To order "illegal" acne pharmaceuticals online

[QueenCamilla]

Now, I don't suggest anyone goes and tries to find the medication online.
I'm more bewildered that I had to take the matters into my own hands after doctors not taking anything relating to my adult hormonal acne seriously.

I'm also upset how long I had to suffer this issue when there was suitable medication available all along.

I'm talking about Spironolactone - a mild diuretic with anti-androgen properties that is cheap and prescribed on the NHS as a "water pill".

The drug has a long history and very low incidence of side-effects. It's use off-label to treat acne in women is also documented and effective.
Some of the side-effects in men used to be undesirable but these days... 🙄

I've had acne & often backne since early puberty. It affected me mentally. I spent way too much time hiding behind the makeup and I spent way too much money on creams, lotions, supplements - prescribed and not.
I've been on the pill since 14 with the pregnancy the only break.
I used awful chemicals with terrifying side-effects (Accutane, looking at you). Cause it's normal to prescribe something toxic that makes you bleed from your anus... 😕
Accutane only worked whilst in my system, then back to spots.

I read about Spironolactone. GP would not prescribe "off label". Private dermatologist would be this drawn out, expensive process with specific blood tests and monthly appointments.
I just couldn't sink in more money on yet another little known about "cure" that might or might not work for me.

So I ordered it online. From some country where Spironolactone is prescription free. And it helped! I'm totally, completely acne free for the past year. All of it is gone I get complinents about my skin often - the best of both worlds - skin that is not dry and spot free. Zero side effects. I don't even pee more than usual.

But here I am, feeling like a criminal, importing drugs from abroad in jiffy bags, texting to some burner phones (maybe I need one? 😁), taking a risk with what I'm taking. I'm actually more worried about losing my "dealer" and my clear skin!

Is anyone on Spironolactone prescription from their GP?
How did you get there?
If you take it via private - how much a month does it end up costing?
Should I own up to my GP and see if they prescribe it to me now that I'm sure it works?
Why is this use of the drug not "on label"? Probably something to do with the poor mens not being included.

No side effects until your potassium goes through the roof and your heart stops. Crack right on. Google is great. Who needs actual doctors.

I’m shocked it was so difficult to find a doctor that would prescribe it for you.

I take it myself for acne and it’s pretty much cleared my skin up. Great stuff. My dermatologist recommended it to me. I’m in Australia so that might make a difference.

The main issue with your plan is that I needed to take a blood test after being in it for a few months to check my potassium levels. They were fine but it can be a side effect.

I think maybe try again with a different doctor.

I'm on the lowest dose of this, I asked my Doctor for it as I'd read it was particularly good for hormonal acne and he was happy to prescribe, I'm in Canada though. Haven't been told that I need regular blood tests although I did have some before he put me on it.

DD has been taking spironalactone for almost 2 years via a private dermatologist. She has PCOS and roaccutane made her acne even worse (to my horror as It cured mine). She does have blood tests but these are cheap and done through an online clinic/local pharmacy. Her dermatologist also does appointments online.

I’m also watching with interest OP, I’m glad it is working for you.

I’ve had acne in & off since having my DC 13 years ago, but never as a teenager. I always get a really painful, deep spots on the chin just before my period. At the start of the year I started using Dermatica - it’s like an online dermatologist that prescribes a personalised lotion. So far I notice a great difference although my skin is just over the initial purging stage, but the new acne definitely isn’t as deep

its not expensive either

Speed-read through the thread so hope I didn't miss something here. I'm not in the UK myself but have had similar medical issues from early adulthood. You do realise that there are contraceptive pills with anti-androgen properties that can be prescribed on-label to treat exactly this type of problem?

IIRC correctly I was in something pretty close to your situation. Hirsutism and acne, but normal testosterone levels upon testing - but according to my gynae at the time there can be normal hormone levels but excessive sensitivity to them iyswim. Was prescribed Diane 35/Dianette and it greatly cleared up my skin and reduced hair growth. Was on it for decades, then from my mid-forties tapered off with a weaker version.

Just googled and it looks like the same medication is available in the UK so not sure why it isn't brought up on here. It can be prescribed as a contraceptive - has slightly higher blood clotting risk than mini-pills but compared to the risks of off-label diuretics that seems bearable.

www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/skin-hair/a6558/dianette-cyproterone-acetate-and-ethinylestradiol/

I think its success rate is very good. Otherwise it wouldn't keep on being prescribed. As you say confidence at that age is so important. Thinking about it, I think it made my eyes a bit dry temporarily. That's the only thing I remember, apart from that it was absolutely amazing to see it working. It worked very quickly because I was given a huge dose.
Before that the spots made me miserable. I remember I had spots in my hairline and the brush would catch them and it was so painful.

Crack on then OP and enjoy taking up an NHS bed for dialysis when your kidneys pack in.

Have a private consultation with a dermatologist. If they agree that it's suitable for you they'll write to your GP who will prescribe it on the NHS.

@Tryingandfailing

The dermatologist knew I had pcos and did not want to go back on Roaccutane (had done in previous years and the acne just comes back), so recommended spironolactone right away.

I now have it on repeat from my GP and my skin is completely clear. I've never had monitoring and it worries me a bit to read that I should be.

