Minocycline

Minocycline is used to treat moderate to severe acne in people 12 years and older. It helps to reduce the number of pimples. Minocycline belongs to a class of drugs known as tetracycline antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria that may make acne worse.

Minocycline treats acne that is thought to be caused by a bacterial infection. It will not work for viral infections (such as common cold, flu). Using any antibiotic when it is not needed can cause it to not work for future infections.

Minocycline is also used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, severe acne, gonorrhea, tick fever, chlamydia, and others.

Minocycline is available under the following different brand names: Dynacin, Minocin, Minocin Kit, Solodyn, and Ximino.

Dosage Forms and Strengths

Tablet/capsule

• 50 mg
• 75 mg
• 100 mg

Tablet

• 45 mg
• 55 mg
• 65 mg
• 80 mg
• 90 mg
• 105 mg
• 115 mg
• 135 mg

Injection, intravenous

• 100 mg/vial

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Acne Vulgaris

Adults:

• 50-100 mg orally twice daily
• Solodyn (extended-release tablet): 1 mg/kg orally once/day
• Administer therapy for 12 weeks
• Extended-release tablets
  • 45-49 kg: 45 mg once/day (1-0.92 mg/kg)
  • 50-59 kg: 55 mg once/day (1.1-0.93 mg/kg)
  • 60-71 kg: 65 mg once/day (1.08-0.92 mg/kg)
  • 72-84 kg: 80 mg once/day (1.11-0.95 mg/kg)
  • 85-96 kg: 90 mg once/day (1.06-0.94 mg/kg)
  • 97-110 kg: 105 mg once/day (1.08-0.95 mg/kg)
  • 111-125 kg: 115 mg once/day (1.04-0.92 mg/kg)
  • 126-136 kg: 135 mg once/day (1.07-0.99 mg/kg)

Pediatric:

Children under 12 years

• Safety and efficacy not established
• Immediate-release products: 4 mg/kg orally initially (not to exceed 200 mg), THEN 2 mg/kg/day orally every 12 hours; not to exceed 400 mg/day
• Solodyn (extended-release tablet): 1 mg/kg orally once/day
• Administer therapy for 12 weeks
• Extended-release tablets
  • 45-49 kg: 45 mg once/day (1-0.92 mg/kg)
  • 50-59 kg: 55 mg once/day (1.1-0.93 mg/kg)
  • 60-71 kg: 65 mg once/day (1.08-0.92 mg/kg)
  • 72-84 kg: 80 mg once/day (1.11-0.95 mg/kg)
  • 85-96 kg: 90 mg once/day (1.06-0.94 mg/kg)
  • 97-110 kg: 105 mg once/day (1.08-0.95 mg/kg)
  • 111-125 kg: 115 mg once/day (1.04-0.92 mg/kg)
  • 126-136 kg: 135 mg once/day (1.07-0.99 mg/kg)

Purulent Cellulitis (Off-label)

• Community acquired MRSA: 200 mg orally initially
• Maintenance: 100 mg orally twice daily for 5-10 days

Chlamydial or Ureaplasma Urealyticum

• Uncomplicated infection: 100 mg orally every 12 hours for at least 7 days

Gonococcal Infection

• Uncomplicated infection: 100 mg orally every 12 hours for at least 7 days

• Uncomplicated infection in males (no anorectal infections or presence of urethritis: 200 mg orally initially)
• Maintenance: 100 mg orally twice daily for at least 4 days
• Uncomplicated gonococcal urethritis in men: 100 mg orally every 12 hours for 5 days

Meningococcal Carrier State

• 100 mg orally every 12 hours for 5 days

Urethral, Endocervical, or Rectal Infections

• Caused by C. trachomatis or U. urealyticum (uncomplicated infection): 100 mg orally every 12 hours for 7 days

Mycobacterium marinum

• 100 mg orally every 12 hours for 6-8 weeks

Syphilis

• 200 mg orally initially, followed by 100 mg every 12 hours for 10-15 days

Rheumatoid Arthritis (Off-label)

• 100 mg orally twice daily

Infective Endocarditis

• 100 mg intravenously (IV) twice daily for at least 5 weeks

Infections, General Dosing

• Adult: 200 mg orally/IV initially, THEN 100 mg orally/IV every 12 hours; not to exceed 400 mg/day, OR
• Alternatively, 200 mg orally initially, THEN 100 mg orally every 12 hours; OR 100-200 mg initially; THEN 50 mg orally q6hr
• Children 8 years and under: Not recommended, unless unable to take other, alternate antibiotics
• Children over 8 years: 4 mg/kg orally/IV initially; not to exceed 200 mg; THEN 2 mg/kg orally/IV every 12 hours; not to exceed adult dose; not to exceed 100 mg orally/IV every 12 hours for 5-10 days

Dosing Considerations

Susceptible organisms

• Acinetobacter baumannii, Actinomyces spp, Afipia felis, Bacteroides spp, Bartonella bacilliformis, Borrelia recurrentis, Brucella spp, Burkholderia cepacia, Klebsiella granulomatis, Campylobacter jejuni, Chlamydia spp, Clostridium spp, Coxiella burnetii, Eikenella corrodens, Escherichia coli, Entamoeba spp, Francisella tularensis, Haemophilus ducreyi, Legionella pneumophila, Leptospira interrogans, Listeria monocytogenes, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Nocardia asteroides, Prevotella melaninogenica, Propionibacterium acnes, Rickettsiae, Shigella spp, MRSA, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Treponema pallidum, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Vibrio cholerae, Yersinia pestis, Yersinia enterocolitica, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, mycobacteria other than tuberculosis

Dosing Modifications

• Renal impairment: Reduce dose and/or frequency