Title:Adverse Reactions Induced by Minocycline: A Review of Literature
Volume: 16
Issue: 3
Author(s): Maria Rose Dominic*
Affiliation:
- Department of Neurology, Government Medical College, Kottayam,India
Keywords:
Minocycline, drug-induced, adverse drug reactions, hypersensitivity, autoimmune syndromes, hyperpigmentation,
acne.
Abstract:
Background: Minocycline is a tetracycline antibiotic that is widely used to treat infections
and is a first-line oral antibiotic in the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory acne. Although
it has high efficacy, several adverse reactions, including life-threatening ones, have been reported
in association with its use.
Objective: To identify all the potential adverse reactions due to minocycline and analyze them in
terms of the number of cases reported so far, salient features, severity and clinical outcome.
Methods: Comprehensive PubMed search of English and non-English literature for case reports of
adverse reactions to minocycline was conducted.
Results: A total of 550 cases were identified from over 200 publications. The major reported adverse
events caused by minocycline are drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome,
autoimmune syndromes like hepatitis, lupus and vasculitis, acute eosinophilic pneumonia, pseudotumor
cerebri, hyperpigmentation, serum sickness-like reaction, Sweet’s syndrome and drug fever.
Several other reactions involving multiple organ systems have also been reported. These show an
overlap of clinical features and may be associated with multiple events causing considerable morbidity.
Eight of these cases resulted in the death of the patients.
Conclusion: In view of the evident potential of minocycline to cause long-lasting and severe adverse
effects, significant morbidity and even mortality, it should be prescribed with caution in the first-line
treatment for moderate to severe acne.
