Azithromycin Compared with Minocycline in the Treatment of Acne Comedonica and Papulo-Pustulosa

• Published in: Journal of chemotherapy (Florence) 1998-12, Vol.10 (6), p.469-473
• Main Authors: Gruber, F., Grubišić-Greblo, H., Kaštelan, M., Brajac, I., Lenković, M., Zamolo, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acne Vulgaris - drug therapy; Acne Vulgaris - pathology; Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - adverse effects; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Azithromycin - administration & dosage; Azithromycin - adverse effects; Azithromycin - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Minocycline - administration & dosage; Minocycline - adverse effects; Minocycline - therapeutic use; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1120-009X; 1973-9478
• DOI: 10.1179/joc.1998.10.6.469

This open study was conducted in 72 outpatients with acne vulgaris, to compare the clinical efficacy and tolerability of azithromycin and minocycline. Azithromycin was administered as a single oral dose (500 mg/day) for 4 days in four cycles every 10 days and minocycline was administered 100 mg daily for 6 weeks. Improvement was assessed 6 weeks after initiation of treatment with a four-graded scale. A satisfactory clinical response was observed in 75.8% of the patients treated with azithromycin and in 70.5% of those treated with minocycline. There were no significant differences between these two acne treatments in terms of reduction of the number of lesions (p> 0.05). Both agents were well tolerated and mild side effects were reported in 10.3% of azithromycin and 11.7% of minocycline treated patients. We conclude that azithromycin is at least as clinically effective and well tolerated as minocycline as treatment of facial comedonic and papulopustular acne.