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What Causes Acid Reflux And Minor Abdominal Cramps While On Minocycline?
Question: Hey doctor,
I just started back on minocycline 50mg twice a day for acne and I am having general stomach aches from it, I am not sure if I am taking it with enough food or not possibly? Usually i'd just have a bananna or a piece of bread, would it be worth having a bigger a meal and then taking the tablet could that help with the stomach issues? I am mainly having gassy farts and minor cramps. I have been on it in the past and had some stomach issues but that was after taking it for a couple of months but now I am getting it after the first day of starting them again. Anonther thing to add I got the pharmacy brand instead of the original minocycline would that make a huge difference or?
Kind Regards,
Daniel
I just started back on minocycline 50mg twice a day for acne and I am having general stomach aches from it, I am not sure if I am taking it with enough food or not possibly? Usually i'd just have a bananna or a piece of bread, would it be worth having a bigger a meal and then taking the tablet could that help with the stomach issues? I am mainly having gassy farts and minor cramps. I have been on it in the past and had some stomach issues but that was after taking it for a couple of months but now I am getting it after the first day of starting them again. Anonther thing to add I got the pharmacy brand instead of the original minocycline would that make a huge difference or?
Kind Regards,
Daniel
Brief Answer:
Gastritis caused due to minocycline.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for the query.
I am a Dr Sunil and would be taking your call.
Mild nausea, mild diarrhea, upset stomach are very common side effect of minocycline. Minocycline irritates the mucosa of intestines and gut and cause severe gastric distress. See the basic idea behind taking it with food is that as we take food it forms a protective covering around the mucosa lining of stomach.As the mucosa is lined so the salt(minocycline) does not comes in direct contact with the mucosa hence mucosa is not irritated so gastric events are reduced .However its not always necessary that food can form a strong mucosal barrier in every case.
In case you have to continue with this medicine then i would suggest you to take it along with proton pump inhibitor like Omeprazole.(this will reduce your farts also)
Take omeprazole 40 mg once daily 20 minutes before taking this medicine.
Secondly every antibiotic disturbs the natural flora of gut and hence antibiotic therapy should always be taken with probiotic therapy.
Response and side effect of every medicine varies from individual to individual.Somebody might have no problem with a particular medicine while other person may have a number of side effects from the same medicine.
As you have the same gastric issues with Minocycline earlier also i would suggest you to ask your specialist to consider clindamycin. Its a new conjuguer of minocycline but safety profile is very high as well as the side effects like gastritis etc are rarely encountered.
So initial suggestion is try taking the same medicine with a bigger meal for 5 days.If not relieved add a proton pump inhibitor for 5 days if still not relieved consider switching over to clindamycin.
Brand i don't think is going to make any major difference dear.
Hope i answered your query well.
Feel free to follow up.
Warm Regards.
Gastritis caused due to minocycline.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for the query.
I am a Dr Sunil and would be taking your call.
Mild nausea, mild diarrhea, upset stomach are very common side effect of minocycline. Minocycline irritates the mucosa of intestines and gut and cause severe gastric distress. See the basic idea behind taking it with food is that as we take food it forms a protective covering around the mucosa lining of stomach.As the mucosa is lined so the salt(minocycline) does not comes in direct contact with the mucosa hence mucosa is not irritated so gastric events are reduced .However its not always necessary that food can form a strong mucosal barrier in every case.
In case you have to continue with this medicine then i would suggest you to take it along with proton pump inhibitor like Omeprazole.(this will reduce your farts also)
Take omeprazole 40 mg once daily 20 minutes before taking this medicine.
Secondly every antibiotic disturbs the natural flora of gut and hence antibiotic therapy should always be taken with probiotic therapy.
Response and side effect of every medicine varies from individual to individual.Somebody might have no problem with a particular medicine while other person may have a number of side effects from the same medicine.
As you have the same gastric issues with Minocycline earlier also i would suggest you to ask your specialist to consider clindamycin. Its a new conjuguer of minocycline but safety profile is very high as well as the side effects like gastritis etc are rarely encountered.
So initial suggestion is try taking the same medicine with a bigger meal for 5 days.If not relieved add a proton pump inhibitor for 5 days if still not relieved consider switching over to clindamycin.
Brand i don't think is going to make any major difference dear.
Hope i answered your query well.
Feel free to follow up.
Warm Regards.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Answered by
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