DTB review oral antibiotics for acne
The Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) has reviewed the use of oral antibiotics for moderate to severe acne. The review has also been reported in the Guardian newspaper.
The DTB review found that the NHS spent £9.3 million on minocycline last year although it is likely that a proportion of this was not for patients with acne. The same volume of doxycycline would have cost £3.9 million, a saving of £5.4 million.
Clinical Evidence has reviewed this are and found that there is a trade off between harms and benefits for all the tetracycline antibiotics.
The BNF recommends that oral antibiotic therapy should be reserved for second line when topical treatment is not adequately effective or is inappropriate.
Action: Topical treatment is first line for moderate to severe acne. Where oral treatment is necessary, a cost effective option (e.g. doxycycline) should be used and the patient warned about the potential harms.
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We need to keep after acne prevention & acne cures. Acne control and remission are getting better - usually through combinations diet and medication. It is hard to sift out genuine acne research and genuine acne products from the frauds.
Comment by Jimma — August 28, 2008 #