Minocycline and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2020

For Acne "Minocycline made me super sick. I thought I had COVID but got two negative tests. I stopped taking it and started to feel better in about a day. Made me tired, nauseous, chest pain, headache, weird around the tonsils. Also didn't help with the acne the way other antibiotics have."

• Smi...
• January 10, 2014

Minocycline for Acne "So over winter break, I gained a HUGE allergic reaction from an acne face wash that made me break out with acne ALL over my face. BIG CYSTIC PIMPLES. Yeah, it was really bad. I was embarrassed, I didn't want my family to even see me. I was ashamed. My mother took me to the dermatologist that Friday, and I was prescribed Solodyn. I got a two-week prescription for free. I've had an amazing experience so far, it's only been a week, exactly a week from today that I've been on this medication. ($35 for a 3-month medication) I don't regret it at ALL. The only side effect it has had on me is tiredness after school. My acne has cleared about 90% if not more. I HIGHLY recommend this product to anyone with a very ugly acne breakout."

• Ste...
• July 26, 2015

Minocycline for Acne "I started taking this less than a week ago, but will be stopping it because of the side effects. It has helped my acne, but the side effects don't make it worth it. I constantly feel nauseous, have headaches, feel feverish, and am unusually exhausted."

• Emi...
• January 24, 2018

Minocycline for Acne "Solodyn worked amazingly. But, on day three, I experienced tiredness in my body physically. The day after I stopped taking it (day four), I was experiencing joint pains that weren’t pleasant. I thought this would be safer than Accutane, but it has some of the same side effects Accutane has. I don’t want to risk my health for clear skin. But remember, everyone reacts differently. You could have multiple side effects or none. Solodyn could work for you or it couldn’t. But if you ever do take it, don’t take it longer than three months, and every day, notice if you are showing any side effects. You are beautiful with or without acne. Don’t let your skin define you. Don’t let it rule over your life. You decide how acne affects your life."

• Cry...
• November 22, 2013

Minocycline for Acne "I have been on and off Solodyn, and it works awesome every time! I am 43 years old and started breaking out around my mouth. I was convinced it was adult acne. I never had acne in my younger years, so I figured now it was my turn. I went to my dermatologist, and he prescribed Solodyn. I noticed results as early as one week. I do get very dizzy and tired, so I take it a couple of hours before bed. It is very expensive, so make sure you get the discount card from your dermatologist."

• In...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2014

For Acne "I've been on minocycline for five days now, and I've noticed the acne on my skin starting to clear up pretty well, and I bet two more weeks would clear it fully. But the side effects are too difficult to bear. I feel far too tired, my mouth is always dry and has a bitter taste no matter what I eat or how much I brush my teeth. But most recently, my throat swelled up to the point where I could barely gulp. Overall, I think it has potential to be a great product. But for me, it wasn't worth the suffering."

• ter...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 2, 2017

Minocycline for Acne "Started taking this medication about 2 months ago, and it worked immediately. I usually average about one or two cystic acne breakouts a month, along with smaller pimples that pop up here and there, but Solodyn has kept my face clear throughout this whole time. The only side effects I've noticed are increased tiredness in the evening and minor migraines, but this is a payoff I'm willing to make for healthy skin!"

• MJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2019

For Acne "This medicine is horrible. I do not recommend this at all. My first week of taking this medication for my mild acne was cool, my skin even started to look a little different, but going into my second week, I noticed I was starting to itch everywhere and I was really, really tired and not myself. So I thought that it was normal or from something I ate or something. Then a day or two later, I started getting hives all over my body in different places every day, which is the worst itching ever. Benadryl wasn’t even working for me. My hands started to swell and my body became sore, and I woke up one morning and my eyes were swollen. I have had a bad allergic reaction to this medicine, and I wouldn’t put this medicine on my worst enemy! I have been off of this medicine for three days now, and I'm still going through this, the bad definitely outweighs the good with this medicine."

• sca...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 17, 2018

For Acne "I began taking this medication to treat my mild acne. It worked for a while, and I always felt tired, but it never seemed to really be a problem because I continued to be active. Fast forward two years, I had caught a virus, and my immune system was in full collapse. I had to be put into the hospital because my white blood count and platelet level were extremely low. They couldn’t figure it out for days, and then it was found that the minocycline had been attacking my immune system. It just wasn’t prevalent because I never got sick. Once I got off of it, my health began to get better, and I am well again. I would not recommend!!"

• new...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2014

For Acne "I was put on this for acne. The first two weeks, I dealt with dizziness and exhaustion. The day I reached two weeks, I broke out in terrible hives and severe joint pain that landed me in the ER. I really wanted this medicine to work but could not continue it."

• Anonymous
• September 28, 2011

Minocycline for Acne "Only on my second week of treatment, but it's not looking so good. I got it to treat some cystic acne on my back, and my skin cleared up quickly the first week. However, I'm tired all of the time, and the cystic acne's coming back with a vengeance. Just broke out with a line of huge pimples down my lower back, which has never happened, and some on my face, all of which are very painful. I'll continue the treatment for a few more weeks, but so far, things aren't looking good."

• Anonymous
• September 18, 2011

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I have been feeling very dizzy. It makes me feel lightheaded, weak, and tired. I was having perioral dermatitis, and so far it's actually working, but my skin is still hyperpigmented from the previous itching and flaking of the dry skin on my chin. I noticed that if I don't eat at least an hour before taking the pill, I pass out completely, and I feel lethargic."

