Acne: treatment with minocycline

Forty-seven patients with acne, unresponsive to tetracycline and erythromycin, were treated with 100 mg minocycline daily. About one-quarter showed a 50% improvement or better. Five patients became dizzy during the first week of therapy, making it necessary to stop the medication in four instances. Two patients stopped treatment after several months because of esophagitis in one and headaches in another. Vestibular side effects are the most common complication of treatment. Patients should be warned about this side effect and if it occurs should avoid driving or handling machines. In some instances, dizziness may be so severe that the drug will have to be discontinued.