Aknemin

How does it work?

This medicine contains the active ingredient minocycline hydrochloride, which belongs to a group of antibiotics called the tetracyclines. It is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Minocycline works by interfering with the ability of bacteria to produce proteins that are essential to them. Without these proteins the bacteria cannot grow, multiply and increase in numbers. Minocycline therefore stops the spread of the infection and the remaining bacteria are killed by the immune system or eventually die. Minocycline is a broad spectrum antibiotic that is active against a wide variety of bacteria. However, some strains of bacteria have developed resistance to this antibiotic, which has reduced its effectiveness for treating some types of infection. Minocycline is used to treat infections caused by susceptible bacteria, which may affect the skin, genitals (eg gonorrhoea, urethritis, prostatitis, pelvic inflammatory disease), urinary tract, lungs (eg bronchitis, pneumonia, lung abcess, nocardiosis), eye, ear, nose and throat. It may also be used to prevent infections before and after surgery. To make sure the bacteria causing an infection are susceptible to minocycline your doctor may take a tissue sample, for example a swab from the infected area, or a urine or blood sample. Minocycline is also used to treat acne, as it is active against the bacteria associated with acne, Propionebacterium acnes. This is a common type of bacteria that feeds on sebum produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. It produces waste products and fatty acids that irritate the sebaceous glands, making them inflamed and causing spots. By controlling bacterial numbers, minocycline brings the inflammation of the sebaceous glands under control, and allows the skin to heal.

What is it used for?

Acne vulgaris

Bronchitis

Eye infections

Gonorrhoea

Infections of the ears, nose or throat

Infections of the urinary tract

Inflammation of the prostate gland due to infection

Inflammation of the urethra due to infection (urethritis)

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pneumonia

Prevention of infections following surgery

Skin or soft tissue infections

Warning!

This medicine may reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you and you are sure it won't affect your performance.

Slight blue/black/grey staining of the skin, teeth, nails, inside of mouth, eyes, tears, breast milk or sweat has sometimes been reported with this medicine. This can occur at any time but is more common during long-term treatment. Any skin or mouth staining usually disappears a few months after stopping treatment, but staining in other parts of the body, although less common, may persist. A persistent muddy-brown skin stain has also been reported, particularly in sun-exposed areas of skin. Consult your doctor without delay if you notice any staining so your treatment can be reviewed.

If treatment with this medicine is continued for longer than 6 months, then your doctor should ask to see you regularly, usually every three months, to monitor for possible side effects on the liver or a condition called systemic lupus erythmatosus.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is important that you finish the prescribed course of this antibiotic medicine, even if you feel better or it seems the infection has cleared up. Stopping the course early increases the chance that the infection will come back and that the bacteria will grow resistant to the antibiotic.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics can sometimes cause diarrhoea. If you experience diarrhoea that becomes severe or persistent or contains blood or mucus, either during or after taking this medicine, you should consult your doctor immediately.

This medicine should be swallowed whole with plenty of water while you are sitting or standing. This is to prevent the medicine irritating the throat. Avoid taking a dose just before going to bed.

Consult your doctor if you get a severe persistant headache, or double or blurred vision while taking this medicine.

Use with caution in

Abnormal muscle weakness

Decreased liver function

Long-term inflammation of skin and some internal organs (systemic lupus erythematosus)

People taking medicines that may have side effects on the liver

Severely decreased kidney function

Not to be used in

Allergy to other tetracycline antibiotics, eg doxycycline, minocycline

Breastfeeding

Children under 12 years of age

Kidney failure

Pregnancy

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine should not be used during pregnancy as it may be harmful to the unborn baby. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Significant amounts of this medicine may pass into breast milk. It should not be used by breastfeeding mothers. Discuss this with your doctor.

Label warnings

Do not take iron preparations or indigestion remedies at the same time of day as this medication.

Take at regular intervals. Complete the prescribed course unless otherwise directed.

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