Lymecycline Capsules

What is Lymecycline used to treat?

Lymecycline 408mg capsules are prescribed to treat acne; specifically, cases of mild to moderate acne in adults and children aged 12 years and older. It can be used to treat all forms of acne, including hormonal acne, cystic acne, and fungal acne. Typically taken once daily for 8 weeks, Lymecycline works by preventing the spread of the bacteria that causes acne.

Lymecycline is also sometimes prescribed to treat conditions such as sinusitis, bronchitis, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia.

How does Lymecycline work?

Lymecycline is a tetracycline-type antibiotic that helps to treat acne by preventing bacteria from spreading. It specifically attacks propionibacterium acnes, a bacterium that resides on the outer layer of the skin, preventing it from producing the proteins needed to survive and thus stopping it from growing or reproducing. This allows the immune system to fight the existing bacteria, reducing inflammation and improving the quality of the skin.

How long does it take for Lymecycline to clear acne?

Though it depends on the type and severity of your acne, you’ll usually be prescribed an 8-week course of Lymecycline 408mg capsules. You should start to see signs of improvement in your acne symptoms after one week, though it may take several weeks for the skin to clear completely. You should complete the full course of treatment even if all your symptoms clear up before it’s over. Speak to your doctor if you notice no improvement in your condition after several weeks of use.

What is the difference between Lymecycline and Tetralysal?

Tetralysal and Lymecycline contain the same active ingredient at the same strength. The only difference is the brand name and potentially some of the inactive ingredients (depending on the manufacturer). Tetralysal and generic Lymecycline capsules produce the same effects when treating acne.

Alternatives to Lymecycline

At The Independent Pharmacy, we stock a number of alternative acne treatments ranging from prescription-only oral antibiotics to over-the-counter topical treatments.

Oral antibiotic treatments for acne include:

• Oxytetracycline, a tetracycline antibiotic used to treat acne, rosacea, and other bacterial infections.
• Minocin, which contains the antibiotic minocycline and is prescribed to treat mild to moderate acne.
• Tetralysal, the branded version of Lymecycline.

Prescription-only topical acne treatments include:

• Differin, a gel or cream-based acne treatment containing an ingredient called adapalene that reduces the growth of the keratin skin cells that block pores.
• Dalacin-T, a topical acne treatment that contains the bacteria-killing active ingredient of clindamycin phosphate.
• Duac, a gel-based anti-acne preparation that uses clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide to prevent acne-causing bacteria from reproducing.

Over-the-counter topical treatments for acne include:

• Acnecide Gel, which contains benzoyl peroxide, a powerful antiseptic that kills up to 95% of the bacteria responsible for spots, blackheads, and whiteheads.
• Acnecide Cleanser, a dermatologically-tested daily face wash designed to cleanse and clear sensitive spot-prone skin.

To explore a range of alternative treatments for all types of acne — including fungal and cystic acne — visit our acne treatments page.

How to take Lymecycline 408mg capsules

For treating acne, Lymecycline antibiotics are usually prescribed as an 8-week course, and you’ll typically take one capsule daily.

You should swallow one Lymecycline capsule with water at roughly the same time each day — preferably in the morning.

Always take Lymecycline 408mg capsules medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist, and be sure to complete the full course of treatment.

Lymecycline ingredients

The active ingredient in Lymecycline 408mg capsules is lymecycline. Each capsule contains 408mg lymecycline, equivalent to 300mg tetracycline base.

The other ingredients are colloidal hydrated silica, magnesium stearate; capsule body: titanium dioxide (E171), gelatine; capsule cap: indigo carmine FD&C blue (E132), black iron oxide (E172), titanium dioxide (E171), yellow iron oxide (E172), gelatine.

What are the side effects of Lymecycline?

Like all medicines, Lymecycline can cause side effects in some users. If you experience any serious side effects, you should stop taking the capsules and seek medical assistance straight away.

Common Lymecycline side effects (occurring in less than 1 in 10 patients) include:

• Sickness and nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea
• Headaches

Less common side effects of Lymecycline (frequency of occurrence cannot be estimated due to a lack of available data) include:

• Eyesight disturbance
• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
• Increased pressure in the brain
• Changes in the number or type of certain blood cells
• Pain in the upper part of the abdomen
• Fever
• Skin rash, skin inflammation, or hives
• Inflammation of the intestine

For more information about possible side effects when taking Lymecycline, refer to the Patient Information Leaflet or speak to your GP or pharmacist. You should also be aware of the ingredients before taking Lymecycline to ensure an allergic reaction doesn’t occur.

Lymecycline warnings

You should not take Lymecycline 408mg capsules if any of the following apply to you:

• You’re allergic to lymecycline, other tetracyclines, or any of the other ingredients listed in this medicine (see below for details).
• You've been diagnosed with kidney disease.
• You’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

You should speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Lymecycline 408mg capsules if any of the following apply to you:

• You’ve suffered from liver or kidney problems.
• You suffer from systemic lupus erythematosus (an allergic condition that causes joint pain, skin rashes, or fever).
• You suffer from myasthenia gravis (a muscle-weakening condition).

You should also avoid direct exposure to sunlight or artificial sunlight from sunbeds when taking Lymecycline.

Lymecycline 408mg capsules are not recommended for use by children under 12 years of age.

Lymecycline capsules and other treatments

You should speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Lymecycline if you are taking, have recently taken, or plan to take any other medicines.

It’s particularly important to tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

• Oral retinoids (to treat acne).
• Anticoagulants (to prevent blood clotting).
• Diuretics (to treat kidney disease, heart disease, or high blood pressure).
• Medicines for epilepsy (e.g. phenobarbitone, phenytoin, or carbamazepine).
• Methoxyflurane (an anaesthetic).
• Oral contraceptives, such as the contraceptive pill.
• Any other antibiotics, including oral antibiotics.

If you are taking any of the following medications, you should not do so at the same time as taking Lymecycline. You should take them at least two hours before or after taking Lymecycline:

• Indigestion treatments.
• Ulcer medications.
• Quinapril (for high blood pressure)
• Dietary supplements containing calcium, aluminium, magnesium, zinc or iron.

Can you take Lymecycline while pregnant or breastfeeding?

Lymecycline is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby in the near future, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice. You should also seek guidance if you are planning to use Lymecycline while taking the contraceptive pill.