Periostat (20 mgs doxycycline hyclate) has been helpful to some rosacea sufferers. Originally developed to combat periodontal disease (gum disease), periostat was approved by the FDA in 1998. Recently the FDA approved the introduction of generic periostat equivalents.
Ivax Pharmaceuticals and CorePharma are now free to sell their generic equivalents of Periostat.
Oracea contains doxycycline, the same active ingredient as CollaGenex’s gum disease treatment Periostat. CollaGenex is shifting its focus to the dermatology market following the approval of generic competition for Periostat.
Colin Stewart, CollaGenex’s president and chief executive officer of CollaGenex, said he believes the product could “significantly expand” the current $500 million market for prescription drugs to treat rosacea.
The lead investigator for the trial, says
“Oracea provides therapeutic efficacy in rosacea through anti-inflammatory and anti-collagenolytic effects and is devoid of antibiotic activity. Therefore, even with long-term use, development of antibiotic resistance is not an issue. Many rosacea patients will benefit from a once-daily formulation of doxycycline that has been optimized to treat rosacea effectively and safely.”
Oracea is a new sustained release, once a day 40 mg tablet. As part of the latest Phase III study, when compared to the placebo, erythema showed a trend towards improvement. In a second study, the reduction in erythema achieved statistical significance as erythema scores improved (again against placebo).
CollaGenex is also developing a new once-daily version of Periostat, called Periostat MR, to protect it position in the dental market. Collagenex has restructured their sales team around the fact that Periostat is about to become a generic label.
The company is also seeking to expand the label for the drug’s main ingredient to include its use in treating a variety of skin disorders including acne and rosacea.
So the potentially good news is that there should be cheaper periostat on the market shortly, and a new way to try low dose doxycycline once a day.
Have you tried Oracea or another low-dose doxycycline ? How long did it take to see some benefit ? Did you experience any side effects ? Please leave a comment below.
Update: as part of Collagenex’ push to promote Oracea and Incyclinide, a new web site developing the idea that rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease has been created. Be sure to check out the video of the the suggested Doxycycline Method of Action.
Featured Product:
Related Articles:
- Collagenex Press Release
- Clinical Trial Register: Effects of 40 Mg Doxycycline Versus a Placebo Control for the Treatment of Rosacea
- Oracea Prescribing Information (PDF)
- doxycycline and eye surface repair
- low dose doxycycline hyclate (SDD)
- Subantimicrobial Dose Doxycycline for Acne and Rosacea
- periostat and metrogel better than metrogel alone
- Subantimicrobial Dose Doxycycline for Acne and Rosacea
- biaxin (clarithromycin) vs. vibramycin (doxycycline)
- Oracea (40mg slow release doxycycline) shows promise
- Oracea approved by FDA for oral rosacea treatment
- collagenex: rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease
51 comments ↓
I have Rosacea that was mild until I turned 48. For a year, I have had red patches on one or the other side of my nose that refused to go away. Multiple daily applications of 1% metrogel and 15% Finacea failed to eliminate the red blotches.
I finally tried the Oracea prescribed in my third visit to the dermatologist. After 5 days of taking Oracea, the lesions are almost gone. I saw improvement after taking just two pills. The dermatologist said to take Oracea fo r1 week and not continuously.
My daughter started using Oracea about a year ago and it has done wonder for her acne. She went off of it for a few days and the acne returned. As long as she takes it her acne is clear. The dermatologist has always stated since it is a very low dose antibiotic it is not harmful in any way. She had tried other oral meds but was told that she could only take them for the short term, we are very grateful for Oracea.
I recently started taking Oracea for an irritated scalp. However, my previous doctor prescribed Doxycycline 100mg that worked in a matter of days, and was considerably cheaper. I called my new Dermatologist to get Doxycycline but she said Oracea and Doxycycline are the same thing. Is Oracea a low dosage? I’ve been taking Oracea 2 weeks and there has not been any improvement. Any suggestions?
Hi Marily,
Oracea is 40mg of doxycycline with 10mg of that in slower release to the remaining 30mg. At this dose it is considered low dosage or sub microbiotic dose. I would expect oracea to take longer to see a benefit compared to 100mg a day of generic doxycycline, so 2 weeks might not be long enough.
davidp.
