Kathleen Gaines, MSN, RN, CBC, is a nurse and health journalist, as well as an adjunct clinical faculty member at hospitals in the Philadelphia area.

Scott J. Zashin, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology. He was a volunteer clinical professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Dallas.

Minocin (minocycline) is a second generation tetracycline antibiotic. It is used to treat gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial infections. It works to treat infections by preventing the growth and spread of bacteria. It is taken in capsule form.

Minocycline is currently the most effective tetracycline derivative at providing neuroprotection. It has anti-inflammatory effects and has been used off-label in treating rheumatoid arthritis. 

This antibiotic does not work against the common cold and other viruses. It's important to note that using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.

Minocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic that is used to treat bacterial infections including:

This antibiotic is considered a second line drug for those individuals with a penicillin allergy. For that reason it can be used to treat:

Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, minocycline is sometimes used to treat mild rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the past, it was considered for new-onset RA. However, the 2015 American College of Rheumatology guidelines for treating RA dropped minocycline due to it rarely being used and there being no new studies on it. 

Currently, there is some research that indicates minocycline can be used off label for schizophrenia, psychotic symptoms, and bipolar depression.  Additional studies are being conducted to further examine the effectiveness of minocycline in treating neurologic disorders such as : 

It’s important to discuss with your medical provider all allergies to medications prior to taking a minocycline. Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to minocycline or tetracycline antibiotics. Other precautions and contraindications include:

Talk to your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and vitamins that you currently take. While some drugs pose minor interaction risks, others may outright contraindicate use or prompt careful consideration as to whether the pros of treatment outweigh the cons in your case.

Minocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. Other tetracycline antibiotics include:

All listed dosages are according to the drug manufacturer. Check your prescription and talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you are taking the right dose for you. 

Adults: General dosing guidelines are 200 milligrams (mg) initially followed by 100 mg every 12 hours or take 100-200 mg initially followed by 50 mg capsule four times daily.

Specific dosage for certain infections include:

Pediatric patients above 8 years old: 4 mg/kg initially followed by 2 mg/kg every 12 hours

Exact dosage and frequency will be determined by your healthcare provider but the FDA suggests: 

Follow these guidelines for storage: 

As with all medications, there are possible side effects you may experience while taking minocycline. Common side effects include:

While the aforementioned side effects are relatively common, if any of the symptoms are severe or do not go away it is important to contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Even though these may be rare, minocycline does have side effects that require immediate medical attention as they can be life-threatening:

Dealing with chronic inflammation? An anti-inflammatory diet can help. Our free recipe guide shows you the best foods to fight inflammation. Get yours today!

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Garrido‐Mesa N, Zarzuelo A, Gálvez J. Minocycline: far beyond an antibiotic. British journal of pharmacology. 2013;169(2), 337-352. doi:10.1111/bph.12139

McEvoy T. Minocycline: Rheumatoid arthritis. Hosp Pharm. 2016;51(7):535-538. doi:10.1310/hpj5107-535

Dean OM, Data-Franco J, Giorlando F, Berk M. Minocycline: therapeutic potential in psychiatry. CNS Drugs. 2012 May 1;26(5):391-401. doi:10.2165/11632000-000000000-00000

Bortolasci CC, Marx W, Walker AJ, Hasebe K, Kavanagh BE, Morris MJ, Mohebbi M, Turner A, Gray L, Berk L, Walder K, Berk M, Dean OM. Minocycline for the treatment of mental health and neurological conditions: study protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2020 Mar 19;10(3):e035080. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035080

Food and Drug Administration. Minocin.

Merola JM. UpToDate. Drug-induced lupus.

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