Non-gonococcal urethritis: a comparison of therapy with minicycline, tetracycline and erthromycin.

A clinical trial compared treatment with tetracycline hydrochloride 500 mg qid for seven days, minocycline 50 mg bid for 14 days, erythromycin stearate 250 mg qid for 14 days and minocycline 100 mg bid for seven days in 164 men with non-gonococcal urethritis. However, only 88 patients returned for two follow-up visits, and results are based on these patients alone. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 26% of the patients. The clinical cure rate three weeks after therapy was completed was 77% for tetracycline, 74% for minocycline 50 mg, 61% for erythromycin and 80% for minocycline 100 mg. There was no significant difference between cure rates with the two doses of minocycline and tetracycline, but erythromycin was less effective. Adverse reactions were minimal.