A topic in Clinical Evidence 1 summarizes the results of one systematic review (search date 1999, 7 RCTs (n=864) comparing oral tetracycline with placebo. Four RCTs found that oral tetracycline reduced acne severity compared to placebo, and one of the RCTs also found that tetracycline increased the proportion of people who perceived that their acne was improved. Two more RCTs with indirect comparisons supported these conclusions.
Comment:Tetracyclines may harm bones and teeth in young persons, and they should not be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women. They may cause contraceptive failure during the initial weeks of treatment.
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