Patient leaflet - Lymecycline 408 mg capsules hard
1. What Lymecycline Capsule is and what it is used for
Lymecycline belongs to a group of medicines called tetracycline antibiotics.
The main use of Lymecycline is to treat acne. Acne appears as blackheads and whiteheads which people often refer to as pimples or spots.
Lymecycline attacks the bacteria that are one of the main causes of acne. The name of these bacteria is propionibacterium acnes.
This medicine can also be used to treat many other infections caused by bacteria. If you are not sure why you have been prescribed this medicine, talk to your doctor.
You must talk to a doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse.
2. What you need to know before you take Lymecycline Capsules
Do not take Lymecycline Capsules
if you are allergic to lymecycline or to other
tetracycline antibiotics such as doxycycline or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). An allergic reaction may include either a rash or itching
if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant
or are breast-feeding
- if you have ever had kidney disease
Lymecycline capsules must not be given to children under 8 years of age.
Lymecycline must not be taken at the same time as medicines which contain oral retinoids (these include some other medicines used to treat acne).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Lymecycline Capsules
Your doctor needs to know before you take Lymecycline Capsules if you have or have had any of the following conditions:
Have ever had a liver problem or renal
insufficiency (failure of liver and kidney function)
Suffer from systemic lupus erythematosus (an
allergic condition that causes joint pain, skin rashes or fever) or Myasthenia Gravis (a disease that weakens the muscles).
- Overdosing might result in liver problems.
You should avoid direct exposure to sunlight or
artificial sunlight from sunbeds. If you experience skin discomfort then stop taking this medicine and seek advice from your doctor.
Do not use this medicine if the expiry date has
passed, expired Lymecycline can cause kidney disorder.
As with other antibiotics, treatment with
tetracycline can cause secondary bacterial or mycotic infections (fungal). There is in particular the possibility of resistant staphylococcal enterocolitis (inflammation of the small intestine and colon due to bacteria that are resistant to the therapeutic action of the drug).
Should you undergo cycles of prolonged
treatment with Lymecycline, your doctor will prescribe regular checks of blood composition and liver and kidney function.
- Take the medicine with adequate amounts of water to avoid irritation or ulceration of the oesophagus.
Children and adolescents
Do not give Lymecycline capsules to children below the age of 8, it could harm them. For children over the age of 12 years the adult dosage may be given.
Other medicines and Lymecycline Capsule
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- medicines to thin your blood e.g. warfarin,
- diuretics (used to treat kidney disease, heart disease or high blood pressure),
- other medicines to treat acne.
- You should tell your doctor if you are taking any treatment with lithium, this medicine may increase the lithium levels
Do not take the following medicines at the same time as your Lymecycline as these could affect how well your acne medicine works. Wait at least two hours after taking Lymecycline before you take these types of products.
- indigestion remedies,
- ulcer healing drugs,
- quinapril (for high blood pressure),
- supplements containing calcium, aluminium, magnesium, zinc or iron.
Avoid use with penicillins (and other types of antibiotics), for the possible interference between the two products.
Do not take antacids containing aluminum, calcium or magnesium and products containing iron salts with Lymecycline, because these products reduce the absorption of tetracycline taken by mouth.
This medicinal product should not be used in combination with oral retinoids (medicinal products used for certain skin conditions) or doses of more than 10 000 IU/day of vitamin A.
Should not be used with methoxyflurane (risk of fatal renal toxicity).
Lymecycline Capsules with food, drink and alcohol
Lymecycline capsules should always be taken with a glass of water. Absorption of Lymecycline is not affected by moderate amounts of milk.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Lymecycline must not be taken if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
Use of medicines such as Lymecycline may affect the proper growth of developing teeth and lead to permanent discolouration.
Driving and using machines
Lymecycline is not known to affect the ability to drive or use machines
3. How to take Lymecycline Capsules
Always take this medicine as your doctor has told 200 mm
you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Lymecycline capsule should always be taken with a glass of water.The correct dose will be shown on the label which your pharmacist has placed on the container.
