Lymecycline

Lymecycline: what is it?

Lymecycline is an antibiotic in the class of drugs called tetracyclines. These drugs treat bacterial infections by inhibiting the production of proteins needed for bacterial growth. Tetracyclines can treat various bacterial infections including respiratory, urinary and skin infections, and are commonly used for treating acne. This drug only comes in one dose of 300mg and is typically taken once a day.

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Reviewed on Feb 27, 2024. by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer Registered with GPhC (No. 2241935) Next review due on Feb 27, 2027.

Last updated on Feb 26, 2024.

What does lymecycline treat?

Lymecycline can treat bacterial infections but it’s commonly used for acne vulgaris, a type of acne caused by the bacteria called Cutibacterium acnes (C.acnes). This bacteria is part of your microflora, which is the community of bacteria that lives internally or externally in your body to keep it healthy and your immune system strong. However, an imbalance of C. acnes can cause acne, so taking an antibiotic like lymecycline can help get rid of excess bacteria.

Ance is a condition that’s caused by many factors, one cause is excess oil production. Your skin has sebaceous glands (oil glands), which produce oily substances. This is important to keep your face from being dry and help strengthen your skin barrier, but when excess oil is produced it can clog your pores and lead to a build-up resulting in acne forming.

In some individuals, these glands are also hypersensitive and overreact to androgens, like testosterone. This results in inflammation, redness and irritation. This can become worse if infected with C. acnes. Oily skin can create the perfect environment for C. acnes to thrive. Additionally, the inflammation can create a low-oxygen environment for your skin, which C. acnes prefers. This causes the inflammation to worsen, which results in the appearance of nodules (hard spots), papules (spots without pus) and pustules (spots with pus).

How does lymecycline work?

Tetracyclines, like lymecycline, are antibiotics that work by preventing the production of proteins in bacteria. Proteins are essential for bacteria growth and survival, and they are made by ribosomes, a complex protein machine. Ribosomes are composed of two main subunits, the 30S and the 50S, both of which are important in the protein-making process. Tetracycline specifically targets and inhibits the 30S subunit, stopping the production of protein, which eventually means that the bacteria can’t survive.

Is lymecycline effective?

Lymecycline is a useful treatment for mild to moderate acne. In a study, 136 participants with moderate to severe acne were treated with either lymecycline or minocycline for 12 weeks. The results showed that patients treated with lymecycline had a 63% mean reduction in inflammation and a 58% reduction in lesions. Whereas, the patients treated with minocycline had a 65% reduction in inflammation and a 56% reduction in lesions. This shows the treatment was effective at reducing and treating acne, but it might not provide a complete cure. When it comes to treating acne, each individual's reaction to a medicine will differ, so you won't know what works until you try it.

Will lymecycline make acne worse?

There’s a chance your acne will worsen when you start treatment, but don’t worry this is quite common.This is known as purging and often occurs in the first couple of weeks of taking medication. Skin purging is a process where dead cells and bacteria are forced out of the surface of your skin, so your skin will look and feel worse, but after the purging process, your skin should clear up. However, if it’s been more than a month and your skin isn't improving, contact your doctor.

What treatments use lymecycline?

You can get lymecycline as the branded version named Tetralysal or as a generic. They both contain the same active ingredient at the same concentration of 408mg. Sometimes you might see it as 300mg, but this refers to the amount of equivalent tetracycline base used. For reference, 408mg of lymecycline is equivalent to 300mg of tetracyclinebase.

Between the generic and branded versions, there actually isn’t much difference. The main difference is that generic drugs are often cheaper than branded ones, but this doesn’t make them any less effective.

Are there similar treatments to lymecycline?

Lymecycline is in the class of medicines called tetracyclines, other medicines in this class are doxycycline and oxytetracycline. They all treat bacterial infections including acne. When comparing lymecycline with doxycycline, lymecycline was a little more effective. A study found between the two drugs, those patients using lymecycline had an earlier reduction in lesions and the treatment length was shorter.

There are also different antibacterial medicines that treat acne. One treatment includes Zineryt, a topical solution containing zinc and erythromycin. Zinc has anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce redness, and erythromycin helps kill bacteria.

Another similar treatment is Duac gel which contains clindamycin, an antibiotic, and benzoyl peroxide, a keratolytic that breaks down the top layer of your skin to make it smooth and prevent further breakouts.

Is lymecycline only available on prescription?

Yes, lymecycline is only available with a prescription. This is because antibiotics can be harmful, so your clinician will check if your treatment is safe and suitable for you to take. Another reason is the potential overuse of antibiotics which can lead to resistant strains of bacteria. So only being allowed to purchase through a prescription helps to limit the amount of antibiotics being used.

Are there other acne treatments?

There are many acne treatment options available from prescription treatments, to over-the-counter medication or treatment which is only available by a specialist referral. The options open to you will usually depend on how bad your acne is and how long you’ve had it for.

Usually, the first line of treatment for mild-to-moderate acne is topical treatments like benzoyl peroxide (the branded name is Acnecide) or adapalene (Differin). Benzoyl peroxide is an antiseptic that helps remove bacteria and adapalene is a topical retinoid.

Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives. Your skin is renewed every 28-42 days, but when you use vitamin A derivative products the renewal process is much faster. This can reduce acne and leave skin looking fresher. If the above two treatment types are unsuccessful, you’ll usually go on to be prescribed antibiotics like lymecycline and clindamycin. A lot of these treatments can be used in combination with each other. Your clinician will let you know what treatments work best.

If you have severe acne that hasn’t improved with other treatments, your clinician might recommend isotretinoin (Roaccutane), an oral medication that contains high levels of vitamin A. Isotretinoin is a highly potent drug that’s only prescribed in cases of severe acne that haven’t improved with other treatments. This is because it can cause serious side effects. While taking isotretinoin, you’ll need to have regular blood tests (usually once a month or every other month) to monitor your liver function. Despite its risks, isotretinoin can be highly effective, especially for people with severe painful acne.

What side effects are linked to lymecycline?

Like any other medicine, lymecycline can cause some side effects. Common ones include nausea, stomach pain, diarrhoea and headache. But this might lessen as you get used to taking the medicine.

In some cases, after your treatment with lymecycline, you might get fungal infections. This is because lymecycline kills bacteria, even the good ones that are important to your body. This can affect your gut and your microflora, possibly causing digestive issues and causing fungal infections.

You can drink alcohol while taking lymecycline and it won’t affect the effectiveness of it. But too much can make your side effects worse, so it’s best to drink in moderation.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer on Feb 27, 2024. Next review due on Feb 27, 2027.

Last updated on Feb 26, 2024.

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