posted 03-04-2003 03:35 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Melissa1:
I would rather take something natural.

---

Welcome!!

Sorry to tell you, but megadosing on this much B5 is hardly natural. There have been many people who have experienced horrible side-effects, including the cessation of menstruation. This could negatively alter your hormones even more, making it even more difficult to treat hormonal acne.

I agree with dsheldon3 -- try upping your water intake first!

posted 03-04-2003 09:34 AM            

Also to my knowledge I don't think B5 works for homonal acne. I think it dries up the oil but I am not sure about the hormones. Call your dr and tell him of the symptoms you are having, maybe he will see a "red flag" and have you stop, but I think it may be a dehydration type of problem. Especially if you haven't changed your fluid intake since you began taking this pill 7 days ago. I started taking this again in September and had the same type of problems for about a week or more.

posted 03-05-2003 11:13 AM            

I am currently taking 50 mg of spiro daily, yasmin birth control ( active pills only so I skip the white and go right on to the next pack), and accutane about 3 days per week which is actually for the rashes I get from the lupus . Accutane never completely cleared me but it did help I guess, but the yasmin so far has helped. I am still breaking out here and there with tiny little oil filled pimples that scab over immediately once the oil is released. They are the size of a pin head and are usually at the corners of the mouth and down onto the chin area. The derm says this is the last and hardest place to clear. My cheeks are much better than they were. I have been on the yasmin for 8 weeks. For me, I can at least function again without being broken out every single day. But I am still hoping it will clear me even more as the next few weeks go by. Over all it has helped. However I also started using the JOJOBA oil at the same time and I believe that has helped also. I make sure (usually) to drink at least 1 gallon of water or more per day. I know I break out if my skin gets too dry. I didn't drink as much the last few days and today I woke up with about 5 new tiny little pimples under the dry skin.
So the spiro alone this time didn't help me but hopefully the combination of things will. But the first time I was on the spiro for the 5 years......completely clear, could eat whatever I wanted, miss sleep, use bar soap on my face and NEVER A PROBLEM> My body just became stronger than the meds.

To my knowledge, you stay on it and gradually drop to the lowest dose that will keep you clear, but if you stop taking it, it will come back. I hope it works for you. Good luck