Prescription medicine
Minocycline Brand names: Emrosi, Amzeeq, Zilxi, Minocin, Arestin
Minocycline (Minocin) is a prescription medicine with an FDA approval on record since 1971. FDA's NDC Directory lists it from 21 generic labelers, and pharmacies paid $0.343 per minocycline 100 mg capsule in the October 7, 2026 NADAC survey.
- Generic listed
Check it at the source: the minocycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 2, 2026, Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited); the NDA 50315 record on Drugs@FDA; every minocycline label on DailyMed.
Highlights of the record
FDA label of April 2, 2026; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026; NADAC October 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indications and usageMinocycline 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.
Forms and strengths
- 1 mg
- 40 mg
- 45 mg
- 50 mg
- 55 mg
- 65 mg
- 75 mg
- 80 mg
- 90 mg
- 100 mg
- 105 mg
- 115 mg
Capsule; film-coated extended-release tablet; extended-release tablet; tablet; film-coated tablet.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 30, 1971 Minocin, Triax Pharms; Drugs@FDA’s file, where older or withdrawn approvals can be missing
- Generic approvals
- 27 first July 31, 1990; 16 with a marketed status in Drugs@FDA
- Labelers listed (NDC)
- 24 of which 21 under generic applications, 3 under brand applications, repackagers included
- Last listed patent
- October 16, 2032 Minocin injection; not a generic launch date
Supply and safety
- Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
- $0.343 per capsule Minocycline 100 mg capsule
- Shortage (FDA)
- No current entry
- Recalls by its makers (FDA)
- 3 since 2013 0 Class I among all firms' recalls; latest June 1, 2026; 2 more by firms not listed as its makers
- FAERS reports
- 16,577 through July 30, 2026
What is minocycline used for?
From the label: indications and usageMinocycline 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. Psittacosis (Ornithosis) due to Chlamydophila psittaci. Trachoma caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, although the infectious agent is not always eliminated, as judged by immunofluorescence. Inclusion conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. […]
Conditions named in the indications of minocycline's FDA labels, with every medicine labeled for each:
From other minocycline labelsUrinary tract infections: Respiratory tract and urinary tract infections caused by Klebsiella species.
FDA pharmacologic class: Tetracycline-class Drug.
Source: FDA drug label (Minocycline Hydrochloride), Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited, effective April 2, 2026 (SPL set 55df55fb-18ec-4e00-9ed0-10bba0da513b), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the patient leaflet for minocycline say first?
The FDA-approved Medication Guide or Patient Information that comes with the medicine, in its own words.
From the patient leaflet: What should I avoid while taking EMROSI?You should not drive or operate dangerous machinery until you know how EMROSI affects you. EMROSI may cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded or have a spinning feeling (vertigo) Avoid sunlight or artificial sunlight, such as sunlamps and tanning beds during treatment with EMROSI. EMROSI can make your skin sensitive to the sun and artificial sunlight and you could get severe sunburn during treatment. Use sunscreen and wear a hat and protective clothing that covers your skin while out in the sunlight during treatment with EMROSI
From the patient leaflet: How should I store EMROSI?Store EMROSI at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) EMROSI comes in a child-resistant package Keep EMROSI container tightly closed Keep EMROSI away from light, moisture, and excessive heat Do not eat desiccant Keep EMROSI out of the reach of children
Source: FDA drug label (EMROSI), Journey Medical Corporation, effective April 22, 2025 (SPL set 0899eb25-8807-037c-f66c-141a2696b1c0), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
Is there a generic for minocycline (Minocin)?
The FDA approved the first generic minocycline on July 31, 1990. 27 generic applications are approved; 16 of them carry a current (not discontinued) marketing status in Drugs@FDA; that status is not evidence that the generic is on sale. Drugs@FDA also holds 2 tentative approvals: the FDA found the generic approvable, but patents or exclusivity keep it from final approval for now.
FDA's NDC Directory lists minocycline from 21 labelers under a generic (ANDA) application and from 3 brand labelers. A listing means the company has registered the product for sale; it does not show that every pharmacy stocks it.
The Orange Book lists 4 patents for Minocin injection, the last expiring on October 16, 2032; a patent listed only for Emrosi capsules runs to January 7, 2039. A patent or exclusivity date is not the date a generic goes on sale: court cases and settlements move it either way.
- 1971 earliest approval on file
- 1990 first generic approved
- 2032 last listed patent
- red ticks recalls
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for minocycline (Minocin)?
In CMS's NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, pharmacies paid $0.343 per Minocycline 100 mg capsule, about the same as a year earlier. The chart's scale runs from the lowest to the highest price shown, not from zero. NADAC is what retail pharmacies paid their wholesalers, per unit, in CMS's monthly survey; what a patient pays depends on insurance and the pharmacy.
