Minocycline (generic Minocin) is a form of the antibiotic tetracycline.
Urinary tract infections caused by certain microbes
Minocycline How To Take
Follow the directions for using Minocycline provided by your doctor. SWALLOW WHOLE. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing. TAKE THIS MEDICINE with a full glass (8 oz./240 ml) of water. DO NOT LIE DOWN for 30 minutes after taking this medicine. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE with food or milk unless otherwise directed. This medicine is sometimes taken with food or milk if it upsets your stomach. However, certain medicines, food, and milk may bind with minocycline preventing its full absorption. To avoid this problem take minocycline 2-3 hours before or after taking any food, milk, or medicines containing magnesium, aluminum, or calcium. Some examples include quinapril, didanosine, vitamins/minerals, antacids, sucralfate, bismuth subsalicylate, iron, and zinc.
Minocycline Side Effects
Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Minocycline.
Side effects may include:
Blisters, blood disorders, bruising, bulging of soft spots on infants' heads, colitis, cough, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, discolored nails or teeth, discolored skin or body fluids, dizziness, drowsiness, fever, hair loss, headache, heart inflammation, hives, indigestion, inflamed esophagus, inflamed mouth or tongue, inflamed penis, itching, hearing loss, hives, joint pain, joint stiffness or swelling, kidney disorders, liver disorders, loss of appetite, loss of feeling, muscle pain, nausea, oral or anal sores with fungus infection, pancreatitis, peeling skin, poor tooth enamel, rash, ringing in the ears, seizures, sensitivity to light, severe allergic reactions, shortness of breath, swollen mouth and throat, thyroid disorders, tingling, vaginal inflammation, vertigo, vomiting, wheezing
Minocycline Medical Precautions
If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, consult with your doctor. Minocycline MAY CAUSE increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun or sunlamps until you know how you react to this medication. Use a sunscreen or protective clothing if you must be outside for a prolonged period. IF YOU EXPERIENCE difficulty breathing; tightness of chest; swelling of eyelids, face, or lips; or if you develop a rash or hives, tell your doctor immediately. Do not take any more doses of this medicine unless your doctor tells you to do so. USE OF THIS MEDICINE IN CHILDREN may cause permanent discoloring of the teeth. FOR WOMEN: TAKING THIS MEDICINE while you are using birth control pills may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Use an additional form of birth control while you are taking this medicine. THIS MEDICINE HAS BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE HARM to the human fetus. IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. THIS MEDICINE IS EXCRETED IN BREAST MILK. DO NOT BREAST-FEED while taking this medicine. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, consult with your doctor. This includes any medications that contain bismuth. Caution should be used in the elderly since they may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine.
Do not take Minocycline (generic Minocin) if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it or to any other tetracycline antibiotic. Although Minocin may be given to kill meningococcal (spinal) bacteria in people who are carriers, it should not be given to treat actual meningococcal meningitis (inflammation in the spinal canal). Minocin is not a first-choice drug for treating any staphylococcal ("staph") infection.
Minocycline Drug Interactions
If Minocycline hydrochloride is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be decreased, increased, or altered. It is especially important to consult with your doctor before combining Minocyclin with the following:
