Minocycline and Joint Pain: What Users Say

• Emi...
• January 24, 2018

Minocycline for Acne "Solodyn worked amazingly. But, on day three, I experienced tiredness in my body physically. The day after I stopped taking it (day four), I was experiencing joint pains that weren’t pleasant. I thought this would be safer than Accutane, but it has some of the same side effects Accutane has. I don’t want to risk my health for clear skin. But remember, everyone reacts differently. You could have multiple side effects or none. Solodyn could work for you or it couldn’t. But if you ever do take it, don’t take it longer than three months, and every day, notice if you are showing any side effects. You are beautiful with or without acne. Don’t let your skin define you. Don’t let it rule over your life. You decide how acne affects your life."

• MsL...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 19, 2014

For Acne "I was prescribed first the Z-pack and took that for 5 days and then to continue by taking one minocycline 100 mg capsule (once a day) for adult cystic acne. I was feeling fine the first week on minocycline, but the second week, I had to completely take myself off the minocycline because I was miserable. First, it was sinus, then sinus headaches with blurry vision on and off. Then my joints started hurting, especially in my hands and lower back. I also felt dizzy when moving too fast from one position to another and started to feel like I was under a haze all the time."

• NAa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 20, 2018

Minocycline for Acne "This medication has cleared my acne completely, but I have been having a ton of headaches, joint pain, and even gained 10 lbs in a month. I have been on this med for about 3 months. Finally, I thought, let me read some reviews and side effects, because I don't take any other prescriptions, and sure enough, all those side effects popped up. And after reading these reviews, I'm stopping them. It's unfortunate you take a med for one problem and gain 10 more. Very disappointed."

• new...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2014

For Acne "I was put on this for acne. The first two weeks, I dealt with dizziness and exhaustion. The day I reached two weeks, I broke out in terrible hives and severe joint pain that landed me in the ER. I really wanted this medicine to work but could not continue it."

• Wil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 16, 2017

For Acne "My daughter started taking minocycline 3 years ago at 14 for her acne. It worked well enough until she began having severe muscle and joint pain. We had no reason to blame the minocycline. A rheumatologist diagnosed drug-induced lupus. Even after stopping the minocycline and starting naproxen for the inflammation (so bad that she could barely sit down, raise her arms above her head, or even walk), she got worse. An MRI with injected dye revealed severe muscle inflammation, and the doctor has put her on prednisone 40 mg for a month, tapering to 30 and eventually off it. The prednisone helped her within hours. It may take a year for her to recover."

• Anonymous
• January 6, 2010

Minocycline for Acne "I had very good results from Minocin as far as my acne was concerned. My face started clearing up and was looking almost back to normal. I did experience the dizziness and frequent yeast infections while on this but thought it was worth it. After about 3 months, I was feeling very bad, my joints all ached so bad I had decreased my activities and almost stopped dancing. My parents were having me worked up for arthritis, and I was having blood in my stool suddenly. My mom talked to a doctor at work and found out it was the Minocin that was causing all the joint pain and probably a lesion in my bowels. I immediately stopped it and am now back to normal and have bad acne again."

• hoo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2015

For Acne "I was so excited about the possibility of this helping me. But about 2 weeks in, my joints became stiff and sore, it started in my neck and then went to my fingers. I feel like it's harder to type and pick things up, and I feel a little clumsy and dizzy. I don't know if it's because of the minocycline, but it's the only thing that has changed. A huge bummer."

• rip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2018

For Acne "19 yr old, have been prescribed the 50 mg to be taken twice a day. I have been taking it for 9 days until I woke up with a slight fever and full body rash. I was sent to the ER and said it's most likely a reaction to mino. Prior to the rash, I've experienced joint and muscle pain, loss of appetite, headaches, low mood, and insomnia."

• Tin...
• April 26, 2017

For Acne "I'm a sufferer from acne, and I've suffered with it since I was in middle school (now a freshman in college). I went to my dermatologist my sophomore year in high school, and she prescribed me this. It worked really well for me, and my skin was super clear. I didn't want to get off of it. She did not warn me of the long-term side effects. I took it on and off for about two years. The biggest mistake of my life. But since I was so stubborn and wanted clear skin, I kept taking them even though they stopped working for me. I stopped around the end of my junior year, and a couple months later, I would get severe fevers, chills, joint pains, and my thighs were covered in bruises. I am now stuck with an immune disease because of the pills. Just be careful with them."

