Minocycline Dosing

Minocycline dosing guidelines are affected by factors such as your age, the condition being treated, and whether you are taking other medications. With most bacterial infections, an initial dose of 200 mg is given, followed by 100 mg, taken twice a day for 4 to 15 days. When treating mild acne with minocycline, dosing guidelines call for 50 mg to 100 mg, taken once a day for at least 12 weeks.

An Introduction to Minocycline Dosing

The dose of minocycline that your healthcare provider prescribes will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • The medical condition being treated
  • Your age
  • Whether you have decreased kidney function
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you are currently taking.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Minocycline Dosing for Bacterial Infections

The recommended dosage of minocycline for most types of bacterial infections is 200 mg to start, followed by 100 mg, taken twice a day for 4 to 15 days. For chronic or more serious infections, treatment can be carried out for a longer period of time. Adults should generally be limited to 400 mg of minocycline per day. In some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend taking the medication four times a day (instead of twice daily).
 
In children ages 8 or older, your healthcare provider will prescribe minocycline based on a weight chart. The dosing is usually 4 mg per kilogram of body weight for the first dose, followed by 2 mg per kilogram of body weight. The dose is usually given twice a day for up to 15 days. Children should not exceed the usual adult dosage.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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