started tetracycline yesterday...

[Guest]

I'm posting this in case it helps anyone else out there in a similar situation...

My facial rosacea was acting up, so I made an appt. with my GP yesterday. I was hoping she would put me on doxycycline, as it not only would help my skin, but also potentially benefit my eyes...

Anyhow, she put me on tetracycline 250mg twice daily(I presume because it is less expensive than doxy, and should do the same thing)... I was so glad to get the darned prescription that I took my first dose as soon as I got in the car after leaving the pharmacy lol

So far, so good... I'm tolerating the tetracycline well, and my face is not longer burning as much... and my eyes, well... they are feeling quite good today... not sure if it's the tetracycline or coincidence though... I kind of thought the tetracycline should take longer to kick in, no? (not that I'm complaining if it IS kicking in already heehee!)

Comparison of tetracycline vs. doxycycline:

1) Cost (this is only for where I live, but may also be similar differences in your locale):

doxycycline: $0.58 per 100mg capsule

Based on usual dosages here of 100-200mg per day, it would cost $0.58-1.16 per day

tetracycline: $0.07 per 250mg capsule

Based on usual dosages here of 500-1000mg per day, it would cost only $0.12 - $0.24 per day.

2) Convenience of typical dosing schedule:

Doxycline can be given only once per day.

Tetracycline doesn't last as long in the body, therefore must be given multiple times per day (for rosacea, typically is given 2-4 times per day).

3) Effectiveness:

Both of these drugs are in the same antibiotic family, and both have anti-inflammatory effect.

I found some abstracts suggesting that tetracycline's effects kick in sooner than doxy.... BUT in the end (3 or 6 months later... can't remember exactly), the results were the same. ie. doxy works too, but just takes a bit longer.

4) Other

There are a few other differences, but so as not to go on and on, I'll quit here



I'll keep you all posted on my progress as time goes on!

Sheralyn

[redandsensitive]

Hi!

I started Tetracycline Actavis 250 mg today (250 mg/4 day -first two weeks, then one tab. 250 mg a day).

I'm hoping this will help my eyes, and skin. I will let you know! It takes 2-4 weeks before improvment.

Take care!

Aleksander

[Aaron77]

Sheralyn, do you feel like the tetracycline is making a difference yet?

[Guest]

Well, it's hard to say for sure because I also quit my drops cold turkey (except for overnight) 1.5 weeks ago, AND I restarted the whole heat/gland expression thing several days ago also... But, I figure that since the majority of people with facial rosacea have ocular involvement, odds are I do too, so there's a good chance the tetra is or will do something...
So far, my eyes are improving, albeit sloooowly...

[Guest]

One more thing...

Just prior to going cold turkey, it did seem as tho my eyes were slightly improved (my meib glands looked a bit better, and I had a bit less burning in me eyes)... but whether that was the tetra or coincidence, I don't know...

[Ariel]

I've been on doxy for two months now and I don't think it is helping me. I was taking 200 mgs at first. I'm now taking 50 twice a day. I wonder if I should switch to tetracycline.

[irish eyes]

Doesn't Tetracycline refer to the group of antibiotics, of which Doxycycline is just one type?

This is taken from the patient information leaflet of my remaining supply

Doxycycline belongs to a group of medicines called tetracycline antibiotics. It is also known as a broad spectrum antibiotic and may be used to treat a wide range of infections caused by bacteria....etc etc

And this is taken from my supply of Minocycline - which I have recently changed over to.

Minocycline belongs to a group of medicines called tetracycline antibiotics. It is also known as a broad-spectrum antibiotic and may be used to treat a wide range of infections caused by bacteria...etc etc

Minocycline is meant to be easier on the stomach because it is slow release.

[Ariel]

Thank you Irish Eyes,

It looks like if Doxy isn't doing much for me Tetra isn't going to make a whole lot of difference though it may be easier on my stomach.

[Guest]

Doesn't Tetracycline refer to the group of antibiotics, of which Doxycycline is just one type?

Tetracycline is both the name of that particular group of antibiotics AND the name of one of the antibiotics in the group.

So, the tetracycline group of antibiotics contains:
doxycycline
minocycline
tetracycline
etc.

[spmcc]

Re: tetracycline

Strangly enough, my cornea specialist told me last week that he can't get tetracycline anymore (i.e., it's not available in pharmacies in Victoria BC).

I said that I could believe that because back in 1986 when I was diagnosed with rosacea and put on tetracycline I could buy 100s of capsules for around $1.00 (I was in the US).

It was crazy cheap! Of course, I had insurance... but to only pay $1 for tons of pills!! I was pretty happy... until I found out I had to take 2 pills 4 times a day between meals!!!

Anyway, it's so inexpensive it seems that the manufacturers can't make money on it and aren't producing much of it anymore.

[irish eyes]

Thank you Irish Eyes,

It looks like if Doxy isn't doing much for me Tetra isn't going to make a whole lot of difference though it may be easier on my stomach.

At times I wonder whether any of it is actually helping me because my symptoms can still be pretty awful.

Having said that, I recall my eyes being absolutely dire before I started taking doxy; there has been an improvement but not as much as perhaps I hoped! Maybe I have reached a level or plateau - and will stay there.

When I met my current consultant, I was taking a `rest' from the antibiotics and he advised me to start taking them again - so I did. He claims that despite my symptoms being troublesome, the lids look in better shape when I'm taking the stuff as a routine measure.

[Guest]

Strangly enough, my cornea specialist told me last week that he can't get tetracycline anymore (i.e., it's not available in pharmacies in Victoria BC).

Same here... it's been backordered for months... As soon as it becomes available again though, I'm going to switch back... tetracycline was so much easier on my stomach compared to doxy. I'm amazed at the difference. With tetra, I could take it on an empty stomach, and my stomach was normal... if I make the mistake of taking doxy on an empty stomacy, LOOK OUT! I end up feeling horribly nauseated...

I'm sure tetra will become available again... it's just a matter of time...