Dangers in taking Minocycline
Minocycline is a controversial antibiotic used in the treatment of bacterial infections and most commonly in the treatment of severe acne. Two deaths have so far been reported after taking this medication and studies show that a number of health conditions including respiratory failure, pulmonary complications were a result from taking this antibiotic.
How it works
Minocycline works by killing and stopping the growth of the Propionebacterium acnes bacteria throughout the body, this destruction then leads to a decrease in the inflammation associated with acne.
Like other antibiotics, Minocycline has no means of differentiating between bad and beneficial bacteria, so what it does is end up killing ALL the bacteria including the good ones that our body needs to be able to naturally fight off these infections in the first place. This means the bacteria will eventually re-grow, and it is when the bad bacteria re-outgrow the good, that the infection will re occur.
Brand names for Minocycline include aknemin, minocin and sebomin. Minocycline is taken orally and is available in the forms of capsule and tablet.
The Dangers!
Two deaths and a host of potentially serious. side effects led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of America to classify Minocycline in the Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) list. It is also worth to note that various studies have shown that many of these side effects occur in 50 to 70% of women undergoing treatment with Minocycline. Symptoms may vary from one person to another due to the difference in biological make up.
You are warned not take this antibiotic if you are pregnant or are breast feeding as it is harmful to the baby. You are also advised not to take Minocycline if you suffer from any other health conditions such as kidney and liver problems, lupus erythematosus, have tired or weak muscles or have any known allergy. This advice is given because Minocycline is made from dangerous chemicals which can have serious effects within your body. And yet, people suffering from acne may also be predisposed to various other health conditions even without being aware of it. It is also likely that you will not undergo all the necessary tests before commencing treatment and even if you undergo them, there is no guarantee that you will not suffer from them in the future. In fact, Minocycline itself may be responsible for the development of these health problems.
The most common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Stomach upset
- Mouth sores
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to sunlight
Serious side effects:
- Jaundice observed through yellowing of skin and the whites of the eyes
- Blurred vision
- Severe rash
- Bruising
- Vertigo
- Intracranial hypertension
- Difficult breathing
- Tinitus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Cerebral edema
- Tinnitus
