Does anyone know why I might have a reaction to Minocycline but not Doxycycline? I know that they are in the same family.
I took Vibramycin/Doxycycline for about a year for acne with no serious adverse effects other than some stomach upset.
My doctor switched me to Minocycline to try and reduce the stomach upset. About 8 days after starting the Minocycline I developed serum sickness/serum sickness like reaction. I had some hives at first, for which I took 2 Benadryl caplets every 4 hours. 12 hours later, I developed angioedema and severe joint pain in my feet and hands. I actually could not walk at this point, because the swelling and joint pain in my toes/feet was so bad. The hives started to spread to my neck and face and I began to get dizzy/lightheaded around the same time. I used my epipen at that time (which I had for a food allergy--sunflower seeds/oil) and continued with the benadryl. My doctor then prescribed prednisone--5 days at 2x20mg tablets and 3 days at 1x20mg tablet.
I am on day 2 of the prednisone and continued benadryl, and thank goodness the swelling is almost completely gone.
I know that the food allergy did not play a part--I am religious about label reading and sticking with 'safe' foods.
My question is--why did I have reaction like this to minocycline but not to doxycycline? Does this mean that I can never take doxycycline again? What is different about these two drug's makeup that would cause a reaction in one but not the other?
I also have had a problem with hives on Minocycline but am fine with Doxicycline. Very odd.
me too. my throat and neck lymph went crazy about 3 days in. i thought i was sick -- then by that night i got lump after lump in my armpits so painful I couldnt close my arms all the way - it was soooo tender! I thought it was my deoderant!? I started getting a severe headache that put me out for a day..then I put 2 and 2 together and stopped taking the minocycline. The swelling subsided and it all was gone without steriods within 4 days.
I thought maybe it was a virus that I had had. Maybe not the drug. So when my skin was getting bad again - i started the drug again. Within 36hours, I had a sore throat, swollen neck glands and a lump in my armpit.
It was definitely the drug and not worth the risks. Allergies to this med can kill you if you are not aware.
Hope this helps someone else.
After having hives with another medication I know not to continue taking something when I see them. As with allergies to shellfish and other medications. When you continue to eat/take meds that you are allergic to your symptoms only escalate each time you expose yourself to those meds/food. Please at the first sign of discomfort stop taking the med. This medicine made me feel tired and run down (but then again -it's my lifestyle) when the hives showed up yesterday I knew immediately to stop the med. I hope this helps other people.