I was orginally prescribed to Oracea, but switched to Doxycycline 50mg due to the huge difference in cost. I was given a 4 day sample of Oracea. Should I just go ahead and take the sample and continue taking the 50mg of doxycycline after that? Should the treatment work the same?
Thanks!
Hi Thuy,
You should be able to safely substitute the oracea for the doxy. I imagine the 4 day sample is just to confirm that you don’t have an allergy to any of the ingredients.
good luck !
davidp.
I have been taking Oracea for about 6 months. I keep having problems with a yeast infection, which seems to be related. The Oracea is working for the rosacea. Almost no one asks if I have a sunburn now. Any idea on the yeast infection?
Oracea is crap! It is no better than taking regular doxycycline, tetracycline, monocylcine, or any of the other multitudes of antibiotics that dermatologists prescribe us rosacea sufferers in an attempt to get us out of their offices. I have inflammatory rosacea with visible veins, redness, blotches, p&p, and daily burning, which drives me crazy. I have been on Oracea, as well as the other aforementioned drugs, and I have had only brief periods of relief. I’ve been on antibiotics now for one and a half years. I pray daily for relief from this awful affliction.
Ty
Hi Ty, Oracea is only ever promoted as being for the papules and pustules of rosacea (as indeed are other antibiotics). Oracea is just a low dose of doxycycline, so if you don’t get any benefit from doxycycline the oracea might not be for you - unless you are particularly looking for a low dose to avoid the side effects or continue long term for eg. Have you considered treatments like IPL ? davidp.
Hi all, I am seriously thinking on ask my doctor about oracea or better periostat.
Do you think periostat can help me?. I am 30 years old and my skin looks all burned. I’ve tried metrogel, rosacure, prosacea, all types of washes, also some oils somebody suggested…but every morning I see my face and I just want to cry…
This year in January I got a pretty bad cold taht developed into a infection, the doctor prescribed me tetracyclines and my face cleared for the first time in a year… but of course my stomach was aching and I was feeleign really weak in general… so I am wondering if one of those very low doses can help, how low can it be and still work?
thanks
Hi Rosita,
One of the promoted advantages of a low dose doxycyline like periostat, oracea or 50mg per day of generic doxycycline is that they are likely to induce less of the normal negative reactions to higher doses of antibiotics. So this should be a reasonable alternative for you to try.
How it works is that you still get the anti-inflammatory benefits of the doxycycline, but the dose is low enough not to effect gut flora for eg. Collagenex published a study recently that showed that as far as rosacea symptoms are concerned 40-50mg a day will give the same benefit as 100mg a day i.e. a low dose should be just as good.
It is the ability of doxycycline (and indeed other tetracyclines) to interrupt the inflammatory pathway that gives a benefit to rosacea sufferers, not the eradication of bacteria or infection.
davidp.
I started on Oracea one year ago, along with Finacea. I had unsatisfactory results with every other treatment. AND due to painful ocular rosacea, I was hoping to find something that would help my eyes AND my skin. The Oracea is fantastic for me!!! It started working immediately. But if I go a day or two without it, my eyes and skin react poorly.
My question is in regards to Oraceas interaction with oral contraceptives. I suffer from endometriosis and ovarian cysts. My gyn started menstrual suppression by low dose monophasic pills four years ago. This was a miracle for me, & very successful.
HOWEVER — soon after starting on the Oracea, I started spotting, which soon turned into 7-14 day long “periods”. It has only gotten worse over the last 11 months ; having now been switching my BCPs every 3 months and getting ultrasounds to see what happens. AND I am now getting cysts again as well.
I was wondering if there have been any studies as to how MUCH the Oracea might interact with oral contraceptives.(especially the low dose monophasic types)
I am not even concerned about pregnancy. I am flipping out b/c four years of successful menstrual suppression and no pain has now reversed back to the way things were before.
I really don’t want to stop taking the Oracea. BUT if it will help me stop having 14 day long periods, migraines & unbearable cramps — I guess I’ll have to deal with my skin itching, & my eyes feeling like there are small rocks rolling around under the lids every day. I lowered my dosage to every other day, but still the same results. My gyn knows I am on the 40mg Oracea & says it isn’t the cause.
Does anyone have any input, ideas, suggestions, info? Thanks!!!