- Minocycline 100 mg capsule (generic)
| Strength and form | Brand or generic | Pharmacy cost | 30 tablets, or one pen or vial | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minocycline 100 mg capsule | Generic | $0.343 per capsule | $10.28 | +0.2% |
| Minocycline 50 mg capsule | Generic | $0.180 per capsule | $5.40 | +2% |
| Minocycline 75 mg capsule | Generic | $0.397 per capsule | $11.90 | -10% |
| Minocycline ER 90 mg tablet | Generic | $3.03 per tablet | $90.91 | +5% |
| Minocycline HCl 100 mg tablet | Generic | $0.704 per tablet | $21.12 | +12% |
| Minocycline HCl 50 mg tablet | Generic | $0.344 per tablet | $10.31 | -19% |
| Minocycline HCl 75 mg tablet | Generic | $0.302 per tablet | $9.06 | -1% |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
Has minocycline been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement Report lists 5 recalls naming minocycline since 2013: 0 Class I (the most serious), 3 Class II, 2 Class III; 1 still ongoing. 2 of them are by firms that FDA's NDC Directory does not list as a maker of minocycline and that hold no application for it in Drugs@FDA, such as compounding pharmacies or bulk-ingredient suppliers; the recall notice names the product recalled. A recall names products and lots, not every product of the medicine.
| Started | Class | Company | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1, 2026 | Class II | Ascend Laboratories, LLC | Failed Dissolution Specifications: An out-of-specification (OOS) result was observed during the 9th month of dissolution test analysis |
| January 22, 2020 | Class III | Ascend Laboratories LLC | Failed Dissolution Specifications: low out of specification results for dissolution testing. |
| February 12, 2016 | Class III | Apace KY LLC | Labeling: Incorrect or Missing Lot and/or Exp Date: the individual blisters are mislabeled with an incorrect lot number of 13560 rather than the correct lot … |
| July 2, 2013 | Class II | Aidapak Services, LLC not a listed maker | Labeling: Label Mixup: MINOCYCLINE HCL, Capsule, 50 mg may have potentially been mislabeled as the following drug: MINOXIDIL, Tablet, 2.5 mg, NDC 00591564201 … |
| July 2, 2013 | Class II | Aidapak Services, LLC not a listed maker | Labeling: Label Mixup: MINOCYCLINE HCL, Capsule, 100 mg may have potentially been mislabeled as the following drug: PROGESTERONE, Capsule, 100 mg, NDC … |
Source: FDA Enforcement Report (drug recalls) via openFDA, through October 8, 2026
What does the minocycline label say about other medicines?
The minocycline label names 2 other medicines in its interaction, contraindication or warning sections. The labels of 1 other medicine name minocycline. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.
| Medicine named | Section | What the label says |
|---|---|---|
| Isotretinoin | drug interactions | Administration of isotretinoin should be avoided shortly before, during, and shortly after minocycline therapy. |
| Tetracycline | warnings | If any tetracycline is used during pregnancy or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking these drugs, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. |
Other labels that name minocycline
Source: FDA drug label (Minocycline Hydrochloride), Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited, effective April 2, 2026 (SPL set 55df55fb-18ec-4e00-9ed0-10bba0da513b), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What do FAERS reports show for minocycline?
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 16,577 reports that list minocycline among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 2,817 are coded as a death and 5,716 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.
Reports received each year
The most reported reactions
Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026
What else is labeled for the same conditions as minocycline?
9 other medicines are given the same way (oral) and in the same FDA class as minocycline or labeled mainly for the same use (urinary tract infections), the same class first. Urinary tract infections lists all 39 medicines labeled for it, by any route. The first 8 are below. They are listed as records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another is a prescriber's decision.
| Medicine | Shared indication | Generic labelers (oral) | Pharmacy cost | Shortage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doxycycline | Urinary tract infections | 71 labelers | $0.118 per tablet 100 mg tablet | A presentation being discontinued |
| Amoxicillin and clavulanate | Urinary tract infections | 31 labelers | $0.0693 per mL 600-42.9 mg/5 mL sus | No current entry |
| Nitrofurantoin | Urinary tract infections | 47 labelers | $0.165 per capsule 50 mg capsule | A presentation being discontinued |
| Methenamine | Urinary tract infections | 10 labelers | $0.313 per tablet 1 g tablet | No current entry |
| Fosfomycin | Urinary tract infections | 10 labelers | $26.22 per unit 3 g sachet | No current entry |
| Sulfadiazine | Urinary tract infections | 2 labelers | $15.06 per tablet 500 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Gepotidacin | Urinary tract infections | none listed | $91.40 per tablet 750 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Pivmecillinam | Urinary tract infections | none listed | n/a | No current entry |
Every medicine labeled for the same conditions as minocycline
Source: FDA drug labels (indications), NDC Directory, NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages (October 8, 2026)
How does minocycline compare with medicines for the same use?
2 side-by-side pages set minocycline beside a medicine whose label shares a use: approvals, generics, pharmacy cost, warnings and supply.
What next?
- Alternatives to minocycline
- 9 medicines for the same use
- Other tetracyclines
- the pharmacologic class, with prices and generics
- Minocycline side effects
- the label's list beside FAERS reports
- Check an interaction
- what two or more labels say about each other