Tapering off tetracyclines?

[y-gwair]

I've been taking lymecycline for suspected rosacea for a month now but have had to stop it for a couple of days as I've started a course of amoxicillin for a painful sinus infection, and GP said there was a possibility there may be interactions between the two. I hadn't thought the lymecyline had been helping much, but eyes have been very sore since stopping it, face also a little more flushed.

Does stopping these drugs suddenly result in rebound inflammation? I was planning to stop step it down gradually because of the photosensitivity issues with these drugs, but GP forced my hand a bit.

[dave25]

That's a great question. I just tried to taper down tetracycline from 2x a day to 1x a day. I really didn't notice a difference in how my eyes or eyelids felt, but I did notice a difference in how my face felt. My face felt really dry and flaky and itchy. I would imagine this was from either rosacea or seb. dermatitis, or maybe a little of both. After I started using it 2x a day again these symptoms went away. I am going to try to taper off more gradually in a few weeks.

It's hard to say whether this is from rebound inflammation or whether the antibiotics were just keeping these conditions at bay. I do believe the body may need some time to adjust, but if you must go off them because of other circumstances I guess you really have no choice. At least with this way you will find out much quicker whether you need them or not.

[y-gwair]

Thanks, that's interesting. Skin hasn't been too bad since, but I saw the ophth. today who said that blepharitis / staining of eye surface were a lot worse than 3 months ago, so it doesn't sound as if the month on lymecycline actually did much to improve the condition in that time, I can't imagine that just a few days off may have made them so much worse. I won't be continuing with the lymecycline, ophth. agrees it's a bad idea re. photosensitivity, have a prescription for cyclosporine ointment instead.

Interestingly ophth. actually picked up on possible sinus issues before I even brought it up, purely on the description I gave of my eye pain, I was very impressed. Now have yet another referral, this time to ENT for a CAT scan.