Please tear the aluminium strip carefully to remove capsule.
Do not give Lymecycline capsule to children below the age of 8 it could harm them.
Adults and children over 12 years
Acne
The normal dose is one Lymecycline capsule once a day, preferably in the morning. Lymecycline capsules should always be taken with a glass of water.
How long you will have to take Lymecycline capsule for will depend on how quickly your condition improves. For acne, this will normally be at least 8 weeks.
Infections
The normal dose is one Lymecycline capsule twice a day.
Your doctor may recommend a lower or higher dose depending on the severity and type of infection. Ask your doctor if you are unsure.
If you take more Lymecycline Capsules than you should
If you, or anyone else, take too many Lymecycline capsules phone your doctor for advice or go to your nearest hospital so that medical staff are made aware of the problem.
Don’t forget to take the container with you. This could indicate how many capsules have been taken.
If you forget to take Lymecycline Capsule Do not double up the dose to make up for a forgotten capsule. You should never take more capsules than your doctor recommends. Do not worry if you forget to take your Lymecycline at the right time. Take it when you remember and carry on as before unless it is time for the next dose.
If you stop taking Lymecycline Capsule
Acne responds slowly to antibiotics. It is important that you take all the Lymecycline that your doctor has prescribed for you. If you stop taking Lymecycline too soon, your acne or infection could get worse or come back.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- nausea (feeling sick)
- abdominal pain
- diarrhoea
- headache
Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data
allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction causing swelling
of the eyes, lips or tongue
- blistering or peeling of large areas of the skin
ulcerations or lesions on the mouth, lips, genital or
anal regions
- disturbances of eyesight*
- dizziness
- vomiting (being sick)
- yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
- increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
- increased pressure in the brain
changes in the number or type of certain blood
cells
- pain in the upper part of the abdomen
changes in some blood tests (tests of liver
function)
- fever
- itchiness, skin rash or hives
- inflammation of the intestine
depression
- nightmare
The following side effects may occur during treatment with the class of medicines to which Lymecycline belongs (the tetracyclines):
- inflammation or ulceration of the gullet, causing pain or difficulty swallowing or painful heartburn.
- systemic lupus erythematosus (an allergic condition that causes joint pain, skin rashes or fever)
- difficulty in swallowing
- inflammation of the pancreas
- liver damage
- teeth discolouration
- inflammation or soreness of the tongue, mouth, cheeks, gums or lips
- soreness or itching of the genital area
- yeast infection around the anus or genitals
- infection of the colon
- permanent visual loss
Tell your doctor immediately if you develop side effects such as swollen face, lips, tongue and throat, difficulty in breathing, hives, blistering or peeling of large areas of skin, ulcerations or lesions on the mouth, lips, genital or anal regions, severe or persistent headaches or visual disturbances.
* the presence of symptoms, such as visual disturbances, or headaches, could be attributed to increased pressure in the brain (intracranial hypertension). You should stop taking Lymecycline if there is any evidence of pressure increase in the brain. Benign intracranial hypertension, symptoms of which may include headache, vomiting, visual disturbances (blurred vision, blind spots or double vision), or permanent visual loss have been reported with tetracycline therapy.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via The Yellow Card Scheme. Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Lymecycline capsules
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and blister. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package in order to protect from light.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
The active substance is Lymecycline.
Each capsule contains 408mg of Lymecycline equivalent to 300mg tetracycline base
The other ingredients are:
Magnesium stearate
Colloidal hydrated silica
The capsule shells contain
Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose
Titanium dioxide(E171)
What Lymecycline capsules looks like and contents of the pack
Hard Capsules. white cap and white body
Alu/Alu blisters. Pack sizes: Blister with 7 capsules (4 x 7's pack or 8x7's blister in a carton)
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Somex Pharma, Ilford, Essex, IG3 8BS.UK
Manufacturer
Somex Pharma, Ilford, Essex, IG3 8RA.UK
This leaflet was last revised in 03/2026