still have hives and swelling. The Minocycline didn’t even help my acne, it made it worse."

• gau...
• October 27, 2011

Minocycline for Rosacea "Cleared up my nose in 3 days, but have headache, little dizzy, foggy head."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 4, 2017

For Acne "The only thing this medication did was give me horrible headaches."

• DTo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2017

For Acne "Worked okay for acne. However, had nausea and headaches and had to stop taking."