Re: Self Medicating
From: Tammy (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 30 Mar 2001 09:23:53 -0600 (CST)
Thank you Dr. Sam for the information.... I will definately show it to
my RE and see about maybe getting on some (although I HATE taking
pills!!)
***New topic of questions***
I do have one more question (actually maybe two or three) though about
Met.
1.) Does it cause a disruption of your short-term memory? The reason
that I ask is, I have an EXCELLENT memory and many have relied and
remarked about it in the past. But in the last few months (I started
Met sometime in January), I have trouble even remembering if I took it
in the morning or not!! Meetings that I'm in at work, or e-mails or
conversations always seem "so long ago" when they were only the day
before, or even that morning!! And I am always feeling like I'm
forgetting something. Ya know that feeling?
2.) And I've been getting these obnoxious carb cravings at about 4:00
p.m. Trying to stick to low carb, not being interested in real food,
but bring on the candy, jellybeans (which I don't even particularly
like), and chocolate and I'm happy.
3.) Is exhaustion another side effect of the met? I was the one who
everyone else had trouble keeping up with. I could go from morning till
midnight and chide all my friends that they were ageing too quickly and
couldn't keep up with me (and I'm 30!). For me, the exhaustion is not a
result of the PCOS, because I was Dx in 1989 at age 19, and until going
on the met (I assume), I outlasted everyone.
Anyone else have these experiences....
At Fri, 30 Mar 2001, =?iso-8859-2?q?Zalányi wrote:
>
>Hi Tammy,
>
>I am Sam the Dr. As you have put questions about Diane-35 directly to me, here are the answers:
>Diane 35 and its antiandrogenic component cyproterone acetate have been on the market for 20 years in Europe (I actually happen to know the German pharmacologist who has developped it, a phantastic chap in his field). It has its side effects: it puts more burden on the liver than other pills do, therefore liver tests are indicated regularly. It clears your skin within 3 mo and improves hair growth after 6 mo use. Cyproterone is also available in pure form: Androcure. But there is hope for you: Finasteride, another strong antiandrogen IS AVAILABLE in the USA.
>As to the question: why is it unavailable in the States, there is no good answer. Maybe the pharmaceutical co (Schering AG) knows it, but will never tell you or anybody else. What is available in the US is strictly regulated by the allmighty FDA, which is infamous for its decisions. Depo-Provera (an injectable contraceptive) has been banned from the US market, while produced by Upjohn in Kalamazoo, Mich. and successfully used by millions of women around the world. The apparent reason was that the compound (Provera) caused breast cancer in beagle dogs. It never mattered, that the dog is especially prone to breast cancer, and that this type of cancer is totally different from the human variant. The experience of those millions of women who used it in developping countries did not change the situation either.
>Things are as complicated as that
>Sam
>
>> With the postings the last few days of the pharmaceutical outlets on the
>> Web, has anyone besides me event thought about "self medicating" with
>> the Diane 35? It almost sounds like it is "too good to be true" in
>> helping to reduce the hair growth on my chin and stuff. I know it has
>> only been approved in Europe, does anyone have any idea if there is an
>> equivalent in the States???
>>
>> I've been thinking about just ordering it off the Web and taking
>> it...... but it's a scary thought! What can it do to me? What are the
>> side effects? Why hasn't the US approved it for use? How long has it
>> been on the market in Europe? Can anyone answer any of these questions?
>> Maybe Sam, the doctor???
>>
>> Has anyone else "self medicated" themselves with or without their
>> doctor's approval or knowledge?
>>
>> I saw the dermatologist yesterday and was asking about the laser hair
>> removal. I thought he would be a little more helpful and/or
>> understanding, in regards to price or payment options, because one of
>> his receptionists has PCOS..... but alas, money is more important. I
>> got the line "Well, it IS expensive, but....." and oh, by the way
>> "you'll probably need 6-8 treatments to actually have no hair growth
>> come back." Well, 6-8 sessions on my face alone would be $1320-$1760.
>> Not exactly my "pocket change" if you know what I mean! So, it's off to
>> see if I can find another dermatologist who does laser for less
>> money....
>>
>> You know, we all should start our own businesses in laser hair removal,
>> and specialize in only PCOS patients, and not charge an exhorbinent
>> amount of money to get it done! Sound good girlies...... let's go get
>> 'em!
>>
>> --
>> Tammy
>>
--
Tammy
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