Seysara: A new antibiotic specially developed for moderate to severe acne

Table of Content:
What is it and how does it work? | Tetracyclines | Advantages | Side effects | Seysara vs doxycycline | Safety measures | Dosage | Price

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Seysara: what is it and how does it work?

Seysara (sarecycline) is a newer tetracycline antibiotic approved by the FDA for the treatment facial and truncal moderate to severe acne in people aged 9 years and older¹. It works by targeting and reducing the amount of acne-causing bacteria on the skin².

It is estimated that tetracyclines account for up to 75% of all antibiotics prescribed by dermatologists and up to 66% of those prescriptions being specifically for doxycycline or minocycline³. 

Doxycycline and minocycline are oral, second-generation, broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotics that have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of acne and different types of infections⁴.

In this article we will dive into the advantages of Seysara over broad spectrum antibiotics like minocycline and doxycycline, what makes it unique, the most common dosage for acne, and price so you and your online dermatologist can decided if Seysara is the right medication for your acne. In addition to an antibiotic, your online dermatologist may also prescribe a retinoid such as tretinoin, adapalene, trifarotene or tazarotene to get better results.

What are tetracyclines?

Tetracyclines are a class of antibiotics commonly used to treat bacterial infections; they work by preventing the growth of bacteria. Until now, tetracyclines were broad-spectrum antibiotics, which means they can target different types of bacteria⁵.

Oral tetracyclines are the most common oral antibiotics prescribed for acne⁶. Some of the tetracyclines typically used for the treatment of acne include doxycycline, minocycline, and more recently, sarecycline.

Seysara

Seysara (also known for its active ingredient sarecycline) is a newer antibiotic specifically developed and approved by the FDA for the treatment of moderate to severe acne⁷.

Sarecycline is highly effective against the bacteria that causes acne. Since it mostly targets acne-causing bacteria and is not effective against some other types, it is less likely to cause antibiotic resistance and has fewer side effects than other antibiotics⁸.

Advantages of Seysara

Sarecycline (Seysara) has several advantages as a treatment for facial and truncal moderate to severe acne:

1. FDA-approved for patients 9 years old and older. Many acne medications can only be used for patients over 12 years old. 

2. Very efficient against C. acnes bacteria (the bacteria commonly associated with the development of acne) which means it can effectively reduce the amount of breakouts⁹.

3. Low potential for antibiotic resistance: According to clinical trials it has a low potential for the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria^10.

4. Reduced risk of side effects: It has a unique chemical structure that allows it to be better tolerated by patients and may result in fewer and milder side effects than other antibiotics¹¹.

5. Targeted activity: It primarily targets the bacteria that cause acne and has minimal activity against other types of bacteria, potentially reducing the risk of disrupting the natural balance of bacteria on the skin¹².

6. Once a day dosing: Sarecycline is taken once daily, usually at the same time, with or without food, which makes it convenient¹³.

Seysara side-effects

The side effects of Seysara are usually mild and temporary and may go away with time as the body adjusts to the medication. Some of the common side effects of Sarecycline include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headaches
• Tiredness¹⁴

How is Seysara different from other acne medications?

Compared to other tetracycline medicines like minocycline and doxycycline, Seysara (sarecycline) targets a smaller variety of microorganisms. As a result, Seysara (sarecycline) users are less likely to develop infections that are resistant to treatment with antibiotics than those who use other tetracyclines.

Seysara (sarecycline) vs doxycycline

Sarecycline and doxycycline are both oral antibiotics used to treat acne, but they differ in a few important ways.

Firstly, sarecycline is a newer antibiotic that was specifically developed and approved by FDA for the treatment of  moderate to severe acne¹⁵. On the other hand, doxycycline, is an older antibiotic that has been widely used for the treatment of bacterial infections and acne¹⁶.

Sarecycline is a narrow-spectrum antibiotic, which means it specifically targets acne-causing bacteria. In contrast, doxycycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which means it can target a wider range of bacteria¹⁷. This broader spectrum of activity means that doxycycline increases the risk of side effects and the development of antibiotic resistance¹⁸.

Thirdly, doxycycline causes sun sensitivity¹⁹, while sarecycline is less likely to have this side effect. 

Overall, both sarecycline and doxycycline are effective acne treatments, but the choice of antibiotic may depend on the severity and type of acne, as well as patient factors such as age, medical history, and other medications being taken. 

A healthcare provider is the best person to determine which treatment (antibiotics or retinoids) may be most appropriate for your type of acne.

Seysara safety measures

Does Seysara cause weight gain?

Weight gain is not listed as a common or rare side effect of Sarecycline (Seysara) in the prescribing information approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Who can take Seysara?

Patients over 9 years old with facial and truncal moderate to severe acne. 

Who cannot take Seysara?

Patients with hypersensitivity to tetracyclines should not take Sarecycline²⁰.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding²¹ should not take sarecycline because it can affect the development of teeth and bones in the unborn baby. Sarecycline passes into the breast milk and may affect the bone and tooth development in the nursing baby. 

Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or if you become pregnant.

Sarecycline is not approved for the use in children under 9 years of age. This medicine may cause permanent yellow or gray discoloration of children’s teeth.

Seysara dosage and usage

How to take Seysara?

You should always follow the directions given by your healthcare provider, but as a rule of thumb, sarecycline should be taken once a day, usually at the same time, with or without food for no longer than 12 weeks.

Seysara formulations and doses

Sarecycline (Seysara) comes in three different formulations: tablets with 60 mg, 100 mg and 150 mg.

Seysara price and accessibility 

Seysara is a prescription drug and only a doctor or other healthcare professional can make a prescription for the Seysara. 

Price of Seysara with and without insurance

Patients with a qualifying commercial insurance plan may only pay as little as $15. For those who lack insurance coverage the cost may be between $65 and $175 depending on the pharmacy²². 

PATIENT EDUCATION

Acne Resources

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• Pomade acne
• Acne cosmetica
• Best skincare routine for acne
• Skin purging – what is it?
• Tretinoin purge
• Tretinoin vs. retinol for acne
• Using clindamycin gel to treat acne
• Doxycycline hyclate vs. monohydrate
• Adapalene vs. tretinoin
• Spironolactone for acne

Article References:
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-approvals-and-databases/drug-trials-snapshot-seysara
https://seysara.com/starting-seysara/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9220064/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC99026/
https://jddonline.com/articles/article-oral-tetracyclines-and-acne-a-systematic-review-for-dermatologists-S1545961620S00s6X
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7840093/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6937166/
https://www.seysara-hcp.com/#tolerability-section
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556599/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6090842/
https://static.almirall.us/pdf/Seysara_uspi_final_Jun2020.pdf
https://seysara.com/patient-savings/