Method for the treatment of acne

Abstract

A method for treatment of acne with tetracyclines is provided. A lower sustained dose and no loading dose is employed, with an optional once-a-day dosing regimen.

1 - 5 . (canceled)  
     
     
         6 . An oral dosage form, comprising: 
 an antibiotically effective dose of an oral minocycline; and    a pharmaceutically suitable delivery vehicle;    wherein said oral dosage form is for administration once daily to provide a patient with about 0.5 mg/kg/day to about 1.5 mg/kg/day of said oral minocycline; and    wherein said oral dosage form provides a continuous slow release, without a loading dose, of said oral minocycline, at a release rate in gastric fluid of either about 25% to about 52% within about 1 hour, about 53% to about 89% within about 2 hours, and at least about 90% within about 4 hours, or about 30% to about 52% within about 1 hour, about 53% to about 84% within about 2 hours, and at least about 85% within about 4 hours.    
     
     
         7 . The oral dosage form of  claim 6 , wherein said oral minocycline is minocycline as hydrochloride.  
     
     
         8 . The oral dosage form of  claim 6 , wherein said oral dosage form is for administration once daily to provide said patient with about 1.0 mg/kg/day of said oral minocycline.  
     
     
         9 . An oral dosage form, comprising: 
 an antibiotically effective dose of an oral minocycline; and    a pharmaceutically suitable delivery vehicle;    wherein said oral dosage form is for administration once daily to provide a patient with about 0.5 mg/kg/day to about 1.5 mg/kg/day of said oral minocycline; and    wherein said oral dosage form does not provide an immediate release of said oral minocycline, and provides a continuous slow release, without a loading dose, of said oral minocycline at a rate so that C max  is reached at about 3.5 hours after administration to said patient.    
     
     
         10 . The oral dosage form of  claim 9 , wherein said oral minocycline is minocycline as hydrochloride.  
     
     
         11 . The oral dosage form of  claim 9 , wherein said oral dosage form is for administration once daily to provide said patient with about 1.0 mg/kg/day of said oral minocycline.  
     
     
         12 . An oral dosage form, comprising: 
 an antibiotically effective dose of an oral minocycline;    a fast dissolving carrier; and    a slow dissolving carrier, wherein said fast dissolving carrier and said slow dissolving carrier are at a weight ratio of about 0.3 to about 0.5 that provides a continuous, slow release, without immediate release, of said oral minocycline; and    wherein said oral dosage form is for administration once daily to provide a patient with about 0.5 mg/kg/day to about 1.5 mg/kg/day of said oral minocycline.    
     
     
         13 . The oral dosage form of  claim 12 , wherein said oral minocycline is minocycline as hydrochloride.  
     
     
         14 . The oral dosage form of  claim 12 , wherein said weight ratio of fast dissolving carrier to slow dissolving carrier is 0.35 to 0.45.  
     
     
         15 . The oral dosage form of  claim 14 , wherein said weight ratio of fast dissolving carrier to slow dissolving carrier is 0.36 to 0.40.  
     
     
         16 . The oral dosage form of  claim 12 , wherein said oral dosage form is for administration once daily to provide said patient with about 1.0 mg/kg/day of said oral minocycline.  
     
     
         17 . The oral dosage form of  claim 12 , further comprising an intragranular fast dissolving carrier.  
     
     
         18 . The oral dosage form of  claim 17 , wherein said slow dissolving carrier encapsulates said intragranular fast dissolving carrier.  
     
     
         19 . The oral dosage form of  claim 18 , further comprising a coating.