I tried Oracea and had terrible results. If someone wants to have a flare up, I would recommend the Oracea. I had more burning and ruddiness than prior to taking the Oracea. The only thing that has helped me at all is Demulen (birth control pills). I also have found a little relief which was a complete fluke but better than all the topicals which only aggravate the condition. I have a pinched nerve in my back. It is extremely painful. My back doctor put me on Neurontin and Darvon. I can honestly say that it sometimes help with the burning in my face. I think doctors need to focus more in this area. I have tried lazer, Accutane, etc. You name it, I have tried it.
Stacey M.
I have rosacea & adult acne for about 9 years now and it REALLY SUCKS. Monodox worked best but I stopped for potential candida issues. I tried a pretty stict diet and saw many holistic doctors with no luck. Was on doryx for a month and it works pretty well but I started breaking the pills in half to avoid diarhhea. I read about Periostat and went to see my derm. Thankfully, he’s up on the latest stuff and gave me Oracea. No diarhhrea but have had some small bumps –could be from recent dairy intake. Last night I took a full doryx. So we’ll see. I think Oracea is a great option. If it’s anti-inflamitory action is enough to keep my skin from getting new pimples and I’ll be thrilled. Doc says time will heal my red marks but it takes a loooong time. I’ll give it time. If it doesn’t work I’ll just track down Michael Jackson surgeon and get a new face.
I recently started taking oreacea 40 mg. No improvement in my acne. Also it is exspensive since it’s a new drug my insurance doesn’t cover it so it’s $75 a month so I won’t be using this again I’m going back to doxycycline.
Hi Betti… hope this helps.
It may sound weird but I just buy the cheap 50mg doxy and I open the capsules and remove 10mg. The first two or three times I had to weight it (I work in a lab so i was able to use a good balance but you can try a cheaper one) then I just knew how much to empty the capsule.
The capsules are like 15 dollars for one month (30 ).
I decided to not take 50mg because I reviewed some papers and found that 50mg do have ANTIBIOTIC activity while 40mg a day the compound is only ANTI-inflamatory. Ideally, as you may know, you should take 20mg twice a day, but I think is not very practical for me with the 50mg capsules.
I think my skin is clearing, of course I also eat only the good stuff, lots of water, moderate excercise etc etc
good luck!
I have suffered from Rosacea for over 10 years. I have obsessively experimented with a lot of different cosmetics, OTC cleansers, lotions, etc. I have also tried metrolotion, azealic acid and traditional antibiotics. Up until this Spring, I had pretty much given up on doctor’s help. I had not found one that took it seriously or really cared. But then I developed perioral dermatitis and went to a new dermatologist. She prescribed me a sulfur cream, Plexion TS, in combination with Oracea. The Plexion TS dried out my skin at first but once my skin adjusted it was fine. Then after about 4 weeks, my Rosacea was essentially gone. The redness was gone, the papules were gone, the painful bumps around my mouth were gone…everything, gone. But after using it for 2 months, I stopped due to the high cost. Well, after 5 weeks, everything is back. So in my case, Oracea worked. Now my daily regime for success is as follows: Cetaphil gentle cleanser, Plexion TS, Prescriptives virtual skin foundation/powder and Oracea.
Hi Sara,
Thanks for the note. Sounds like you have found a good regime that works for you. Well done ! We wish you all the best for more success with Oracea, Plexion and Cetaphil.
davidp.
Hi
I’ve been prescribed Minocin for rosacea but am also anaemic and cannot take Minocin with iron. I am confused about doxycycline and tetracycline - what’s the difference. I think Minocin is just a tetracycline. I am currently trying Zineryt -a rub on solution containing Erythromycin and zinc acetate but not getting a great result. Would Oracea be better and can it be taken with iron?
Hi Deirde,
Iron can interfere with the absorption of all tetracyclines . The tetracycline family includes doxycycline, oracea (which is just doxycycline) and minocycline.
Some people find that a combination of a topical like you are using and a low dose systemic antibiotic work well together. As to the best antiobiotic to take that isn’t affected by iron, I don’t know, hopefully your Dr. can give the best advice.
davidp.
i have been taking oracea for almost a year now, i have some rosacea and adult acne or what i thought was acne, the oracea started working pretty good and every month it seems to be getting better, i noticed after time went on that it worked better and better, my skin has barely any inflamation and looks nice and clear, i am very very happy with oracea and the results…if your taking oracea and you have only been on it for a little bit, give it time, it worked for me when countless others never did..the cost is very high although mine is covered by insurance..other than that i highley recommend it, great results and few to no side affects.
