minocycline monitoring

Baseline tests before staring minocycline treatment:

• liver function tests
• serum creatinine (for creatinine clearance) or estimated glomerular filtration rate

Ongoing monitoring

Required if treatment longer than 6 months

• every 3 months
  • liver function tests
    • may cause hepatitis
  • pigmentation
    • possible development of minocycline-associated hyperpigmentation
  • systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
    • be aware that SLE or lupus-like or serum sickness-like syndromes may result from minocycline treatment

Consider if treatment longer than 6 months

• every 3 months
  • full blood count
  • serum creatinine (for creatinine clearance) or estimated glomerular filtration rate
    • may cause acute kidney injury

Abnormal results

Respond to patient symptoms and conditions

Minocycline treatment should be stopped if any of the following develop:

• hepatotoxicity
• unusual pigmentation
• systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or lupus-like or serum sickness-like syndromes or pre-existing SLE gets worse
• raised intracranial pressure
• hypersensitivity syndrome consisting of cutaneous reaction (such as rash or exfoliative dermatitis), eosinophilia and one or more of:
  • hepatitis
  • pneumonitis
  • nephritis
  • myocarditis
  • pericarditis
  • fever and lymphadenopathy

Respond to absolute values

Full blood count

• stop minocycline and contact specialist if eosinophil count more than upper limit of normal

Reference:

1. NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (June 23rd 2026). Minocycline monitoring