Minocycline (Intravenous)

Minocycline injection is used to treat bacterial infections in various parts of the body. It is also used to treat severe acne and intestinal amebiasis. Additionally, it is used to treat infections in patients who should not receive penicillin antibiotics.

Minocycline belongs to a group of medicines called tetracycline antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or stopping their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.

This medicine should only be given by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

Your doctor will closely monitor your or your child's progress while receiving this medicine. This allows the doctor to determine if the medicine is effective and decide if treatment should continue. Blood and urine tests may be required to check for side effects.

Using this medicine while pregnant can harm your unborn baby. It may also cause birth defects if the father is taking it when his partner becomes pregnant. If you become pregnant while using this medicine, inform your doctor immediately.

Birth control pills may not be as effective while you are using minocycline. To prevent pregnancy, use an additional method of birth control with your pills. Other methods include condoms, a diaphragm, or contraceptive foam or jelly.

This medicine may darken the color of your skin, nails, eyes, teeth, gums, or scars. Talk to your doctor if you or your child have any concerns.

Contact your doctor right away if you experience fever, rash, joint pain, or tiredness. These could be signs of an autoimmune syndrome where the body attacks itself.

Minocycline may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Even brief sun exposure may cause a skin rash, itching, redness, discoloration, or severe sunburn. When you start using this medicine:

• Avoid direct sunlight, especially between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., if possible.
• Wear protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses.
• Use a sunblock with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Some people may need a higher SPF, especially if they have a fair complexion. Ask your doctor if you have questions about this.
• Use a sunblock lipstick with an SPF of at least 15 to protect your lips.
• Do not use a sun lamp or tanning bed or booth.

If you have a severe reaction to the sun, consult your doctor.

This medicine may cause some people to feel dizzy or lightheaded. Be cautious when driving, using machinery, or doing anything risky until you know how this medicine affects you.

Minocycline may cause diarrhea, and in some cases, it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop taking this medicine. Do not take any medicine for diarrhea without first consulting your doctor. Diarrhea medications may worsen the condition or prolong it. If you or your child have questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or worsens, contact your doctor.

This medicine may increase pressure in your head, which can lead to permanent vision loss. Contact your doctor immediately if you or your child experience severe headache, blurred vision, or any vision changes.

Consult your doctor right away if you or your child have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellowing of the eyes or skin. These could indicate a serious liver problem.

Before undergoing any medical tests, inform the medical doctor in charge that you or your child are using this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by it.

Do not take any other medicines unless discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines, as well as herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking it must be weighed against the benefits. This is a decision you and your doctor will make together. For this medicine, the following points should be considered:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, let your healthcare professional know if you have other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Minocycline injection may cause permanent discoloration of teeth and may slow bone growth. This medicine should not be given to children younger than 8 years of age unless directed by the child's doctor.

Geriatric

While appropriate studies on the effects of minocycline injection in older adults have not been done, there are no expected geriatric-specific problems that would limit its usefulness in the elderly. However, older patients are more likely to have age-related kidney, liver, or heart issues, which may require caution and a dose adjustment when receiving minocycline injection.

Breast Feeding

Studies suggest that this medication may change milk production or composition. If an alternative to this medication is not prescribed, monitor the infant for side effects and ensure adequate milk intake.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction could occur. In these situations, your doctor might need to change the dose or take other precautions. When receiving this medicine, it is especially important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected based on their potential importance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Acitretin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or frequency of one or both medicines.

• Amoxicillin
• Ampicillin
• Atazanavir
• Bacampicillin
• Bexarotene
• Cholera Vaccine, Live
• Cloxacillin
• Desogestrel
• Dicloxacillin
• Dienogest
• Digoxin
• Drospirenone
• Estradiol
• Ethinyl Estradiol
• Ethynodiol
• Etretinate
• Gestodene
• Isotretinoin
• Levoketoconazole
• Levonorgestrel
• Magnesium Sulfate
• Mestranol
• Methicillin
• Methotrexate
• Methoxyflurane
• Nafcillin
• Nomegestrol
• Norethindrone
• Norgestimate
• Norgestrel
• Oxacillin
• Palovarotene
• Penicillin G
• Penicillin G Benzathine
• Penicillin G Procaine
• Penicillin V
• Piperacillin
• Pivampicillin
• Porfimer
• Sultamicillin
• Temocillin
• Tretinoin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may increase the risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or frequency of one or both medicines.

• Aminolevulinic Acid
• Iron
• Vitamin A

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or specific types of food, as interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also lead to interactions. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical issues, especially:

• Diarrhea or
• Increased pressure in the head or
• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease—Use with caution. May worsen these conditions.

Along with its intended effects, this medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may happen, but if they do, they may require medical attention.

Contact your doctor or nurse right away if you experience any of the following side effects:

Incidence not known

• Abdominal or stomach cramps or tenderness
• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• bloating
• bloody or cloudy urine
• blurred or double vision
• chills
• cough
• cracks in the skin
• dark urine
• diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
• difficulty with swallowing
• dizziness
• eye pain
• fast heartbeat
• fever
• general tiredness and weakness
• greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
• hives, itching, or rash
• increased thirst
• joint or muscle pain
• large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
• light-colored stools
• loss of heat from the body
• nausea or vomiting
• pain
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• red, irritated eyes
• red, swollen skin
• scaly skin
• seizures
• severe headache
• severe stomach pain
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
• swelling of the feet or lower legs
• tightness in the chest
• trouble breathing
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• unusual weight loss
• upper right abdominal or stomach pain
• yellow eyes and skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you how to prevent or lessen some of these side effects. Contact your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome, or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

• Acid or sour stomach
• belching
• continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
• difficulty with moving
• difficulty with swallowing
• discoloration of the nail, tooth, or gum
• hair loss or thinning of the hair
• hearing loss
• heartburn
• indigestion
• loss of appetite
• muscle pain or stiffness
• pain or redness at the injection site
• redness, swelling, or soreness of the tongue
• stomach discomfort or upset
• thick, white, or curd-like vaginal discharge
• weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, consult your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Minocin

Available Dosage Forms:

• Powder for Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antibiotic

Chemical Class: Tetracycline (class)

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you or your child this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.

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