Hey Digital Davo,
I visit this site often to read and see what new options people are trying. I have always been against using medicine but i read about Oracea and how it’s a low dose medicine. I just wanted your advice on it. I have mild rosacea with some redness, mostly on my cheeks. My biggest concern lately is that I have been getting more P & P’s. Thanks for the help.
- David
Hi David,
Oracea likely won’t do much for your redness, but it should help with the inflammation that causes papules and pustules. The fact that the dose is low enough to not cause the normal problems associated with antibiotics is an advantage for sure. It is still a systemic drug of course though, so if you only have a mild case it is worth trying other treatments first.
davidp.
digital davo,
what other options would you recommend?
thanks,
David
There are heaps of topicals you can try. I have tried to collect the best information here on this blog. See the links below or on the right. The usual suspects that rosacea sufferers consider: metrogel, finacea, gentle moisturizer, physical sunscreen. Also Eucerin Redness Relief, Aveeno Ultra Calming, Clinique Redness Solutions. The new members section on the bottom left is also a good resource.
Heaps of stuff to try and hopefully good information here to help you decide.
davidp.
would a dermatoligist prescribe oracea for acne? i don’t have severe acne or anything but i have it enough where it looks bad, sometimes hurts, and it’s really irritating. i’ve tried every face wash and all those acne treatment kits and nothing works for me. so what medications can i take or get prescribed? i need something i’m going crazy!
Hi Amanda,
Oracea would be a reasonable option for acne treatment as well as rosacea. It should give relief from the inflammation of the acne lesions while minimizing the likelihood to give other symptoms like full strength anti-biotics.
davidp.
I am also taking Oracea for mild acne, I have been on it for a month, I have not noticed any difference. Yet, honestly I seem to forget doses, because I am trying to take it when I have not eaten as prescribed. The problem is I pretty much eat (snack) every two hours so it is hard to find that window of opportunity. So maybe the sporatic doses is why it is not working. Does anyone just take it with food? If so what have the results been?
I’m a 33 year-old man and have had rosacea now for about 4 1/2 years. What began as one or two ‘bumps’ eventually turned into many. In the beginning, my dermatologist prescribed doxy and finacia. It did ok. It didn’t make it completely go away. A year or so later, I changed dermatologists and the new one prescribed finacia in addition to a form of minocycline with the brand name Soladyn. It worked wonders. I can take a 30 days of Soladyn and have no paps for at least six months. I also use a combination of MetroGel and Finacia along with a sulfur-based cleanser. Also, with IPL treatments, one could hardly tell I ever had rosacea. The unfortunate thing is that it’s all very costly and demands a certain fortitude. Sometimes, no amount of medication prevents a flare-up, especially drastic plummets of temperature. It’s an unfortunate affliction, especially since I’m an actor. I’m a little irritated that with all the medical technology in our grasps, there is no cure. My first dermatologist said it was because there was little to no professional interest. That’s a terrible thought.
Hey Shane,
I too have rosacea and have had it now for about 10 years or so. During the past 10 years i have seen a few derms. and they each prescribed me doxy. and metrogel. Medication has never been my thing and i was disappointed to find out that there is no cure and medication is pretty much something that has to be taken from now in most cases. i opted to never take the medication and try a natural approach. i wash my face with 100% oatmeal (aveeno), i use jojoba oil for a moisturizer, use purified water to wash with (no tap water), and here lately been doing my best to eat right. along with my daily routine, i have found that eating right makes a huge difference. i used to eat greasy food, sweets, and drinks lots of soda, but since cutting all that out, my skin looks way better and flare ups have eased greatly. i once read an article that sugar makes rosacea worse and i would have to agree. everytime i consumed sugar or even ate a fatty meal, my face would flare up and feel hot and uncomfortable. diet has a lot to do with it.
take care,
Davidpaul
Hi,I would like to know if is better ORACEA or DORYX for rosacea,because one of my dermatologist prescribed to me to take doryx and the other one to take oracea.I am taking the IPL laser treatment but they told me that I need to help me with any pill like doryx or oracea,and both ar expensive,Doryx is more expensive than oracea,but I am not sure which is better,I would like to get some recommendation.Thanks
Hi Diana,
You are pretty unlikely to notice a difference between Oracea and 50mg a day of generic doxycycline. Are you able to try generic doxycycline - that should in general be the cheapest option - unless you have rebates and full insurance cover for Oracea that is.
davidp.
