Rheumatology day unit Dr J Hamilton Open 9am – 5pm Mon – Fri Dr C Heycock Helpline tel: 0191 445 5240 Dr C Kelly Answer phone 24hrs Dr V Saravanan Dr M Rynne Patient information sheet: Minocycline What is Minocycline?
Minocycline is an antibiotic that has been used for the treatment of acne, and is also effective
in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Minocycline works by making arthritis less active
and slowing down damage to your joints. Although Minocycline has been used for many years
in the treatment of acne and research has shown it to be effective for the treatment of RA it
currently has no license for use in RA. Minocycline will only be used if all other options have
been explored and it is felt by your rheumatologist that this is the best treatment option. You
may have to obtain your prescriptions through the pharmacy department at the Queen Elizabeth
Hospital – please contact your GP surgery for a repeat prescription in the first instance and ring
your consultant’s secretary (numbers above) should you have any problems.
How long does Minocycline take to work?
You may start to feel better after four to six months but Minocycline may take up to nine months
to become fully effective. We suggest continuing with painkillers or anti-inflammatory tablets
during the first few weeks of treatment.
Who should not take Minocycline?
You should not take Minocycline if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Please contact your
rheumatologist and stop Minocycline should you become pregnant whilst on this treatment. You
should not take Minocycline if you have previously had an allergic reaction to Minocycline or
Does it interfere with other medications?
If you are on Warfarin the dose of Warfarin may need to be reduced. Oral contraceptive
effectiveness may be reduced therefore appropriate barrier contraceptive measures should also
What are the possible side effects?
Generally Minocycline is safe and well tolerated but like most medicines can have some side
effects. The most common complaints are of nausea and dizziness, which may respond to a
decrease in dose. It can very occasionally cause tears and perspiration to become slightly
darker in colour. Minocycline can also cause skin pigmentation, which can occur in a proportion
of patients if taken for longer periods than 18 months. Rarely it can cause inflammation in the
liver, which may require the drug to be stopped. If you have side effects please contact your GP
or the rheumatology helpline number (listed above). All calls to the helpline will be answered
How often do I need blood tests?
We recommend that liver function tests are checked every three months. Where possible avoid
making an appointment for a blood test on a Friday. This makes sure blood results are seen
Choosing the right drug to treat your condition is complex. Your doctor or rheumatology nurse
will discuss the risks and benefits of the treatments available in clinic and a decision will be
reached with you on the most appropriate treatment. If you have any further questions or
concerns and wish to discuss alternative drugs, please speak to the rheumatology nurse
For additional information please refer to the patient information leaflet supplied with your
medicine or refer tofor the full summary of the product characteristics.
Data Protection
Any personal information is kept confidential. There may be occasions where your
information needs to be shared with other care professionals to ensure you receive the best
In order to assist us improve the services available your information may be used for clinical
audit, research, teaching and anonymised for National NHS Reviews.
Further information is available in the leaflet Disclosure of Confidential Information IL137, via
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust website or the PALS Service.
This leaflet can be made available in other languages and formats upon request
C H A P T E R 8 THE IMPACT OF PARENTAL MENTAL ILLNESS ON SUPERVISED VISITATION Introduction Supervised visitation programs receive case referrals involving parents with mental illnesses. Sometimes themental health status of the parent is known at the time of the referral; it may in fact be a factor in theremoval of children from a parent. In other cases, however, no mention of the i
Jawbone® Unveils New Data from Sleep Behavior Study, UP® Features and Caffeine Tracker to Demonstrate the Impact of Sleep on Everyday Life SAN FRANCISCO – March 6, 2014 – is today sharing findings from a comprehensive sleep behavior study based on data from the UP® system – the wristband, app and data service that helps you understand how you sleep, move and eat so you can ma
Rheumatology day unit