I think the monitoring has come historically via the drug initially prescribed to very ill, often elderly people (it was used post heart-failure and kidney-failure ).
In younger, otherwise healthy women in blood tests performed during studies, no changes were observed. So I wouldn't worry that much but since you are already in the GP care with this, I'd ask for a one-off potassium test.

Hormonal acne is a bitch. I wish Spironolactone would be recommended for all hormonal-presenting acne, not only in PCOS cases.

I also think you're being spun a line about how specialised the potassium blood test is. It's a routine blood test, doesn't matter at all what time of day you take the blood. Yes it needs to be analysed by the lab within a number of hours, but that's standard for a lot of tests.

OP please stop giving medical advice and telling people not to get their drugs monitored. This is fucking dangerous.

I saw a private dermatologist who prescribed me spironolactone (and a few other things to go with it) for adult acne. I can't remember 100% but I think the appointments were approx £200 per time (in central london) and after each appointment getting the prescriptions filled came to around £80-100. It was very expensive (appointments every 6-8 weeks I think, though can't exactly remember) however it worked perfectly, and for me it was money well spent. It completely cleared my skin, I stopped taking all medication once I became pregnant and my skin has stayed in completely clear. In total I took the medication for around 5/6 months I think.

opinion www.aad.org/dw/dw-insights-and-inquiries/2020-archive/july/spironolactone

⬆️ Another study with impressive results and an article by a dermatologist.

I take this for adult acne after suffering with oily spotty skin since a teen - it only ever cleared up with the combined pill - dianette being the most effective.

in my early forties I visited a private dermatologist after the NHS consultant told me I’d grow out of it … I initially went to request Roaccutane. My acne wasn’t terrible cystic acne but still persistent on face, chest and back. She was excellent t and wrote to my regular GP asking them to refer me to this particular NHS dermatology consultant in a town about an hour away. I saw this consultant and she immediately suggested spironolactone. I went on the lowest dose and still take it now. My GP handles the prescriptions and I have an annual full blood test ( am on other medications too). All seems fine, have suffered no side effects that I’m aware of and my skin is lovely.

if you want me to tell you which hospital the consultant is based at then pm me - it’s on North Yorkshire

Who are you and why are you scare-mongering so much here?

The drug really does NOT do that⬆️ in otherwise healthy women, bar allergic or very untypical reaction - like most very safe medicines.

It's people like you who stop women accessing and considering safe treatment options.
Also, please take into consideration that currently there is NO side-effect free systemic treatment available. In fact, they are all considerably worse.

And I do not suggest anyone finding their meds from random online. I'm happy to be told I'm unreasonable. But I'm also desperate, don't have much cash and suffer (used to) from hormonal acne.
The risk I take is NOT with Spironolactone, it's with how I'm getting it... I WANT it from my GP!

I feel your pain. I struggled with acne all through my 20s and it took two rounds of accutane to get it under control. I then developed full-blown PCOS and now have some acne across my chest and hair loss. I asked the GP for spironolactone but she wouldn’t prescribe it. ‘We don’t treat PCOS’ she said I’m on the dermatology list for another issue so I’ll ask them for it when I finally reach the top. I’ve been waiting over a year already.

I looked into online Spiro myself. There’s a legitimate UK online pharmacy that prescribes it privately if you have a successful consultation with them but I can’t remember the name. May be worth looking into?

There's no such thing as a "safe medicine", and certainly not when you're buying mystery pills illegally online without monitoring.

This isn't a huge patriarchal conspiracy. You're just playing doctor without a medical degree.

A patriarchal conspiracy, no I don't that's the issue. It's just annoying that "we don't treat Polycystic Ovary Syndrome" (see the poster above) but we DO feminise men with the same drug. On the NHS.

I think my feelings on that are not difficult to understand...

Sorry for anyone above who has not had a good time on Ruaccutane. I just wanted to give it a positive mention as it cleared my acne (present since puberty) at age 35 and it never returned. No unpleasant side effects for me. In case anyone is put off by the scary sounding reviews above.

Now that you've tried it and know for sure that it works for you, then I think it would be best if you shell out the money and pay for a dermatologist to prescribe it to you. You already know it works so it won't be money wasted, and you'll be taking it long term so you'd definitely want them to monitor you for side effects.

By the way are you still on the bcp? When I was younger my gp let me try out different brands of bcp until we found one that works for my skin. Some of them are very good at reducing acne. If you're on bcp anyway you might want to explore this option.

My thoughts exactly seems easier to get them as a transwoman than a woman for an actual medical condition.

@GrumpyPanda
They are very reluctant to prescribe anti androgen pill after 35 and near impossible after 40. My supply was cut off a couple of years ago.

And it's not quite the same thing; before I got too old for it, the consultant prescribed me both.

Just wondering what your route was to get it prescribed by your gp? I asked my GP and they told me it was quote “impossible” to prescribe it. Which is clearly untrue since searching through forums people have 100% been able to have it prescribed! How did you convince your doc? Did they consult a dermatologist/ send you to one? I am absolutely desperate to try it out!

@Polecat07 Just wondering what your route was to get it prescribed by your gp? I asked my GP and they told me it was quote “impossible” to prescribe it. Which is clearly untrue since searching through forums people have 100% been able to have it prescribed! How did you convince your doc? Did they consult a dermatologist/ send you to one? I am absolutely desperate to try it out!