Minocycline is one of the antibiotics that is prescribed to treat MRSA. This antibiotic is considered a wide spectrum antibiotic that is effective in treating many different types of infections. Due to it not secreting efficiently in urine, it is not used for urinary types of infections. Minocycline is known for the high number of central nervous system side effects. A healthcare professional will need to decide if the benefits of treating MRSA with this antibiotics, outweigh the risks of the side effects. All antibiotics are most effective when taken for the full amount of time prescribed.
About
Some of the trade names that minocycline is known by are Minomycin, Akamin, Minocin, Minoderm, Arestin, and Solodyn. There are some strains of MRSA that do respond to minocycline antibiotic treatment. Normally this medication is not used to treat MRSA. It is commonly used to treat:
- Acne
- Lyme disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Various skin diseases
- Gonorrhea
- Tick fever
- Chlamydia
In the past, this antibiotic was used to treat Neisseria meningitidis but is no longer recommended because of the adverse side effects, which include dizziness and vertigo.
Side Effects
Though many people have no side effects when they are being treated with minocycline for MRSA, some people do have these common mild side effects:
- Diarrhea, indigestion, nausea, vomiting
- Dizziness, lightheadedness
- Drowsiness
- Loss of appetite
- Sore mouth, throat, or tongue
Some side affects are more serious and a healthcare professional should be contacted. These are some of the serious side affects that can occur:
- Sever allergic reaction
- Bloody stools
- Severe flu-like symptoms
- Excessive diarrhea
- Trouble swallowing
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Excessive fatigue or tiredness
There are other side effects that can be discussed with a healthcare professional. Especially when there are other health issues, like an MRSA infection, your physician should be made aware of any side effects.
Alternatives
There are other antibiotics besides minocycline that are used for treatment. It will depend on the specific strain that a person is infected with which antibiotics will be prescribed. Surgery is sometimes necessary to drain the infection, repair damage, or prevent the infection from spreading. Due to the risks of an MRSA. most of the time it is treated with some type of antibiotic. DNA testing of the bacteria will help the doctor determine the specific stain that an infected person has and decide if minocycline will be effective in treating it. If it isn’t effective, one of the other types of antibiotics will be used to treat the infection.
The best way to avoid being treated with minocycline for MRSA is to prevent getting this type of staph infection. Washing regularly with soap and water, building your immune system, and avoiding direct contact with an active infection are ways for prevention.