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Original poster

Acne medication when cant take tablets

20 replies

Hellocatshome · 21/05/2023 21:49

DS 16 has very very severe acne. We have tried absolutely everything in the way of creams/gels etc both over the counter and prescribed nothing will work. He definitely needs some oral medication the problem is he needs this to be in liquid form or dissolvable or at least to be able to be crushed.

He has a referral to dermatology which has been cancelled 3 times now by them. The GP is being useless and just saying if he cant swallow tablets there is nothing they can do.

Has anyone come across any medication that could maybe work, I feel like if I could go to the GP armed with a suggestion I might get somewhere.

It is becoming a severe problem for DS and is very much affecting his mental health.

OP posts:
YouAndMeAndThem · 21/05/2023 22:10

Your GP isn't being useless. There are no oral liquid or soluble acne medications available. They're telling you the truth.

YouAndMeAndThem · 21/05/2023 22:10

Your GP isn't being useless. There are no oral liquid or soluble acne medications available. They're telling you the truth.

Original poster
Hellocatshome · 21/05/2023 22:15

YouAndMeAndThem · 21/05/2023 22:10

Your GP isn't being useless. There are no oral liquid or soluble acne medications available. They're telling you the truth.

Ok fair enough they aren't being useless but perhaps could have explained it better because they certainly gave the impression they just weren't willing to dicuss options rather than there weren't any options if that makes sense.

So do you know if there are any tablets that whilst not being available in liquid form can maybe be cut into smaller pieces to take with a spoonful of yogurt etc? He did have some capsules that he was emptying the contents into yogurt but the pharmacist told him he had to stop as it could damage his throat.

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MontagueLeo · 21/05/2023 22:19

Taking tablets is a physical skill, just like ice skating or riding a bike. Unless he has some kind of physical disability (which you haven’t mentioned) he will learn to take tablets if treating his acne is important enough to him

sanityisamyth · 21/05/2023 22:21

MontagueLeo · 21/05/2023 22:19

Taking tablets is a physical skill, just like ice skating or riding a bike. Unless he has some kind of physical disability (which you haven’t mentioned) he will learn to take tablets if treating his acne is important enough to him

This.

GiraffeInABath · 21/05/2023 22:22

Dermatica!! I won’t link as don’t want to be accused of spam but he needs a prescription retinol mixed with an anti-biotic. Both are available for around £20-ish pounds a month from either Dermatica or skin+me. I recommend!

YouAndMeAndThem · 21/05/2023 22:22

Yes I think the capsules are capsules for that reason. The acne medications are so strong and not suitable for crushing. I think there are only 2, lymecycline and isotretinoin for men. Unfortunately he will just have to find a way to swallow the capsules.

YouAndMeAndThem · 21/05/2023 22:24

Also my brother had bad acne as a teen and he stopped eating dairy, that really helped it clear.

Original poster
Hellocatshome · 21/05/2023 22:28

I appreciate that swallowing tablets is a skill but honestly we have spent years and years on this skill and it is yet to be mastered. I dont think its a case of if he is bothered enough by his acne he would take them as I have seen first hand the amount of distress the acne and the inability to take the tablets is causing him.

OP posts:
MontagueLeo · 21/05/2023 22:42

Sure, so the key to relieving his distress is to help him crack the physical skill of taking tablets.

There are loads of videos on YouTube with helpful tips. Practice makes perfect

Onebrokentoe · 21/05/2023 23:01

My son took minocycline for acne. The tablets are very small, might be worth trying?

Original poster
Hellocatshome · 21/05/2023 23:19

MontagueLeo · 21/05/2023 22:42

Sure, so the key to relieving his distress is to help him crack the physical skill of taking tablets.

There are loads of videos on YouTube with helpful tips. Practice makes perfect

Yes we have been watching those videos and practicing for 3 years. Its safe to say it isn't going to happen anytime soon so I dont feel its unreasonable to look for any alternatives there may be in the mean time whilst we keep trying.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hellocatshome · 21/05/2023 23:23

Onebrokentoe · 21/05/2023 23:01

My son took minocycline for acne. The tablets are very small, might be worth trying?

Thank you we will take a look.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hellocatshome · 21/05/2023 23:24

GiraffeInABath · 21/05/2023 22:22

Dermatica!! I won’t link as don’t want to be accused of spam but he needs a prescription retinol mixed with an anti-biotic. Both are available for around £20-ish pounds a month from either Dermatica or skin+me. I recommend!

Thank you I will have a look at those.

OP posts:
FelicityBeedle · 21/05/2023 23:24

He really can’t swallow a tablet, not even in a nice thick food? Rice pudding or in a mouthful of cake?

Original poster
Hellocatshome · 21/05/2023 23:24

YouAndMeAndThem · 21/05/2023 22:24

Also my brother had bad acne as a teen and he stopped eating dairy, that really helped it clear.

Unfortunately he is already dairy free as I had heard about this before but it hasn't had an affect.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hellocatshome · 21/05/2023 23:26

FelicityBeedle · 21/05/2023 23:24

He really can’t swallow a tablet, not even in a nice thick food? Rice pudding or in a mouthful of cake?

Nope its purely psychological I know as I'm sure he swallows food bigger than the tablets but it just won't go down we have tried all sorts. Even the pill shooter things you can get for cats!

OP posts:
Careerdilemma · 21/05/2023 23:31

Tretinoin applied topically. Lots of Facebook groups with loads of info.

Also has he tried cutting out dairy and also a good skin supplement if you can find a liquid or powder one hi. Drinking green tea as well. They may not cut it alone with such severe acne, but they might help.

Or a bit left field, but hypnotherapy to get him over the tablet issue?

PinkButtercups · 21/05/2023 23:40

I was watching the skin doctor on TLC the other morning. A young woman had bad acne and like your son didn't take medication because she just couldn't swallow tablets.

The skin doctor managed to find the very smallest tablet available for acne but she still couldn't take it so she suggested to hide it in food or get her mum to hide it in food so she didn't see where it was.
She actually managed to take it and her skin looked so much better!

PinkButtercups · 21/05/2023 23:41

Oh to add they weren't capsules as she said hey had to be whole firm tablets.

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