title: Vestibular reactions associated with minocycline.
abstract: Several recent reports have indicated that minocycline, a drug effective for meningococcal disease prophylaxis, is associated with a high incidence of vestibular side effects. In January 1975, a questionnaire on adverse reactions was completed by all 29 staff members of a North Georgia hospital who had taken minocycline at the recommended dosage after exposure to a suspected meningococcal meningitis case and by 25 age-, sex-, and occupation-matched non-treated controls. In the treated group 86% experienced moderate to severe vestibular symptoms; 84% of the symptomatic persons experienced their onset after one or two doses of 100 mg. Fifty-two percent of the treated staff members stopped taking the medication because of these effects. The symptoms resolved within 48 h after affected persons discontinued the medication. Until the safety of minocycline can be reestablished, rifampin is recommended for meningococcal disease prophylaxis, and alternative drugs are encouraged for other indications.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000517:prevention & control; D008911:Minocycline / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013754:Tetracyclines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D013754:Tetracyclines; D008911:Minocycline