• Hap...
• January 31, 2016

For Acne "I was on this antibiotic when I was in my early 20s, and it worked really well. My skin cleared within a week. Although I started to get joint pain and had to stop taking it. A couple of years later, I went back on it, and I didn't have any side effects, but the doctor asked me to stop taking it because of the longer-term side effects. My skin has always been up and down, but 3 years later, it started to concern me, so a dermatologist prescribed me them again a couple of weeks ago. Only this time, the side effects were so much worse. I was vomiting and had severe chest pains, making it hard for me to breathe. I couldn't believe that the antibiotic that had worked so well for me was causing this amount of pain. So please, where you can, avoid taking them."

• Eir...
• May 6, 2017

For Acne "Today I was diagnosed with lupus after 1 month of taking this antibiotic. Rash, headaches, and joint pain (knees) are my complaints. After reading the other reviews, it seems like this is a common side effect of these drugs. Surely this is not okay?!"

• He ...
• March 16, 2016

For Acne "I was on this medication for 2 years. Worked wonders on my acne! Then it gave me autoimmune hepatitis. Symptoms first off were joint pain, abdomen pain, and jaundice. Can be very life-threatening. Now I have to take other medications to treat the disease, and my acne came back worse than ever."

• em1...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 27, 2019

For Acne "I had been taking this medication for about 6 months when I was suddenly waking up every morning with severe joint pain. Unable to get out of bed, open the car door, or stand up by myself. My doctor didn't think it was the minocycline, so I kept taking it while they put me on a steroid. Every time I came off the steroid, the pain would immediately return. I stopped taking minocycline, and within days, the joint pain was gone. Blood results showed drug-induced lupus. It has been two years, and I have so many other complications from autoimmune diseases that started after I had the reaction to minocycline."

• Dar...
• July 17, 2017

For Acne "Minocycline ruined my health. I took it for two months back in 1999 and have been dealing with repercussions ever since. Within one month of taking it, I lost feeling in parts of my left leg, my feet went numb, I had such painful joint and muscle pain that I could hardly walk. My wrists and hands hurt so badly that I couldn't brush my own teeth (Lupus). I had to get a handicap tag because I could no longer walk more than a few yards. These symptoms lasted for 9 more months. Then lessened after some significant work to fix my gut and liver health (problems caused by the medicine). I've been managing the damage caused by this dangerous drug for the past 19 years, healthy now for the most part but 2 months of mino ruined decades."

• Dar...
• July 17, 2017

For Acne "Minocycline ruined my health. I took it for two months back in 1999 and have been dealing with repercussions ever since. Within one month of taking it, I lost feeling in parts of my left leg, my feet went numb, I had such painful joint and muscle pain that I could hardly walk. My wrists and hands hurt so badly that I couldn't brush my own teeth (Lupus). I had to get a handicap tag because I could no longer walk more than a few yards. These symptoms lasted for 9 more months. Then lessened after some significant work to fix my gut and liver health (problems caused by the medicine). I've been managing the damage caused by this dangerous drug for the past 19 years, healthy now for the most part but 2 months of mino ruined decades."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 11, 2019

For Acne "I was taking this drug for moderate acne. After a year with no side effects, I began to have pain in my joints. After a week, I couldn’t walk without help. I then saw a rheumatologist who informed me I had medically induced lupus. It’s most common to have this reaction if members of your family have an autoimmune disease. Still, I highly recommend using a different antibiotic and avoid it altogether."

• lil...
• August 14, 2016

Minocycline for Acne "When I was 14 years old and had been getting acne for a little under a year, so when my dermatologist recommended Solodyn, I was very pleased. But being on this medication for less than a week, I have to say I would not recommend it. The joint pain I got in my knee was unbearable, and it also gave me random anxiety attacks, as well as mild depression. Very disappointed.:("

• Ash...
• July 16, 2009

Minocycline for Acne "Allergic reaction causing welts, severe itchy skin, and joint pain."

• Anonymous
• January 13, 2010

Minocycline for Rosacea "I started taking this, and after a few weeks, my rosacea was clearer, but had to stop because of unbearable joint pain. Doctor put me on a lower dose of doxycycline, and so far, so good."