What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Doxycycline and isotretinoin
Doxycycline's FDA label of July 25, 2025 names isotretinoin in its warnings section; the isotretinoin labels PlainMeds reads (2) do not name doxycycline. The doxycycline label: “Since 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 …”
Check it at the source: the doxycycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 25, 2025, Chartwell RX, LLC.); the isotretinoin FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 19, 2026, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.).
What does the doxycycline label say about isotretinoin?
Doxycycline label, warningsConcomitant use of isotretinoin and doxycycline capsules should be avoided because isotretinoin is also known to cause pseudotumor cerebri.
Oracea label (Galderma Laboratories, L.P., April 16, 2025), 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 label (Doxycycline Hyclate, NDA205931), Chartwell RX, LLC, effective June 30, 2026 (SPL set fad03768-f1d2-459f-965e-0ec29f189f1f), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Oracea, NDA050805), Galderma Laboratories, L.P., effective April 16, 2025 (SPL set aa15c93a-ff4c-447a-8a21-96da506d8997), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Acticlate Cap, NDA208253), Aqua Pharmaceuticals, effective November 28, 2017 (SPL set 5e96d473-63dd-4446-88cf-eef2cd3339f0), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Doxycycline Monohydrate), Chartwell RX, LLC., effective July 25, 2025 (SPL set 02aa8731-d40f-43d8-8b63-a79a0503f8db), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the isotretinoin label say about doxycycline?
Isotretinoin's label (effective August 19, 2026) and its 1 other brand-application label do not name doxycycline in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Absorica LD), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., effective August 19, 2026 (SPL set 3ef0cff8-19c1-4441-b780-fca6c7ee1615), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Doxycycline | Isotretinoin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections, Acne | Acne |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.118 per tablet 100 mg tablet | $11.94 per capsule 10 mg capsule |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once