Minocycline Topical Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 28, 2025.

Applies to minocycline topical: topical application foam.

Other dosage forms:

• subgingival powder

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to see if the medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

If your or your child's symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Minocycline may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you Stop taking minocycline topical. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Tell your doctor right away if you have confusion, diarrhea, loss of appetite, sleepiness, tiredness, unusual bleeding, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

This medicine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or spinning feeling. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

This medicine may cause intracranial hypertension (increased pressure in the head). This is more likely to occur in women of childbearing age who are overweight. Tell your doctor right away if you have a headache, blurred vision, or other change in vision.

Autoimmune syndromes (including drug-induced lupus-like syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis, vasculitis and serum sickness) may occur while using this medicine. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have a fever, rash, joint pain, or body weakness while using this medicine.

Minocycline may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for short periods of time, may cause skin rash, itching, redness or other discoloration of the skin, or a severe sunburn. When you begin taking this medicine:

• Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., if possible.
• Wear protective clothing, including a hat. Also, wear sunglasses.
• Apply a sunblock product that has a sun protection factor (SPF) number of at least 15. Some patients may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if they have a fair complexion. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
• Do not use a sun lamp or tanning bed or booth.
• If you have a severe reaction from the sun, check with your doctor right away.

Serious skin or allergic reactions, which can be life-threatening, may occur during treatment with this medicine. Call your doctor right away if you have blistering or peeling of the skin, chest pain, dark urine, fever, hives, irregular heartbeat, skin rash, sores in the mouth, stomach pain, swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet, swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, or yellow eyes or skin.

Check with your doctor right away if you have darkening of the skin, scars, teeth, or gums.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before you have medical tests.

Do not use cosmetics or other skin care products on the treated areas.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of minocycline topical

Along with its needed effects, minocycline topical may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking minocycline topical:

Other side effects of minocycline topical

Some side effects of minocycline topical may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

See also:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to minocycline topical: mucous membrane insert, topical foam.

General adverse events

Minocycline topical powder is intended for local application only. Systemic effects from the absorption of small amounts of the drug are unlikely.^[Ref]

Other

Other side effects have included headache (9%) and pain (4.3%).^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included stomatitis (6.4%), mouth ulceration (5%), and mucous membrane disorder (3.3%).^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included dyspepsia (4%).^[Ref]

Local

Local side effects have included periodontitis (16.3%), tooth disorder (12.3%), tooth caries (9.9%), dental pain (9.9%), gingivitis (9.2%), pharyngitis (4.3%), and dental infection (3.8%).^[Ref]

Immunologic

Immunologic side effects have included flu syndrome (5%) and infection (7.6%).^[Ref]

Further information

Minocycline topical side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer