Two medicines, side by side
Doxycycline vs minocycline
Doxycycline and minocycline are both labeled for urinary tract infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of doxycycline since 1967 and of minocycline since 1971. Pharmacies paid $0.118 per doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablet and $0.343 per minocycline 100 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026). Doxycycline's other strengths are brand-only: $18.18 per Doryx mpc DR 60 mg tablet.
Check it at the source: the doxycycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 25, 2025); the minocycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 2, 2026).
Highlights of the doxycycline record
Doxycycline (Vibramycin) · label of July 25, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTo reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain effectiveness of doxycycline capsules and other antibacterial drugs, doxycycline capsules should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 5, 1967
- Generic labelers
- 83 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.118 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 19
Highlights of the minocycline record
Minocycline (Minocin) · label of April 2, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsMinocycline hydrochloride capsules, USP are indicated in the treatment of the following infections due to susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms: Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus fever and the typhus group, Q fever, rickettsialpox and tick fevers caused by rickettsiae. Respiratory tract infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Lymphogranuloma venereum caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 30, 1971
- Generic labelers
- 21 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.343 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Doxycycline label of July 25, 2025, Minocycline label of April 2, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do doxycycline and minocycline differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class tetracycline-class drugs.
Half-life, in each label's words: Doxycycline, “1.62 0.95 0.37 0.15 (μg/mL) Average Observed Values Maximum Concentration 3.61 μg/mL (± 0.9 sd) Time of Maximum …”; Minocycline, “The serum half-life in the normal volunteers ranged from 11.1 to 22.1 hours (average 15.5 hours).”
Generics: doxycycline since 1973; minocycline since 1990 (Drugs@FDA).
| Doxycycline | Minocycline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections, Acne | Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Tetracycline-class Drug | Tetracycline-class Drug |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | 1.62 0.95 0.37 0.15 (μg/mL) Average Observed Values Maximum Concentration 3.61 μg/mL (± 0.9 sd) Time of Maximum Concentration 2.60 hr (± 1.10 sd) Elimination Rate Constant 0.049 per hr (± 0.030 sd) Half-Life 16.33 hr (± … | The serum half-life in the normal volunteers ranged from 11.1 to 22.1 hours (average 15.5 hours). |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 5, 1967 | June 30, 1971 |
| First generic approved | June 18, 1973 | July 31, 1990 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 83 labelers | 21 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.118 per tablet (Doxycycline hyclate 100 mg tablet) | $0.343 per capsule (Minocycline 100 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | +0.2% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 19 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 69,571 | 16,577 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Doxycycline label, drug interactionsSince both oral retinoids, including isotretinoin and acitretin, and the tetracyclines, primarily minocycline, can cause increased intracranial pressure, the concurrent use of an oral retinoid and a tetracycline should be avoided.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to doxycycline
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions