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Menstrual Acne Treatment

This treatment plan reviews the risks and benefits of the treatment we are recommending. Please make sure to read it and the manufacturer's pamphlet that comes with the medicine. The manufacturer's pamphlet contains full information on potential medication interactions, side effects, and other important information you should know about the medicine before you start.

Instructions

You have stated that you wish to take medication for your symptoms of Menstrual Acne (acne around your period). The medication you have been prescribed is doxycycline 100mg tablets, which you are to take 1 tablet 2 times each day for 5 days around the time of your period when you typically experience pimples. This medication is used to kill the bacteria growing in your skin that causes acne. Most of the time, this is caused by the same bacteria that causes non-menstrual acne.

Signs of this condition include red blemishes on the face that may or may not form a pustule (“white head”). It usually occurs only around the time of your period and resolves afterward.

Refills

If you need a refill, please email support@hellowisp.com

If your symptoms aren't getting better after you start taking the medicine or if you develop new or worsening symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or worsening pain or redness, please let us know. Large collections of pus on the face (an abscess) should always be treated in person.

Allergies

Do not take doxycycline if you could be pregnant or are breastfeeding or have a history of liver failure.

This medicine, like all medications, may cause an allergic reaction if you are allergic to similar medicines or components. If you are allergic to any of the following please do not take the medicine and call or message us or see your medical provider in person:

• Tetracyclines (minocycline, tetracycline)
  
  

Conditions

We have evaluated your health history and the specific health information you provided us, however, if anything changes and you develop one of these conditions, please stop taking this medicine and call or message us immediately:

• Pregnancy
• Liver problems
• Sun sensitivity
• Abdominal pain or nausea
• Difficulty swallowing
• Muscle aches
• Severe headache
  
  

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Based on available data, doxycycline is not considered acceptable for use in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Emergency Side Effects

This medicine can cause dangerous and potentially life-threatening side effects. If any of the emergency side effects listed in the manufacturer's pamphlet or those below happen to you please stop taking the medicine and call 911 or seek immediate medical help in person:

• Severe bloody diarrhea
• Severe skin rash and itching
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Chest pain or shortness of breath
• Black, tar-like stools
  
  

Other Side Effects

This medicine can also cause other side effects. If any of the other side effects listed in the manufacturer's pamphlet or those below happen to you please stop taking the medicine and call or message us or see your medical provider in person:

• Abdominal pain
• Dizziness
• Dark red urine
• Headache
• Lightheadedness or passing out
• Nausea or vomiting
  
  NOTE: This medication does not cause vaginal yeast infections but can kill normal bacteria in the vagina that may lead to an overgrowth of yeast.
  
  

Medicines, Supplements, and Foods

We have evaluated the specific health information you provided us, however, if you are taking any of the medicines, foods, or supplements listed below call or message us before you take the medicine. Some of these can cause dangerous interactions with the medicine we are prescribing you and we will help you evaluate that risk and decide on an appropriate treatment plan:

• Malaria medication
• Birth control (see note)
• Barbiturates
• Anti-psychotic medications
• Antiseizure medication
• Calcium-containing mediations
• Pepto-Bismol
• Blood thinners
  
  NOTE: Birth control - Please use a backup form of contraception such as condoms while taking antibiotics as they can theoretically decrease the efficacy of oral contraceptive pills. You should continue to take your daily birth control pill while taking the antibiotic as well.
  
  

Accurate Information

We have evaluated the specific health information you provided and are making our recommendations based on it. If you forgot to provide or incorrectly provided that information we may misdiagnose or fail to diagnose conditions that you may have which could affect our recommendation for treatment. If you need to clarify or update any information about your health you can message or call us anytime.

Treatment Failure

This treatment is not guaranteed to be effective. It may not work or may only partially resolve the condition for which you are seeking treatment. If the treatment is not working, or if you are experiencing new or worsening symptoms, give us a call or message us anytime. If it is an emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical help in person. You may need to seek alternative treatment such as those listed below or in the follow-up plan.

Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis

Through telehealth, there is also a risk that we misdiagnose or fail to diagnose conditions that you may have which could affect our recommendation for treatment. This risk exists with a medical provider in person as well but they may have additional resources to aid their evaluation. We use evidence-based practice and guidelines as well as clinical decision-making to minimize these risks. Here are some other diagnoses that we attempt to rule out by asking you questions:

• Rosacea
• Cellulitis
• Skin abscess
  
  

Accepting or Declining Our Recommendation

We are recommending this treatment for you because the potential benefits outweigh the risks in your case based on the information you provided. You should evaluate this information as well as the manufacturer's pamphlet, any input from your in-person healthcare team, and any other relevant information to decide if this treatment plan is appropriate for you. You are free to not follow our recommendations although there may also be risks associated with no treatment.

Alternative Treatment

We have based our recommendation on your specific case and medical guidelines, but there may be alternative treatments or strategies that may be helpful to you. Some may be more or less effective than what we provide. Some treatments may require an in-person exam or procedure which we can't provide. Message us or talk to your medical provider in person to discuss alternative treatments. Here are some other treatments or strategies that you might consider:

• Topical antibiotic
• Hormonal methods of acne control
• Oral contraceptive pills
  
  

Share with Your In-Person Healthcare Team

You can access your records anytime. We strongly recommend that you update your in-person primary care provider, pharmacist, and the rest of your healthcare team to let them know about any new medicines you are taking or other changes in your health.

You can also ask us questions anytime and we are happy to help you share any information about your health with your in-person healthcare team.