Minocycline (Dental)

Brand Names : Arestin

Before Receiving This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your dentist or doctor will make. For minocycline , the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your dentist if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to minocycline or any other tetracycline medicine (such as doxycycline, demeclocycline, oxytetracycline, or tetracycline). Also tell your dentist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Use of minocycline is not recommended during the last half of pregnancy. Tetracyclines, such as minocycline, may cause the unborn infant's teeth to become discolored and may slow down the growth of the infant's teeth and bones if they are used during that time.

Breast-feeding - Use of minocycline is not recommended because tetracyclines, such as minocycline, pass into breast milk. They may cause unwanted effects in the breast-fed baby. It may be necessary for you to stop breast-feeding during treatment with minocycline. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of the medicine with your dentist and doctor.

Children - Use is not recommended in infants and children up to 8 years of age. Tetracyclines, such as minocycline, may cause permanent discoloration of teeth and slow down the growth of bones. The safety and effectiveness of minocycline have not been determined in children 8 years of age or older.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of minocycline in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your dentist if you are using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.