Minocycline and its extended-release formulation for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris

The use of tetracycline antibiotics in the treatment of acne is long established in dermatology, with a proven record of both safety and efficacy. Minocycline is a drug that is generally considered the most effective of the tetracycline derivatives. This article is a brief review of the use of minocycline in acne and its new extended-release version for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris. Prior to the introduction of this new formulation of minocycline, it had been available as immediate- and modified-release formulations. The main advantage of this new extended-release formulation is the lower incidence of vestibular side effects; however, presently, there are no trials comparing the efficacy of this formulation to other formulations of minocycline in the treatment of acne.