In court filings and testimony, attorneys have suggested that therapeutic doses of the antibiotic may have affected the teenager\u2019s mental state in the days leading up to the 2022 deadly shooting.<\/p>\n
While medical authorities list typical physical side effects<\/a> such as nausea and dizziness, case reports and clinical guides do state rare psychiatric symptoms, including mood changes and anxiety, have been associated with minocycline use in isolated instances, according to Piction Health<\/a>, a teledermatology company that provides virtual care for skin conditions.<\/p>\n But is the drug known to cause violence?<\/p>\n It\u2019s complicated, said Ivan Litvinov, an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at McGill University in Montreal.<\/p>\n In 2019, he co-authored a case study analyzing the depersonalization<\/a> side effect of minocycline. In the study, only one case was reported of a 37-year-old woman who was diagnosed with periorificial dermatitis, or inflamed acne, and was prescribed the drug.<\/p>\n Two days after starting the medicine, she experienced feeling disconnected from reality and stopped using the drug, immediately feeling more like herself.<\/p>\n \u201cMinocycline does cross the blood-brain barrier. It\u2019s very interesting,\u201d Litvinov said. \u201cWe use minocycline because it has a very strong anti-inflammatory effect, and it can be great for acne. It\u2019s also used in multiple neurologic disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.\u201d<\/p>\n Litvinov said he has only seen one case where a patient described the symptoms of disassociation, but that person did not become violent. Mainly, the risk of long-term effects of minocycline are suicide.<\/p>\n \u201cHow far away is suicide from homicide? I don\u2019t know,\u201d Litvinov said. \u201cWhen we researched it at the time, the associated symptoms are often troubling and can lead to serious consequences such as suicide.\u201d<\/p>\n Litvinov\u2019s case study reported that minocycline is being studied as a treatment for psychiatric conditions like mood disorders, schizophrenia, and addiction. The most common side effects of the medicine are light-headedness, nausea, dizziness. Other side effects, when mixed with other drugs like isotretinoin, another acne medication, include hyperpigmentation, drug-related lupus, and pulmonary side effects.<\/p>\n Disassociation is not listed as a side effect of minocycline in most medical references, the case report stated.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most common precipitants of depersonalization disorder are severe stress, depression, panic, marijuana, and hallucinogen use,\u201d the case report read. \u201cMood, anxiety, and personality disorders are frequently comorbid, but depersonalization can occur in the absence of another psychiatric disorder.\u201d<\/p>\n The chances of a patient becoming violent or having thoughts of violence are possible, but \u201cvery rare,\u201d Litvinov said. On average, patients are told minocycline takes about 12 weeks to clear any acne. If patients report any severe side effects, dermatologists will stop the medicine, Litvinov said.<\/p>\n \u201cMinocycline does impact the neurological functioning of the individual, hopefully, in a positive way,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a medication given to millions of teenagers every day.\u201d<\/p>\n The News & Observer\u2019s Lexi Solomon contributed to this report.<\/p>\n NC Reality Check is an N&O series holding those in power accountable and shining a light on public issues that affect the Triangle or North Carolina. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email realitycheck@newsobserver.com.<\/p>\n This story was originally published February 13, 2026 at 5:30 AM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Raleigh News & Observer<\/p>\n
![\"Profile](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EvanMoore_02.JPG\")