Minocycline is an antibiotic that belongs to the tetracycline family of medications. It’s most commonly used to treat urinary tract infections, acne, bacterial skin infections, and other conditions caused by bacteria.
Minocycline helps fight bacterial infections by stopping the growth of disease-causing bacteria. Because it attacks bacterial cells and doesn’t affect human cells, minocycline is also referred to as a “bacteria-targeted” antibiotic.
This article explores if you can buy minocycline over the counter and what the different minocycline brands are.
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Is Minocycline Only Available By Prescription?
Tablets and capsules containing minocycline are usually only available with a prescription.
However, some types of minocycline are available over the counter in certain countries and some formulations. The most common of these is a topical gel for acne. Minocycline is also available in a more expensive sustained-release (SR) form to decrease the likelihood of experiencing side effects.
One reason that oral minocycline is usually prescribed is that it can cause severe side effects in some people. These side effects are more likely to occur in people who take the drug orally or at a daily dose of more than 100 mg per day.
What Are The Different Brands Of Minocycline?
There are a variety of minocycline brands available. Tablets: Solodyn, Minocin, Dynacin, and Minomycin. Capsules: Dynacin, and Solodyn. Intravenous: Dynacin. And finally, a topical gel for acne: Soolantra.
Can You Buy Minocycline Over The Counter?
Minocycline is available in a topical acne cream for people over the age of 12 that is available over the counter in some countries. However, there are a few different formulations of the over-the-counter topical gel.
The most common is the 3% gel, which is the same strength as the prescription topical gel. The only difference between the two is that the prescription version is packaged in single-use vials, while the OTC version is dispensed in tubes.
The other two over-the-counter minocycline creams are a 5% gel for more advanced cases of acne, and an isotretinoin-minocycline combination acne treatment. This second option is something of a hybrid in that it contains both minocycline and isotretinoin.
The 3% and 5% versions of the OTC cream are not considered to be first-line treatments for acne, but rather are a second-line option for people who have not responded well to other acne treatments.
Who Shouldn’t Take Minocycline?
You shouldn’t take minocycline if you have an allergy to tetracycline antibiotics. These include doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline, and tigecycline. You also shouldn’t take minocycline if you have kidney disease or liver disease.
People with a history of mental illness (or a family history of mental illness) or seizure disorders (especially epilepsy) should also avoid taking minocycline. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding shouldn’t take minocycline, as it could negatively affect the baby.
How Effective Is Minocycline?
In clinical studies, minocycline was found to be effective against a wide range of pathogens. It was most effective against moderate-to-severe acne and moderate-to-severe rosacea. Minocycline was less effective against psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa, although it was better than no treatment at all.
The best way to determine whether or not minocycline is effective is to consult a dermatologist.
Side Effects Of Minocycline
Some of the most common side effects of minocycline include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, and rash. Some people experience more serious side effects, such as blurred vision, difficulty urinating, and a ringing in the ears. Rarely, minocycline can cause serious side effects such as hallucinations and confusion.
The likelihood of experiencing serious side effects is increased if you take a high dose of minocycline or if you take it over a long period of time. The likelihood of experiencing less serious side effects is increased if you are under the age of 25 or over the age of 65.
Conclusion
The most common use of minocycline is to fight infections caused by bacteria. While it is often prescribed, it is also available over the counter in certain formulations. There are a variety of different brands of minocycline, although not all of them are available over the counter.
While minocycline is often effective against bacterial infections, it is less effective against infections caused by viruses. It is also important to note that minocycline is not as effective in people who are taking certain types of medication.
