Dianette

[2childrenandit]

Had been ng my 'pill' question for a rainy day but there sms to be a few other floating around at thoment and lots of pill takers to answer ...! Went to the docrs a few months ago about my terribel skin, spots on face and back that dont rond to over the counter treatments. She gave me some cream weems to have done something but not a lot, and said to come back (about now!) and we would conr either long term antibiotics or pill such as Dianette used to treat this.

Now I'm going to feel really stupid, but dont actually know about pill etc. Apprecire are different types with different effects, but can someone summarise ANy experience of this pill? Effectiveness in treating skin? Long term effects, including ease of getting pg again after?

Just sat a Drs and said OK when she suggested thist didnt think to ask questions! Thanks

I used to be on Dianette had no problems with it, took it for about 6 years, helped my acne on my back came off it 6 months before falling pregnant with DS1, didn't go back on inbetween children, am thinking of going back to get it again now as spots have returned and my eczema is bad at the moment as well... not a good combination.

Hi,

I was on Dianette for several years to sort my acne problems out, it worked really well.

As for ease of getting pregnant again I fell pregnant while on it but I am not the best person at taking the pill anyway and had been off it the month previous.

I wanted to go back on it recently but was told I had been on it too long previously and was recently prescribed Cilest (I think) which is working really well for me

I took the pill for 14 years, dianette among others. I was never told that they are steroids. I had bad skin that got worse and worse and tried 'everything' the doctors threw at me. The only thing that made it better in the end was an appointment with a nutritionist who diagnosed candida albicans in the gut.
I know this is probably not the info you were looking for but be aware that antibiotics could make your skin much much worse if you have what i had.
Try thinking outside the western medicine box - it worked for me.
HTH

Dianette was a complete disaster for me. It triggered a long and severe problem with migraines. I would never, ever take it again.

I was on it for about 6 months. I was taken off it as soon as my migraines were diagnosed (10 years ago). I was later told (4yrs later at my 6wk post-natal check) that someone with my family history should not be on any sort of hormonal contraceptive. I have not taken anything hormonal since and my migraines are horrific.

I firmly believe that Dianette was the trigger (I have been told by a number of GP's that migraine is known, if rare, side effect of this pill) to my long term health problems.

Thanks so much for all these replies and so quickly! INteresting to note how ias worked for some people and not others and to se how little some doctors say! I suffer from IBS and theres a history of ovari/cervical cancer on the famale side fo my family (2 previous generations) also prone to headaches so ould eb ineresting to see if this is noted...

Do you bleed monthly when on it - can you take 2 packs back to back to prevent bleed etc?! Iteresting to not about antibiocs and candida as I told i had this when investing the ibs about 4 years ago.....

Apologies for typing laptop playing up! Any other experiences would be welcome and thanks again

did you ever get any treatment for the candida?

Oooooh, contraception and dermatology- my 2 fave topics combined! You must have known that I was bored and lurking here!

The combined pill is often used to help control acne in women, which frequently has a hormonal basis to it. The most effective for this is either Dianette, Cilest or Yasmin, which all work as anti-androgens (i.e. they calm down that 'male hormone' component which aggravates acne). Dianette is higher dose than the others and has recently lost its licence as a contraceptive alone, so should only be prescribed for women with acne. It is very effective for improving acne and also provides good contraception in addition.

The combined pill doesn't affect your ability to conceive once you stop it. The only long-term effects are the small increase in risk of breast cancer if you have been taking it for over 10 years. While you are taking Dianette, there is a small increase in your risk of developing blood clots compared to other pills.

The combined pill may not being suitable for you if you have migraines, are over 35 and a smoker, have a history of DVT or PE/stroke/heart attack. Your GP should check your personal and family medical history thoroughly before prescribing.

Yes, you bleed monthly on it but can run packs together to avoid a bleed at will.

The combined pill seems to confer some level of protection against ovarian cancer when taken long-term. It doesn't increase the risk of cervical cancer.

All of the things that I've mentioned in my previous post should be mentioned by a doctor as part of their 'counselling' prior to prescribing safely.

General headaches are not a reason to be unsuitable for the pill, not even all migraines. It is focal migraines with an aura or motor or sensory symptoms that are an absolute no-no.

Thanks again Yes the candida was treated through a mixture of diet, homeopathy and starving the candida. I did notice an improvement but wouldnt prised if things have crept up again, although not to the level that they were before - get very annoyed dh if he does any shopping, a combination of him not undersatdning low sugar and having a fast mentabolism mix!!

Really interesting information emma1977, thank you - useful to piece all the info together - think my gp seems to be a bit pushed for time and explanation isnt one of her strong points!

Glad to be of help.

Hope the skin improves.

I used Dianette for skin problems na got on really weel with it.
Had to come off it because I am now over 35.
I have been using a chinese treatment called 'Acne getaway' that I bought off ebay. (recommended by another mumsnetter).
It is teh best thing I have ever bought, my skin has never been so clear.
It stinks though and teh chinese translation aare hilarious!