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General health

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Original poster

Dianette - come talk to me about it if you have used it.

18 replies

Ceebee74 · 29/05/2010 15:05

Have just been prescribed Dianette by my GP as I have bad spots on my chin - plus I was looking to go back on the contraceptive pill anyway until my DH gets the all-clear from his vasectomy.

Does it work in clearing up spots? What side-effects have you experienced? Just googled it and there are some horrific reports of side-effects which have concerened me a bit.

So far, all I have had is feeling extremely nauseous around lunchtime every day which lasts for about an hour and then disappears and I am fine again. I can just about handle that (although it is annoying) and think that might disappear once my body gets used to the pill.

OP posts:

ronx · 29/05/2010 15:16

I was prescribed Dianette by a gynaecological consultant when I developed acne at the grand age of 31 .

My spots cleared up a treat. I can't remember having any side effects.

Original poster

Ceebee74 · 29/05/2010 15:20

Ronx thank you that is reassuring to know. Are you still on it or how long did you take it and is your skin still clear now?

OP posts:

Sidge · 29/05/2010 15:45

I took it for about 18 months - it sorted my skin out beautifully but did take about 3 months to have an effect initially.

Since stopping it my skin has gradually got worse again - apparently I have mature onset acne (lovely) but now use a topical cream (Duac) which is working well.

I had no side effects but bear in mind it's not to be prescribed long term any more - not a problem for you if you're just using it until he gets the all clear.

smokinaces · 29/05/2010 16:04

I was prescribed dianette a few years ago for PCOS and acne. I didnt take it as the side effects were far worse IMO than some other combined pills.

I researched into it,and am now on ovranette. I still get the occasional spot, but my skin is 99% clear and it seems an easier pill to get on with IME.

ronx · 29/05/2010 16:35

I stopped taking after a year, I think, so that I could get pregnant.

My skin is still clear although I did have another flare-up a year after coming off Dianette. My acne was a symptom of PCOS. Once I had lost some weight, my skin cleared up, my menstrual cycle became more regular and I conceived my first child .

Original poster

Ceebee74 · 29/05/2010 20:46

Ronx glad you had a positive outcome

I am a bit worried because my GP kept banging on about blood clots because I am 36 but he still prescribed it Am now paranoid about every twinge in my legs!!

I guess, once DH gets the all-clear, I will switch to an antibiotic if my skin is still spotty.

I also suspect I might have PCOS but not sure how I would go about getting it diagnosed or, even if there is any point, as apart from the spots, it doesn't bother me.

OP posts:

flibbertigibbert · 01/06/2010 18:57

I've been taking it since April after being diagnosed with PCOS - I have spots and difficulty keeping my weight down.

So far I haven't seen much difference in my skin, but from what I've read it takes up to 6 months to work.

I was terrified of the side effects, but so far I've been fine. The blood clot thing is worrying, especially because I have a high BMI. It does mean that I go to the gym a lot more to try and avoid them, whereas before I was a lot more sedentary, so it's been good from a weight loss point of view.

senseofhumourfailure · 01/06/2010 19:12

I took it for ages in my early twenties and loved it, cleared up my acne and moustache in about 3 months and I looked positively glowing for the time I took it. Had to come off it after GP read the guidelines had changed and put me on a different pill, but said he would prescribe it again if I got really hairy or severe acne.

Didn't notice any side effects but don't think any contraceptive pill gave me side effects before I had children, now I just seem overly sensitive to hormones.

MrsMeow · 02/06/2010 18:06

I took it last year/beginning of this year for about 6 months, to try and clear up the spotty chin that the Mirena had caused.

It worked a treat for my spots - I only get the occasional small one on my chin every now and then, these days (touch wood!) but I came off it in the end because the side effects were worrying me. I had awful twinges in my legs, the one leg felt like it was deep inside the muscle that was hurting. Also, both legs felt swollen and puffy/heavy even though they didn't look it.

I did go back to the Dr about it, but he wasn't concerned as there was no redness or swelling.

Also, I felt very low sometimes on it, and my breasts were so sore that by the time I came off it, I'd began wearing a bra to bed!

It definitely helped my spots though. I think if it weren't for the leg pain, I probably would have taken it for a while longer.

TheOriginalPranksta · 02/06/2010 18:13

I took Dianette throughout my early twenties until, as a PP has stated, the guidelines changed and it was deemed unsafe to be taken long term. I don't recall ever suffering any side effects. Since I came off it though I have noticed I now get spots just before my period is due, which never happened before.

Original poster

Ceebee74 · 02/06/2010 20:12

Thank you for your messages

MrsMeow interesting what you said as I have ended up only taking it for 6 days as I was aching all over, particularly my legs - just like you do when you have flu but I was clearly not ill and it was getting progressively worse. Combined with the nausea I was getting for 2 hours every lunchtime, I decided I couldn't carry on taking it so stopped on Monday morning!!

Am going back to the docs on Friday for some antibiotics and just carry on using other contraception until DH gets the all-clear

OP posts:

MrsMeow · 02/06/2010 20:47

Yes, it's a strange feeling isn't it? I totally agree with the fluey feeling as well, but just in the legs! Very odd. I was working in a hospital at the time as well, so was on my feet for most of the day. It felt like I was walking through treacle by the end of the shift!

Hope you manage to find something to suit. I've decided to have a break for now - but have tried most things with not the best results!

Original poster

Ceebee74 · 02/06/2010 20:53

Mrsmeow it was exactly as you described it. I was ignoring it and carrying on doing my usual stuff, like going to aerobics, but it just felt like such hard work moving my legs at time. It was also aching in my arms when i went to pick up my DC etc that I just decided enough was enough!

OP posts:

minipie · 02/06/2010 20:58

I took it for a year or two as I recall.

Did nothing for my skin but I seem to be in the minority there.

minipie · 02/06/2010 20:58

Oh forgot to say, no other side effects either.

June2009 · 03/06/2010 02:33

I took it for 7 years, in hindsight i think it made me really moody and maybe even borderline depressed but my skin was geat.
I then took "yasmin" which was better in terms of side effects.
(now post pregnancy my BMI is too high to be on either and I can't wait to loose the weight to take yasmin again...)
In the meantime gp prescribed "zynerit" which helps witht he spots (not as good as the pill though.)

springaporesling · 03/06/2010 05:21

I live overseas so was unaware of changes in guidelines (better go check it out) but I took it from about the age of 16 to clear up my skin and it worked fine and I had no side effects - so was probably taking it for around 15 years. I stopped to have DS (now 21 months) and the bad skin returned. I took it again for a couple of months and skin cleared up but now TTC again so have stopped and guess what bad skin has returned!

Marlen8111 · 03/05/2018 22:40

If you're curious you can buy medicine at this licensed u.k pharmacy with a online consultation you dont need a prior rx www.europepharmacy.net

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