Minocycline (Minocin) Uses

Minocycline belongs to a group called tetracycline antibiotics. It is used to treat bacterial infections in many parts of the body, including respiratory infections; eye, skin, and soft tissue infections; and infections of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and lymphatic systems. It is also used to treat acne. In addition, minocycline may be prescribed for certain infectious diseases spread by lice, mites, ticks, and certain infected animals. Minocycline may also be prescribed for infections such as tularemia and plague that could be spread during bioterror attacks. It is also used to treat certain types of food poisoning, anthrax, gonorrhea, syphilis, yaws, and listeriosis when penicillin is contraindicated. Minocycline is also indicated for certain nose and throat infections that can cause meningitis (inflammation in the brain) in other people who are asymptomatic carriers (not infected themselves). Additional uses of minocycline include treatment of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus fever, Q fever, cholera, Campylobacter fetus infections, brucellosis, bartonellosis, and granuloma inguinale. 

There may be other uses of minocycline, such as to treat rheumatoid arthritis—your pharmacist or doctor can give you further drug information.

Minocycline (Minocin) Mechanism of Action

Minocycline works by preventing bacteria from growing and spreading in the body.

Minocycline (Minocin) Doses

This medication is available as 50 mg, 75 mg, and 100 mg regular minocycline capsules and pellet-filled capsules as well as 50 mg, 75 mg, and 100 mg film-coated tablets. Solodyn extended release tablets are available in strengths 45 mg, 90 mg, and 135 mg - they are used to treat inflammatory lesions associated with moderate to severe acne vulgaris only. 

Adults: The usual dose of minocycline is a first dose of 200 mg followed by 100 mg every 12 hours (twice a day). Another dosing regimen is 100 mg or 200 mg initial dose followed by 50 mg 4 times a day. The duration of treatment ranges from 2-3 days to 10-15 days depending on the type of infection and may even be as long as 6-8 weeks for certain infections.

Pediatric patients above 8 years of age: The usual minocycline dose in pediatric patients is 4 mg/kg initially, followed by 2 mg/kg every 12 hours.