Comparing Doxycycline vs Rifampin

For Acne it’s been two months since I started using doxycycline. Guys, oh boy, it TRULY gets worse before it gets better. It took so long for me to see any improvement. Now a few parts of my face are pretty clear, but I've still got a ways to go. I think doxycycline is worth a try, but know what you’re getting into. It won’t get better in a week like I thought it would, it’s a long process.

For Acne I went on Doxycycline about 7 months ago, after having mild to moderate acne that was persistent. I tried everything from topical treatments to every face wash out there, to drug store blemish topical treatments, to birth control, to eating healthfully and cutting out gluten and dairy. At first, Doxycycline initially made me break out worse than before but after a month my skin was spotless. It remained 100% clear and I thought I had found my "miracle fix."Sadly, last month I went off of the drug and my face broke out worse than it ever has before. After some research, I found out it was because antibiotics kill both the good and the bad bacteria in our gut, and we need good bacteria in order to have a healthy digestive tract. I have started taking a Probiotic in hopes it will replenish the good bacteria in my intestine. If you are taking Doxy, YOU MUST BE TAKING A PROBIOTIC AT THE SAME TIME! I am shocked doctors don't have to prescribe it along with the prescription.I hope this helps!

For Tuberculosis, Latent I just finished a 4 month regimen of Rifampin. It was prescribed when I was tested for TB in preparation for starting on a biologic for Rheumatoid Arthritis. I have no idea how/when I was exposed to TB but I couldn't start the biologic until the latent TB was addressed. I will never know if it was "effective" since I will always test positive for TB antigens but I'm glad I took it-didn't have much of a choice! It was not an easy medication to take but I got through the course of treatment better than I anticipated. I did have slight nausea at the beginning and intermittent watery diarrhea throughout. I don't know if the other side effects (fatigue, primarily) I experienced were side effects of Rifampin or symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

For Tuberculosis, Latent This is a very intense antibiotic with persistent side effects. I have been on this medication for one month and continue to experience nausea and vomiting. I have been fortunate to not experience reddening of my saliva or tears, but other body fluids have changed. My hepatic enzymes have more than doubled baseline values and continue to climb. It does its job well, but it is a tough 4 months to get through.