Hi, I am 28 years old, and I started noticing the rosiness in my cheeks about 7 years ago if I recall correctly. Perhaps it started even 10 years ago, but I didn’t really start noticing it until about 7 years ago when my college mates would say that I blushed at everything. Well, I do blush at a lot, but it’s on top of already rosy cheeks. For a while I disliked my rosy cheeks. Then I got used to it, and considered it okay since I wouldn’t need much blush if any. I knew my mom had rosacea, but hers in redder than mine. Only recently did I go in to see a dermatologist since I started breaking out with the little white pus filled pimples. When I say breaking out, I only mean 2-3 pimples at a time, but I am unused to it, and I didn’t like it because as soon as the 2-3 that were there started to clear, another 2-3 started up elsewhere.
Anyway, the dermatologist gave me oracea, metrogel 1%, a night cream with coffeeberry by Revaleskin, and recommended that I either continue to use my Neutrogena cleanser or Cetaphil and upgrade my Neurogena moisturizer to 45 spf. I did all that, but I took an initial 4 or 5 pills (sample) that the dermatologist gave me. Then I didn’t refill the pills until about a week later. I had a horrible rash like break out after about a week. I hadn’t had a such a breakout since I used that awful harsh skin cleanser for teenagers when I was a teenager. I didn’t know if it was because I had suddenly quit taking the pills (oracea) or if it was the combo of using Neutrogena cleanser called healthy skin anti-wrinkle anti-blemish with the other things the dermatologist gave me. I have never before had a break out from the simple use of that Neutrogena cleanser, but I thought that perhaps the use of it with the other things might have been a problem. I wish I knew what the cause of that rash was. It strangely cleared up almost completely the next morning after cleansing with Cetaphil and using the night cream. So, I am hoping that it was only that the mix of cleanser, toner, metrogel, moisturizer, and cream somehow didn’t mix right. I am terrified of having that effect again. If it was the sudden stopping of Oracea that caused the rash, then that worries me because if my insurance changed and I couldn’t afford it anymore, I would be up a creek with a rash no less…
I don’t know what to think. I was doing fine on the Neutrogena stuff up until recently with the pimples. I don’t mind the rosiness so much as long as it doesn’t get really red.
Hey LB,
I’m also 28 and have had rosacea for about 10 years now, since I was 18. I had the exact same thing happen to me as you. It started off as slight redness in my cheeks and all of my friends would ask me if I had a sunburn, lol. I eventually got more used to the redness. Over the past 10 years my skin has become slightly more red, mostly in my cheeks. I do get little pimples once in awhile. One thing I have noticed is that my skin gets worse and flushes when I eat fatty foods, sweets, and drink soda. I do my best to stay away from those things. I also wash my face with 100% oatmeal by aveeno in a powder form. I mix the oatmeal with a little bottled water, make a paste and wash my face, then rinse with bottled water. I then let my face dry and use all natural Jojoba oil for a moisturizer. Oatmeal is proven to be a natural cleanser and anti- inflammatory and Jojoba oil is not only a natural moisturizer but a natural anti- inflammatory as well. I tried the Cetaphil before I discovered oatmeal and it irritated my skin, if you look at the ingredients in cetaphil it has a lot, including a lot that are known to be irritants to sensitive skin. I hope some of this helps.
Take Care,
David T.
Hey Digital Davo,
I’m still considering getting the IPL procedure done and was wondering if you could give me some advice on it. I have come across a lot of posts online saying that they had bad experiences with IPL. Most say that they have “dents” in their skin that looks like fat loss. This is the only thing making me cautious of having IPL done. Thanks for your help.
Take Care,
David T.
Hi David,
I think the key to having a successful IPL treatment is finding someone with experience in treating rosacea. This might not be an easy task, but it will help you achieve the best results with the lowest risk of problems. I’ve never had IPL myself so I can only refer you on to others to seek their advice; The Laser & IPL Therapy Forum is one place you could try.
davidp.
Thanks davidpaul, I am also into trying the most natural route first. Normally if I’m not absolutely desperate, I won’t take meds. I especially hate when I have to take something regularly. So, maybe I will just try the cleansers and perhaps continue the metrogel.
