Systemic antibiotics in rosacea

Examples of adult antibiotic regimes include:

• oxytetracycline/tetracycline 500mg bd (should be taken on an empty stomach and patient should be warned not to eat for 1h afterwards); or
• erythromycin 500mg bd (patient advice as above) - an option for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and other groups in whom tetracyclines are contraindicated

Notes:

• courses usually last 6-12 weeks and are repeated intermittently
• full doses are given initially but gradually reduced once the condition has been controlled - usually after 1-3 months. Antibiotics should not be stopped suddenly because this may result in rebound rosacea

Reference:

• (1) Clinical Knowledge Summaries (2018). Rosacea.
• (2) Primary Care Dermatological Society. Rosacea (Accessed 5/12/2018)