Erythromycin

[ChocoholicsAnonymous]

I'm taking these antibiotics for bad hormonal acne round my mouth nose and chin. I tried stopping slowly but they just started coming back and are horrible so have started again. I don't want to be permanently taking these tablets. What can I do? Thanks

Can you try some different antibiotics?
Or ask for a referral to a dermatologist?

Are you in a position to try hormonal contraception?

When you say 'tried stopping slowly' was that as directed by your doctor? Have you finished the full course of antibiotics? If you haven't taken the full course properly and have started lowering the dose then they they're not going to kill the bacteria and you're probably just helping to make them resistant to the antibiotics.

I came off my pill a few months ago. I didn't didn't want to take it anymore as thought it might have been contributing to it. Stopped the combined pill due to breastfeeding.

I asked dr if there were any I could take for a few weeks but apparently acne needs antibiotics for a longer period.

Rosy pony no it wasn't directed by my doctor. He just said I'd need to be on them for about 4 months or so before referring to a dermatologist! What you have said though is true.

Even after 3 or 4 months of taking them, are they just going to come back?

You need to go back to your GP, not just stop taking the ABs! My DS took ABs for bad acne for probably two years! First Oxytetracycline, then Erythromycin and finally Lymecycline. None of it was a long-term fix and he ended up being on Roaccutane for about 6 months. His skin is perfect now.

I didn't stop taking them I just wasn't always taking them twice a day like I should have been so they started coming back. I don't to be taking medication for months though.

But if you don't take the medication as you are supposed to, you have the double whammy of it obviously not working and also potentially building up an immunity to it anyway! You said that the GP told you this was going to be a long-term process so I'm not sure what you think people here are going to be able tell you?

I took Dianetta contraceptive pill for years, then went to see dermatologist at the hospital and was prescribed Roccacutane. I was on Erythromycin for years too. Roacutane helped the most.

I guess I was just wondering if there were any alternatives but will discuss with my GP next time, thanks