The Oracea may not have been the reason for that sudden rash, but I’m fairly certain that it is responsible for this stomach aching that started after I started taking the Oracea. I have a sensitive tummy anyway. So my diet has gotten milder and with less grease and sugar as well in the past couple years. I am also on a fairly regular exercise routine these days. From what I understand I am supposed to take the Oracea without food before breakfast in order for it to be most effective. Well, I have gotten to where I am eating nearly right afterwards because it hurts my stomach even more if I don’t, but now maybe it’s not even totally effective. Sheesh… This is why I usually try the most natural route first.
Like I said before, I can deal with the “blushing” as my friends called it, but hopefully it doesn’t get worse as years pass, and hopefully I will not have to go through a stage like teenagers do of constantly dealing with breakouts! My dermatologist that said she thought my skin was beautiful, and I’d like to keep it that way if I can.
Hey LB,
I feel the same way you do. I thank God that my rosacea has really not progressed much in the 10 years that I have had it now. Everyone always tells me that I have nice skin and when I tell them I have rosacea, the one’s who know what it is say they would have never known. Everyone just thinks I have a naturally reddish tone to my skin. Unfortunately I don’t feel that I have nice skin and i’m usually really aware of it out in public. When I go out I pretty much always feel that I have a spotlight on me and everyone is staring at my skin. My friends and family say that i’m too hard on myself and i’m finally starting to realize it. We can’t help the fact that we have this condition and should’nt feel so self- conscious. You know the old saying, we are all our own worse critic. Take care.
- David T.
David,
Please tell me how you use the oatmeal to cleanse your face. Do you grind it up into a powder? I suppose I could use an electric coffee mill to do that. Also, what type of Jojoba oil product do you recommend.
Red
Hey Jen,
My daily routine is really quite simple. I use 100% natural colloidal oatmeal made by aveeno. It is already in a powder form so you don’t have to crush it up. You can buy it anywhere really, like walgreens, wal- mart, H-E-B (if there’s one in your area). The box will say Aveeno bath treatment. It’s sold to be used as a bath treatment, but it’s just 100% oatmeal and perfect to clean your face with. The best jojoba oil that I have come across so far is Heather Loraine. Be sure to get the light (clear or almost clear) filtered jojoba oil because it’s less heavy on your skin. All I do is get a bowl, put some powdered oatmeal in it, mix it with bottled water (I don’t like tap water) and mix it up to a paste. You will probably have to experiment with the water to oatmeal ratio because it can be too thick or too watery if not mixed right. Then I get a soft wash cloth and wash my face in circles, then rinse. You may or may not want to use a wash cloth because wash cloths seem to irritate some people’s skin, it does’nt bother me. After my face dries I then apply jojoba oil with a cotton ball and that’s it. I only use the jojoba oil at night before I go to bed because if you use it in the morning your face will look oily. By morning time my face is well moisturized and if it is still a little oily looking, I just get a wet wash cloth and take off the excess jojoba oil. Your routine may be a little different, especially since you wear make up. Hope this helps. Let me know how it works.
Take Care,
David T.
Thanks for the information David. Where do you buy the Heather Loraine brand of Jojoba Oil?
I’m going to give your routine a try.
Red
Hey Jen,
I get my heather loraine jojoba oil at my local health food store. Check yours to see if they carry it. If not, you can go to heatherloraine.com and see a list of stores that carry it in your area. If no stores in your area carry it, I believe they can send it to you direct.
Take Care,
David T.
Dave, I was given some Oracea pills by my Dr. over the summer–enough for about 2 months. They were the kind they give the Dr’s for samples-40-50mgs I think. This really helped my Rosacea because it totally went away. Once I ran out the Rosacea gradually came back. As I travel a lot and its difficult to get to my regular Dr sometimes I called him and he prescribed 100mg of Doxycycline twice a day. I have been taking it now for about 4 days and its already almost completely cleared up. I worry that this is a higher dose than what I’ve seen recommended on your site and others since they recommend 40-50mg a day. I don’t seem to have any negative reactions to the amount he prescribed but worry about building up a “tolerance’ or whatever the word is to taking so much antibiotic. Should I worry about this? Also I was considering that once the Rosacea disappears I would cut back on the 100mg twice a day and start taking 100mg every OTHER day. Do you think this is a good idea or should I just get the Dr to prescribe the 50mg pills? Is there any documentation I can show him that he will “listen” to about this type of treatment? Obviously he knows the Doxycycline will work but I’m not sure he knows about the dosage. Thanks.
