Minocycline; any reason not to dive while using it?

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Ber Rabbit

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Scuba classes have started again and it's time for me to do my research on medications.

Is there any reason a person taking Minocycline for "skin cleaning/clearing" cannot learn to dive? I looked the drug up on Medline Plus and it says that side effects are not common. The effects that can occur don't have anything to do with scuba except for dizziness or lightheadedness and once again that's not common.

Thanks for the help!
Ber :bunny:
 
Ber Rabbit:
Scuba classes have started again and it's time for me to do my research on medications.

Is there any reason a person taking Minocycline for "skin cleaning/clearing" cannot learn to dive? I looked the drug up on Medline Plus and it says that side effects are not common. The effects that can occur don't have anything to do with scuba except for dizziness or lightheadedness and once again that's not common.

Thanks for the help!
Ber :bunny:

Way back when, I had to know side effects of many drugs. Seems like everything had "dizziness or lightheadedness" listed as a side effect. Often times a person may experience a side effect for the first few days and then the body adapts to the drug and the side effect no longer effects the person.
 
Ber Rabbit:
Scuba classes have started again and it's time for me to do my research on medications.

Is there any reason a person taking Minocycline for "skin cleaning/clearing" cannot learn to dive? I looked the drug up on Medline Plus and it says that side effects are not common. The effects that can occur don't have anything to do with scuba except for dizziness or lightheadedness and once again that's not common.

Thanks for the help!
Ber :bunny:

I'm sure you'll get the entire gambit of responses here... If I were you and wanted a real answer - I'd send DAN an email. Personally - i had a prescription a few years back and I'd be more concerned if I had coffee before a dive.
 
Ber Rabbit:
Scuba classes have started again and it's time for me to do my research on medications.

Is there any reason a person taking Minocycline for "skin cleaning/clearing" cannot learn to dive? I looked the drug up on Medline Plus and it says that side effects are not common. The effects that can occur don't have anything to do with scuba except for dizziness or lightheadedness and once again that's not common.

Thanks for the help!
Ber :bunny:

Minocycline has a pretty innocuous side effects profile, but as with all drugs an adequate topside trial should take place prior to scuba to assess for possible adverse reactions. When dizziness or lightheadedness does occur, this often passes within a few hours and thus can be controlled by dosing schedule.

The instructor would also want to check that the condition for which the medication is being taken doesn't pose a risk for scuba or vice-versa.

Should you or the student wish to contact DAN, the phone # is 919-684-2948 (Mon thru Fri 9am to 5pm EST) and email http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/contact/email.asp?RE=Medicine

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.

Best regards.

DocVikingo
 
Ber Rabbit:
Scuba classes have started again and it's time for me to do my research on medications.

Is there any reason a person taking Minocycline for "skin cleaning/clearing" cannot learn to dive? I looked the drug up on Medline Plus and it says that side effects are not common. The effects that can occur don't have anything to do with scuba except for dizziness or lightheadedness and once again that's not common.

Thanks for the help!
Ber :bunny:

Minocycline is an antibiotic used frequently for those with chronic or severe acne. It is effective because in addition to killing the bacteria that is a cause of acne, it also has anti-inflammatory properties. Like DV said, they should have been taking the medicine for some time before diving to be able to assess themselves for possible side effects. If they have had no problems in taking the medicine, there should be no reason that it would hinder them diving.
 
Its unlikely that minocycline will cause a side effect at depth that hasn't happened on the surface.

Many drugs in the class of tetracyclines cause skin photosensitivity, and can prone one to easy severe and unusual suburning [not your typical red-lobster or blisters .. it can be quite painful and deep.]

Minocycline is the least likely to cause this among drugs in the tetracycline family, but given the outdoor nature of scuba diving often in a tropical setting, it would be prudent to take preventive steps: make sure one is covered up as completely as possible and use high value SPF lotions on exposed parts.
 
Thanks for the info, the student is using it for acne and has used it for a while without side effects. I like to cross check stuff with DAN as well as here just to make sure I'm not missing any information :)

Thanks a bunch!
Ber
 
Many drugs in the class of tetracyclines cause skin photosensitivity, and can prone one to easy severe and unusual suburning [not your typical red-lobster or blisters .. it can be quite painful and deep.]

I've had this side effect, was so painful I was crying hysterically every time my skin was exposed to sunlight. Be warned that suncream DOES NOT stop the reaction, or make it better in any way. My reaction came on very suddenly, one hour I was fine, the next I was covered in burns and excruciating heatbumps over my skin. I had to wear long sleeved clothes, a hat and homemade gloves (I was in the middle of the Jordanian Desert when it came on and hadnt brought gloves)

worth bearing in mind if you are going to be exposed to the sun, woudl be worth popping some protective gear in your bag.
 
tiny_clanger:
I've had this side effect, was so painful I was crying hysterically every time my skin was exposed to sunlight. Be warned that suncream DOES NOT stop the reaction, or make it better in any way. My reaction came on very suddenly, one hour I was fine, the next I was covered in burns and excruciating heatbumps over my skin. I had to wear long sleeved clothes, a hat and homemade gloves (I was in the middle of the Jordanian Desert when it came on and hadnt brought gloves)

worth bearing in mind if you are going to be exposed to the sun, woudl be worth popping some protective gear in your bag.
Sorry to hear this tiny-clanger, which drug were you on specifically in the tetracycline family, minocyline?
 
yes, minocycline - brand name Minocin. I had been on tetracycline for acne as well, with no ill-effects, except it didnt work. Now I get similar photosensitivity, though less badly when I treat my fish with tetracycline if they are sick, I dont know if it is absorbed through the skin or if I ingest it accidently after dosing.

regarding the suncream - I was using factor 30, but still burnt badly on areas covered by cream
 
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