Lymecycline

Lymecycline, also known as Tetralysal 300, is an oral antibiotic medication used to treat severe acne. Lymecycline is particularly effective at treating skin infections. It works by stopping the bacteria from making the essential proteins needed to survive.

Lymecycline is effective for patients who failed treatment following over-the-counter topical treatments or prescribed topical treatments. It should only be used in combination with topical treatments and should be reassessed following three months of treatment.

Lymecycline is an antibiotic and should not be used for longer than six months due to the risk of antibiotic resistance and, thus, worsening of acne. Once the inflammation settles, you should divert back to topical treatment only.

For acne, you should take 1 capsule of lymecycline in the morning daily. Each capsule contains 408mg of lymecycline. Swallow the whole capsule in full glass of water whilst sitting or standing. The capsule can cause irritation in the throat and therefore you should not lie down or go to bed after taking the medicine. You can take the medicine with or without food but you are less likely to feel sick if have it with food.

Treatment with lymecycline is generally for 8-12 weeks. If treatment is successful, we would recommend you maintain treatment with when required topical treatments. However, treatment should be stopped, and an alternative should be sought if treatment is not successful after taking 6 months of lymecycline.

What if I forget to take lymecycline?

If you forget to take the capsule take it as soon as you can remember unless its nearly time to take your next dose. In this case leave the missed dose and take the next dose at your usual time. Never take 2 doses at the same time.

The most common side effects of lymecycline are feeling sick, stomach pain, diarrhoea, and headaches. Serious side effects are rare but stop taking lymecycline and contact The Family Chemist clinician or GP immediately if you have dark urine, the white of the whites of your eyes turn yellow or your skin turns yellow (this may be less obvious on brown or black skin) – this can be a sign of liver problems or your skin becomes very sensitive to the sun.

Lymecycline should not be used for the following patients:  have ever had an allergic reaction to lymecycline or any other medicine, have kidney problems, are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding, have liver problems, have an autoimmune disease called lupus and have myasthenia gravis – a rare muscle-weakening disease.