Re: Blue toes ... Doc says because of minocycline.. Help! :(

[Guest guest]

Hello. My rheumatologist had told me that discoloration of the nails

may be a reaction to minocycline. I am not sure of the health

relations to it. Best, June

On Jan 17, 2011, at 11:30 AM, tam6810 wrote:

> My friend is having blue toe nails for several months and bruising

> on legs. She says may just be her dogs jumping on her legs so not so

> worried about that like she is about toes. Has anyone experience

> this and has your doc ever warned you too much of mino for years can

> lead to this? She can not tolerate minocycline m/w/f so she takes it

> everyday m-sat. I think she is overdosing? What is your opinion?

> Change drugs? Is there another health issue because of toes? Help

> help.

>

> in Texas

> Dm in remission

> AP therapy

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

This is from the frequently asked questions at www.rheumatic.org , the

website that explains AP.

I have been on Minocin for 13 years and only have one tooth with what

my dentist recognized as Minocycine related discoloration. I do take

extra Vitamin C

I also want to point out that it is cosmetic. In the grand scheme of

things, I rather be black and blue than crippled. Other people may have

different sensitivities.

Take care,

Ute

**5. WHAT IS HYPERPIGMENTATION? Minocycline can cause discoloration of

the skin anywhere on the body. This is called hyperpigmentation. Large

daily doses of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) may prevent this phenomenon.

(Bowles WH, Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A & M University System

Protection against minocycline pigment formation by ascorbic acid, J

Esthet Dent, 10(4):182-6 1998) **

**Dr. A. Franco, a rheumatologist practicing in Riverside,

California, says that hyperpigmentation occurs in about 10% to 20% of

patients taking minocycline (Minocin) on a daily basis and over one

year. Occasionally it may appear earlier. It occurs less frequently with

patients taking Minocin on a three times per week basis. It may be

necessary to switch to another antibiotic. It is usually reversible

after discontinuation of the medication, but fades slowly and sometimes

not completely. **

**Dr. Pnina Langevitz in Israel has done three double-blind studies on

the use of minocycline in rheumatoid arthritis with some patients on the

medication over 5 years. The following is from Langevitz et al -

Minocycline in Rheumatoid Arthritis; Isr. J. Med Sci 1996;32:327-330.

/'We also observed skin hyperpigmentation in about one third of our

patients as a late complication of the therapy. Minocycline related

hyperpigmentation of the skin is a well known complication of this agent

and can be subdivided into three categories. The first is characterized

by dark black-blue macules localized at sites of cutaneous inflammation.

.. . . . . . . . . . The second type is a more diffuse hyperpigmentation,

predominantly on the lower extremeties and on areas exposed to sunlight.

.. . . . . . . The third form of minocycline-induced hyperpigmentation is

the 'muddy skin syndrome' Ð a dark brown-gray discoloration of the skin

generalized over the body, less prominent in non exposed areas. The high

incidence of skin hyperpigmentation in our group of patients is probably

due to the longer follow-up period than that in other groups, and to sun

exposure.'/ (Patients in this study were on 100 mg. of minocycline twice

daily.) **