• Maximally Tolerated Dose of IV Minocycline [ Time Frame: 3 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  Investigators closely monitored each subject for evidence of minocycline intolerance. All adverse events were immediately reported for a decision whether to discontinue the study medication and/or reduce the dose. A computer program was used to determine the maximum tolerated dose. After entering information regarding doses and expected toxicities, results for each subject as they were collected were entered. The computer program informed as to (de)escalation, or maintenance of the same dose in the subsequent cohort of enrolled patients.
  
  

• Half-life of IV Minocycline [ Time Frame: For each subject blood samples were drawn before dose #1 and one hour after starting dose #1. Additional blood was drawn 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after starting dose #6, which lasted approximately 6 days. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  In eligible patients enrolled at Georgia Health Sciences University, blood samples were drawn for quantification of minocycline serum concentrations. This enabled the study team to determine the half life of the study drug.
  
  
• 90 Day Modified Rankin Scale Score [ Time Frame: 3 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was performed in person at the 90 day clinic follow-up appointment. The modified Rankin Scale is a commonly used scale for measuring the degree of disability or dependence in the daily activities of people who have suffered a stroke. The scale runs from 0-6. 0 represents no symptoms. 1 represents no significant disability. 2 represents slight disability. 3 represents moderate disability. 4 represents moderately severe disability. 5 represents severe disability. 6 represents death.
  
  

Drug: Minocycline

Dose level 1 = 3mg/kg intravenous (IV) initial dose, followed by 1.5mg/kg every 12 hours times 5 more doses.

Dose level 2 = 4.5mg/kg intravenous (IV) initial dose, followed by 2.25mg/kg every 12 hours times 5 more doses.

Dose level 3 = 6 mg/kg intravenous (IV) initial dose, followed by 3 mg/kg every 12 hours times 5 more doses.

Dose level 4 = 10 mg/kg intravenous (IV) initial dose, followed by 5 mg/kg every 12 hours times 5 more doses

Other Names:
• Minomycin
• Minocycline hydrochloride
• Minocycline hydrochloride injection
• Minomycin Intravenous (for drip use)
• Minomycin Intravenous
• MINO

Minocycline is a widely used antibiotic and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of infections and acne. However, doctors do not know whether minocycline will work in stroke patients. Its use in stroke patients is experimental. There is a lot of information from experimental stroke studies in animals that minocycline lessens the damage from a stroke and the animals recover better. Since minocycline is generally a very safe drug in humans and does not have a lot of side effects, investigators at Georgia Health Sciences University (formerly the Medical College of Georgia) believe that it might be a safe and effective drug to improve the outcome in patients with stroke.