Doxycycline vs Minocycline: Key Differences and What You Need to Know

When you’re prescribed an antibiotic for acne, Lyme disease, or a respiratory infection, you might get either doxycycline, a broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections including acne, Lyme disease, and certain types of pneumonia. Also known as Vibramycin, it’s often the first choice for its affordability and effectiveness. Or you could get minocycline, a second-generation tetracycline antibiotic with stronger penetration into tissues and sometimes better results for stubborn acne. Also known as Minocin, it’s often picked when doxycycline doesn’t fully clear up the infection. Both are part of the same antibiotic family—tetracyclines—but they’re not interchangeable. One might work better for your skin, while the other is safer for your stomach or more effective against a specific bug.

The big difference? Doxycycline is usually easier on the stomach and less likely to cause dizziness or vertigo. It’s also cheaper and works well for tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Minocycline, on the other hand, gets deeper into the skin and tissues, making it a top pick for severe acne that doesn’t respond to other treatments. But it comes with more side effects—like blue-gray skin discoloration, dizziness, or even rare cases of autoimmune reactions. If you’re active, or prone to balance issues, doxycycline is often the safer pick. If you’ve tried other acne meds and nothing worked, minocycline might be the next step.

Both can cause sun sensitivity, so skip the tanning bed and wear sunscreen. Neither should be taken with dairy, antacids, or iron supplements—they block absorption. You’ll need to take them on an empty stomach or with a light meal, and always drink a full glass of water to avoid throat irritation. Neither is safe for kids under 8 or pregnant women, because they can stain developing teeth and affect bone growth.

What you’ll find in the posts below are real comparisons you can use. We’ve broken down how these two antibiotics stack up in treating acne, respiratory infections, and tick-borne diseases. You’ll see what doctors actually recommend when one fails and the other is tried. We’ll show you side effect profiles, cost differences, and which one patients report feeling better on. No fluff. Just clear, practical info to help you understand why your doctor chose one over the other—or what to ask if you’re not sure.