• Anonymous
• September 18, 2011

For Skin or Soft Tissue Infection "I have been feeling very dizzy. It makes me feel lightheaded, weak, and tired. I was having perioral dermatitis, and so far it's actually working, but my skin is still hyperpigmented from the previous itching and flaking of the dry skin on my chin. I noticed that if I don't eat at least an hour before taking the pill, I pass out completely, and I feel lethargic."

• Jta...
• October 8, 2019

For Acne "Took this for two weeks. The first week I took it twice a day on an empty stomach. My acne began healing instantly, but there were side effects involved. I was always tired, exhausted, and my skin was a lot drier than normal because this drug affects the fatty acids on your skin. The side effects were too much, so I dropped to taking it once a day instead after the first week. I decided to stop taking this after one more week (two weeks total) because I didn't like the side effects, and I didn't want to risk getting long-term side effects like hives. This does work on getting rid of acne, but shouldn't be taken a long time. I've been off the stuff for a few days now and have noticed a small amount of acne popping up. If you're going to use this, I would say use it only while you focus on figuring out what really is causing your acne and fixing it. This stuff just kills off the bacteria on your skin while you're using it, but if you don't fix the core problem, the acne will return after you stop taking it."

• Jta...
• October 8, 2019

For Acne "Took this for two weeks. The first week I took it twice a day on an empty stomach. My acne began healing instantly, but there were side effects involved. I was always tired, exhausted, and my skin was a lot drier than normal because this drug affects the fatty acids on your skin. The side effects were too much, so I dropped to taking it once a day instead after the first week. I decided to stop taking this after one more week (two weeks total) because I didn't like the side effects, and I didn't want to risk getting long-term side effects like hives. This does work on getting rid of acne, but shouldn't be taken a long time. I've been off the stuff for a few days now and have noticed a small amount of acne popping up. If you're going to use this, I would say use it only while you focus on figuring out what really is causing your acne and fixing it. This stuff just kills off the bacteria on your skin while you're using it, but if you don't fix the core problem, the acne will return after you stop taking it."

• Emm...
• November 29, 2016

Minocycline for Acne "I started taking Solodyn 80 mg for a month after stopping my birth control and developing cystic acne as a result of stopping it. I have the giant cystic ones that come back worse every time I stop an antibiotic for acne (two rounds of doxy, one round of minocycline). So I took it for eight weeks total and noticed significant hair loss over those eight weeks with mild improvement in my acne. I got fewer giant pimples that were deep and under the surface, but within one and a half weeks of stopping, I have them probably worse than ever. Felt tired and lazy most of the time while I was on it and had trouble focusing. Not worth the side effects for minimal improvement. Hope you have better luck."

• Anonymous
• April 11, 2012

For Acne "I have moderate acne. I have used almost every single product, but not orally. Minocycline is the first kind of pill I have ever taken (I could never swallow pills, but finally I am able to). This is my 2nd day on minocycline, and I already feel dizzy and tired. I also use adapalene along with minocycline. I have already started to see slight changes in my face."

• Anonymous
• April 17, 2010

Minocycline for Acne "My skin has improved a ton since using Solodyn. I've only been on it for a month, but my neck has completely cleared up and my face has gotten 80% times better. My chest has cleared up some but still breaks out a little bit, but my back is pretty much the same, just my breakouts aren't as big. I no longer get cysts on my face, and if I do get a zit or two, they clear up within 1-2 days! The only bad things I'd really have to say is that it doesn't help all that much with my blackheads. I still get redness from zits, and I get really tired now (which I kind of like because I'm a teenager and have issues going to sleep at night, but it really doesn't help out in the middle of class when I'm too tired to focus). I would recommend this though."

• 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."

• joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2018

For Acne "I was prescribed minocycline after taking many doses of doxycycline. I would have to say that it worked to keep more acne from forming, but it didn’t really get rid of it. I have now built up an immunity to it after 6 months, and it is not effective. I was oftentimes dizzy and am generally more tired from this drug, but those side effects are doable. I was now prescribed Bactrim and hope to see results."

• 27D...
• June 10, 2018

For Acne "I took minocycline a while back when I was around 18 years old. I was on a minocycline cycle for about a year, taking two pills a day. My skin cleared up completely after around 2 months of taking this antibiotic, my scars were fading as well since I was also applying isotretinoin (topical treatment) on my skin. All of this came at a VERY high cost, which in my opinion is not worth it. The whole time I was taking minocycline, I experienced lightheadedness (to the point where I would lose balance sometimes), blurry vision, dizziness, my memory started failing, and I would feel tired all the time. After about a year of taking minocycline, I decided to stop the treatment. After I stopped taking minocycline, my skin remained clear for about 2 weeks, after that, my acne came back worse, and I got new scars caused by cystic acne. Minocycline will not cure your acne, it will just 'hide it' while you are in treatment, but as soon as you stop taking it, it will all come back."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2018

For Acne "I had mild cystic acne before taking the pill. After a week, I saw some improvements, it made my redness go away, and some of my big pimples were gone. But after 3 weeks of taking the pill, it made my acne worse. It made me break out in places I normally would not break out, it made my skin super dry and gave me rashes on my back everywhere. It would sting every time I put on a gentle moisturizer and cleanser and made me super dizzy and tired easily. Not one of the best pills to take."

• Lex...
• January 4, 2017

For Acne "I just got prescribed these pills today. Took 100 mg an hour after eating. One hour later, I'm really tired. And I've been reading some pretty scary reviews. I was on doxycycline 100 mg. I'm 38. I'm talking to my doctor tomorrow to get put back on doxy."

• Cle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2018

For Acne "This medication worked. 100 mg twice daily. It cleared my skin. With that being said, it made me feel tired, dizzy, and had an upset stomach to begin with."