english.prescrire.org > Spotlight > Archives : 2009 > In the October issue of Prescrire International:Fewer adverse effects with doxycycline than with minocycline

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In the October issue of Prescrire International:
Fewer adverse effects with doxycycline than with minocycline

FREE DOWNLOADA French pharmacovigilance report reveals more frequent adverse effects and a higher proportion of severe adverse effects with minocycline than with doxycycline.
Full text available for free download.

Summary

  • In mid-2008 the French National Pharmacovigilance Committee examined spontaneous reports of adverse effects observed during tetracycline therapy.
  • When sales figures are taken into account, reports were more frequent with minocycline than with doxycycline.
  • The proportion of severe adverse effects was also higher with minocycline than with doxycycline.
  • Life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions and autoimmune adverse effects were more frequent with minocycline than with doxycycline.
  • In practice, minocycline has a less favourable risk-benefit balance than doxycycline, particularly in the treatment of acne.


©Prescrire October 2009

"Fewer adverse effects with doxycycline than with minocycline" Prescrire International 2009; 18 (103): 213 (pdf, free)
Download the full review