The use of doxycycline and tetracycline in ocular rosacea

The authors compared the effects of doxycycline and tetracycline hydrochloride on subjective symptoms in ocular rosacea. Twenty-four patients with symptomatic ocular rosacea were prospectively treated with doxycycline 100 mg/day (group 1, n=16) or tetracycline hydrochloride 1g/day (group 2, n=8). The dosages of each drug were gradually tapered and discontinued according to symptomatic response. Patients were followed from six weeks to three years. In group 1, 15 patients (94%) had symptomatic improvement (12 patients were asymptomatic and three symptomatically improved), and two patients (13%) had gastrointestinal tract (GIT) complications followed by discontinuation of medication. In group 2, seven of the eight patients (87%) were asymptomatic and one patient (13%) had symptomatic improvement; three patients discontinued the use of tetracycline as a result of GIT complaints. This study indicates that both tetracycline hydrochloride and doxycycline can control the symptoms of ocular rosacea.