Dean, have you seen this page 100mg doxycycline no better than oracea ? In there I explored the idea that the maximum effective dose of doxycycline is 40mg a day. The papers mentioned on those 2 pages should give you enough ammo to give your doctor. When I was weaning myself off doxycycline, I got my dose down to 50mg a day and then 50mg every second day. This seemed to work quite well for me.
davidp.
Dave–thanks. Yes I found that article and several others that I will give him. Just one other question that I haven’t seen an answer to—How long can you take the low dose of this? Months? Years? Forever? I would hate to start this and find out I have to quit and end up with the rosacea back on my face. I sure am glad this website is here. Thanks.
I just answered this over at the community site too;
The official trials for Oracea only studied the treatment for a period of 9 months. Like all drugs, even at low dose, the potential for adverse side effects always exist.
Low dose antibiotics are thought to be much safer to take long term as they don’t affect the gut flora and are also not as likely to cause antibiotic resistance.
As to how long `long term’ really is, that is not an exacting science. Your doctor can advise how long they think it is safe.
My GP was happy to keep me on 50mg a day of doxycycline for a few years while I continued to need to take it and continued to get a benefit from it.
hope this helps,
davidp.
Thanks Dave that does help. I have printed out a bunch of stuff from this site to give my GP so I hope it helps him too.
Great site and great information, thanks! I think I got some relief the past 60 days using Oracea + Metrogel. I have the papule-type rosacea pretty much confined to the nose, but it gets pretty bad. I recently had to drop the Oracea when my insurance stopped subsidizing and it was $230/mo?? Wow. And as I was dropping off, I had an outbreak concurrent with the cold weather (and a few too many margaritas perhaps). I might ask for the 50mg doxy regimen, and I can diminish the dosage if need be. Question is whether the 40mgTR vs 50 mg is important? (I am 200 lbs, 5′10″, muscular build) I take supplements 2x/day - can I get a 25mg dose of generic doxy to take?
chucho, Check out some of the other information on the site about whether the Oracea or the 50mg doxycycline is better. It APPEARS, in my opinion, it doesn’t really matter and the doxy is way cheaper. I have actually been taking 100mg twice a day because thats what my Dr has prescribed but recently I went to 100mg ONCE a day and my face is still clear. I am going to try going to every other day and see what happens. I think its a matter of trial and error to see what works for you but thats ONLY my opinion because I’m not a Dr. Unfortunately the pills I have are capsules so I can’t cut them in half to see if 50mg will work. The next time I go to the Dr I will see if he will prescribe a 50mg size. If you read the articles on the site you will see that for MOST people the 50mg should work because at that dose it doesn’t work like an antibiotic. Instead it works like an anit inflamatory if I’m reading it right. And thats what works on the Rosacea. At that dose it also keeps you from building up a tolerance to antibiotics–again if I’m reading it correctly. Though it probably wouldn’t hurt to take some probiotics occassionally like yogurt or something–you can also get a probiotic pill. This helps keep the stomach “flora” going according to this site. I don’t know if your size or weight has anything to do with the dosage of doxy. I’m not an expert or Dr but this site sure is teaching me quite a bit about rosacea.
Thank you for all of your comments. It is very informative. After reading them all, it appears to me, if I’m reading it correctly, that stopping any of the anti-biotic therapy results in a relapse?
I was considering the 50mg Doxy a day because of cost. At Costco, it is listed as $15.00 for 150 pills. Very cost effective, if it works and one doesn’t have income or insurance for other types.
I bought some 1% hydro-cortizone cream (off the shelf) and tried it. It stopped all the breakouts and pustules! However, my doctor said to stop using it because the rosacea would relapse even worse, plus it would thin the skin.
Well, it seems like relapse is a problem with the Anti-biotic too. Seems confusing to me. The cheapest thing to do would be Cortaid, the next would be 50mg doxy. Any thoughts on my thoughts? thanks for this site, it is really appreciated.
Hi Rhonda,
I found that if I tapered off doxycycline slowly then I had less and less problems with relapsing. I think less exposure to your triggers might help as well i.e. try to keep the inflammation down at the same time.
davidp.
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