Prescription medication · Tetracycline Antibiotic
minocycline
Also sold as Minocin, Solodyn. Minocycline treats infections like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus, Q fever, and tick fevers.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 11,257
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 2
- InteractionsFew interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
minocycline (Minocin) is a prescription Tetracycline Antibiotic, reported less often than most tracked drugs (11,257 FDA reports), with 2 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
minocycline (Minocin) is a prescription Tetracycline Antibiotic. Minocycline treats infections like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus, Q fever, and tick fevers.
Minocycline is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body. It is used to treat many different types of infections.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Shortage Alert
minocycline is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc..
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.32/unit
Generic Available
Yes (15 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: MINOCYCLINE 100 MG CAPSULE
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -11.1% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 21, 2024 | $0.3551/EA | - | 2 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.3156/EA | -11.1% | 10 |
What it does
Minocycline treats infections like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus, Q fever, and tick fevers.
Common side effects
Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
Key warnings
Minocycline can cause serious side effects.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from minocycline's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Minocycline belongs to a class of drugs called tetracycline antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps your body fight off the infection.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 11,257 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for minocycline, by number of reports
- Nausea
Nausea
1,029 reports
- Pain
Pain
987 reports
- Arthralgia
Arthralgia
960 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
913 reports
- Drug Hypersensitivity
Drug Hypersensitivity
867 reports
- Rash
Rash
867 reports
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
834 reports
- Joint Swelling
Joint Swelling
833 reports
- Headache
Headache
767 reports
- Condition Aggravated
Condition Aggravated
719 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for minocycline each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where minocycline sits
minocycline has more FDA adverse-event reports than 42% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is minocycline; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 11,257 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
11,257
Reports Mentioning Death
1,508
13.4% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
3,578
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | NAUSEA | 1,029 |
| 4 | PAIN | 987 |
| 5 | ARTHRALGIA | 960 |
| 6 | FATIGUE | 913 |
| 8 | DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY | 867 |
| 9 | RASH | 867 |
| 10 | RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS | 834 |
| 11 | JOINT SWELLING | 833 |
| 12 | HEADACHE | 767 |
| 13 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 719 |
| 14 | PNEUMONIA | 718 |
| 15 | DIARRHOEA | 702 |
| 16 | GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION | 647 |
| 17 | DIZZINESS | 642 |
| 18 | HYPERTENSION | 632 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Minocycline can cause serious side effects. It can cause increased pressure inside the skull, called pseudotumor cerebri. Stop taking minocycline and tell your doctor right away if you have a headache, vision problems, or dizziness. Minocycline can also damage kidneys. Tell your doctor if you notice decreased urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, or fatigue.
Known Drug Interactions
Drug Interactions Because tetracyclines have been shown to depress plasma prothrombin activity, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy may require downward adjustment of their anticoagulant dosage. Since bacteriostatic drugs may interfere with the bactericidal action of penicillin, it is advisable to avoid giving tetracycline-class drugs in conjunction with penicillin. Absorption of tetracyclines is impaired by antacids containing aluminum, calcium, or magnesium, and iron-containing preparations.
Mechanism: Both of these medications are in the same antibiotic family and work the same way. Taking them together increases the risk of side effects without helping to fight the infection any better.
Administration of isotretinoin should be avoided shortly before, during, and shortly after minocycline therapy.
Mechanism: Using these drugs together can increase the risk of dangerous pressure building up inside the skull.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I take minocycline with food?
What should I do if I experience diarrhea while taking minocycline?
Can minocycline affect my birth control?
How long should I take minocycline?
Can I take antacids while taking minocycline?
What happens if I take too much minocycline?
Can minocycline make me more sensitive to the sun?
Is it safe to take minocycline if I have kidney problems?
Can minocycline cause permanent tooth discoloration?
What should I tell my doctor before taking minocycline?
What are the common side effects of minocycline?
Does minocycline interact with other medications?
What drug class is minocycline?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for minocycline?
Has minocycline been recalled?
Is minocycline currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
Failed Dissolution Specifications: An out-of-specification (OOS) result was observed during the 9th month of dissolution test analysis
Ascend Laboratories, LLC
Related Medications in Tetracycline Antibiotic
Other drugs grouped near minocycline - same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with minocycline →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with minocycline →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with minocycline →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with minocycline →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with minocycline →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for minocycline: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 11,257.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 13.40%.
- metoclopramide Δ 0.08 pts · 53,266 reports · Prokinetic / Antiemetic 13.31%death share
- nicardipine Δ 0.11 pts · 4,175 reports · Calcium Channel Blocker 13.51%death share
- isosorbide dinitrate Δ 0.12 pts · 19,058 reports · Nitrate Vasodilator 13.28%death share
- calcium carbonate Δ 0.14 pts · 64,404 reports · Calcium Supplement / Antacid 13.53%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for minocycline
The FDA label for minocycline (sold under brand names such as Minocin, Solodyn) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Tetracycline Antibiotic class. Minocycline treats infections like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus, Q fever, and tick fevers. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 11,257 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.32.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 1 recall record on file), and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: January 1, 2026
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages