Minocycline 100mg MR Capsules

What are Minocycline Capsules and what are they used for?

Minocycline MR 100mg capsules are used to treat symptoms of acne. The active ingredient, minocycline hydrochloride, belongs to the group of medicines known as tetracycline antibiotics that effectively kill the bacteria that infect the skin and lead to acne.

Minocycline capsules are suitable for treating mild to moderate acne where there is an active infection and visible inflammation. The duration of treatment will depend on how quickly your condition improves. For acne, Minocycline MR capsules will normally be taken for at least eight weeks.

Each capsule contains 100mg of minocycline in a modified-release formulation. The modified-release formulation means that they only need to be taken once daily and can be prescribed for use by adults over the age of 18 years.

How does Minocycline work?

Acne is formed when there is an excess of sebum and dead skin cells present on the skin, which then feeds the bacteria that already live on the skin causing them to flourish. The waste products produced by the bacteria can block pores and irritate the skin leading to acne. By killing these bacteria, Minocycline capsules help to reduce the build-up of bacterial byproducts and clear up acne. You should also wash your face with a mild cleanser to help keep it clear of excess sebum and keratin skin cells.

How quickly does Minocycline work?

Ensure you take Minocycline capsules regularly and be patient with your treatment. It can take up to 6 weeks to start to see an improvement. This allows the time for the antibiotics to kill the excess bacteria on your skin and then time for your skin to heal the spots that are already in the affected area.

Alternatives to Minocycline

Minocycline MR capsules are also available to buy from The Independent Pharmacy as the branded treatment, Minocin MR capsules.

National guidelines recommend that you should use a topical acne treatment alongside an antibiotic treatment for acne to achieve the best results. Topical acne treatments that work well with MInocycline include:

• Acnecide Gel (benzoyl peroxide)
• Differin Cream/Gel (adapalene)
• Epiduo Gel (adapalene & benzoyl peroxide)
• Skinoren Cream (azelaic acid)

Minocycline should not be taken with other acne treatments that contain antibiotics. These include:

• Oral antibiotics: Oxytetracycline, Tetralysal
• Topical antibiotics: Dalacin-T, Duac, Zineryt, Treclin

Sources

• Minocycline, Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/e...
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acne/treatment
• https://cks.nice.org.uk/acne-vulgaris#!scenarioRecommendation

Minocycline 100mg MR Capsules dosage

• You should take one Minocycline MR capsule daily, at the same time each day
• Minocycline MR capsules should always be taken with a full glass of water
• Minocycline MR should be taken on an empty stomach, this is usually one hour before food or two hours after food
• Minocycline MR capsules should not be taken at the same time as indigestion remedies. A gap of 2 -3 hours should be left between taking each treatment

For treating acne, you will normally need to take Minocycline MR capsules for at least 8 weeks. Treatment should be assessed after 3 months to determine whether it has been effective. If your treatment has been effective, you can continue to take Minocycline MR if necessary. If there has been no improvement in your acne, you should stop taking Minocycline MR and consider a different acne treatment. Minocycline can be taken continuously for up to six months depending on response.

Minocycline 100mg MR Capsules ingredients

Minocycline capsules contain the active ingredient: minocycline hydrochloride 100mg in a prolonged release formulation.

Each capsules also contains the inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, povidone, iron oxide red (E172), iron oxide yellow (E172), silica colloidal anhydrous, magnesium stearate, hypromellose phthalate, triethyl citrate, carnauba wax, gelatin, Opadry OY-S-24932 pink which contains hypromellose 2910, macrogol 6000, titanium dioxide (E171), talc, iron oxide red (E172).

Minocycline 100mg MR Capsules side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with Minocycline MR 100mg capsules. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Dizziness
• Spinning sensation (vertigo)
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Pins and needles or numb sensations
• Sensation of ringing, or other noise in the ears (tinnitus)
• Difficulty or pain when swallowing (dysphagia)
• Inflammation or ulceration of the foodpipe (tablets or capsules should be swallowed whole with plenty of fluid while sitting or standing to avoid this)
• Skin reactions such as rash and itch
• Hair loss
• Abnormal reaction of the skin to light, usually a rash (photosensitivity)
• Staining of skin, nails, teeth, sweat, tears, eyes, breast milk (see warning section above)
• Discolouration of teeth
• Overgrowth of the yeast Candida, which may cause infection such as thrush (see warning section above)
• Inflammation of the bowel (colitis) - see warning section above
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Raised pressure within the skull (consult your doctor if you get a severe persistent headache, or double or blurred vision while taking this medicine)
• Liver disorders (consult your doctor if you experience yellowing of your skin or eyes (jaundice) while taking this medicine)
• Blood disorders (consult your doctor if you experience bruising, sore throat, fever or infections while taking this medicine)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with Mincycline, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Minocycline 100mg MR Capsules warnings

• You are allergic to any of the ingredients contained within these capsules
• You are in kidney failure
• Minocycline capsules should not be taken by children under the age of 12 years

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking Minocycline capsules if any of the following apply:

• You have kidney or liver problems
• You have Gravis Myasthenia a condition causing muscle weakness
• You have SLE (Erythematosus Lupus Systemic

Minocycline and other medicines

Please inform your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medication if you are currently taking any of the following medicines:

• Quinapril- for the treatment of high blood and heart disease
• Ranitidine bismuth citrate, tripotassium and sucralfate - for stomach ulcers
• Antacids
  
• Vitamins or preparations containing iron, calcium or aluminium
• Kaolin - upset stomachs
• Strontium ranelate - osteoporosis
• Ergotamine and methysergide - migraines
• Certain antibiotics - amoxicillin, ampicillin, cefadroxil, cefaclor, cefalexin
• Warfarin - to thin your blood
• Diuretics - amiloride, furosemideor thiazides
  
• oral contraceptive pills

Minocycline, pregnancy and breastfeeding

Do not take Minocycline capsules if you are pregnant or you are breastfeeding. If you are struggling with acne at this time you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Before taking Minocycline capsules you should ensure you have read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly.