Who Says Prescription Medication For PCOS Is Better?

Living with a chronic condition like PCOS is already a stressful life long journey.

So medical advice from the experts that either don’t work or worsen the condition and your overall health, can be DEVASTATING.

What’s more, different doctors may give different advice, which is a big part of the frustration. And a chief reason why nowadays you have to take a lot of ‘expert’ advice with a grain of salt.

But there are some go-to prescriptions that you can expect from your medical consultations especially for conditions like PCOS and acne that won’t get you anywhere.

And it’s best to be mentally prepared for that and seek out suitable alternatives that may work out better.

To help, we’ll talk about the most common advice given by doctors and what are the some of the better alternative treatments to consider.

PRESCRIPTION #1: ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES

If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS or have gone to the doctor to treat cystic acne, then you’ve probably been prescribed birth control pills.

Long gone are the days when birth control is used to prevent pregnancy, but is now the go-to medication to treat hormonal imbalance issues for women as young as adolescents—sexually active or not.

But based on real life experiences, the pill is not ideal for a lot of women and can even make matters worse.

At the end of the day, birth control pills contain synthetic hormones that can worsen imbalances and can wreak havoc on the reproductive system with prolonged use.

Doctors like to say otherwise but it may be best to restrict the use of birth control to protect against pregnancy as it was intended to be used.

Better option: Try taking Diindolylmethane (DIM), which is a compound derived from eating cruciferous vegetables to help balance hormones and manage symptoms of PCOS like irregular menstrual cycles and cystic acne.

There are different types of PCOS, but generally, DIM has been found to have a profound positive effect on hormones, one of the main features of the condition, so it is a good supplement to try.

As a bonus, depending on the severity of your PCOS symptoms, you may want to consider adding another herbal supplement like Vitex to the mix like some women have done for great results.

PRESCRIPTION #2: METFORMIN

Metformin is a common medication for type 2 diabetes and also used to treat PCOS symptoms to improve insulin sensitivity.  

The problem is that there are a range of side-effects that include blocking the absorption of key nutrients like vitamin B12 and folic acid, as well as increasing the risk of liver and kidney damage.

This doctor doesn’t prescribe metformin to patients because it has been found to negatively impact the endocrine system that is associated with certain cancers.

Furthermore, like most medications metformin does not address the root cause of insulin resistance.

It has a lot to do with the amount of sugar consumed in the diet and habits like the frequency of eating that lead to constant insulin spikes.

Better option: Berberine is a powerful supplement that has been found to effectively lower sugar and testosterone levels.

If taken as part of a low sugar diet, and regular physical activity, it is very effective for women with PCOS.

PRESCRIPTION #3: ACCUTANE

 Accutane or Roaccutane is actually the brand name for Isotretinoin and is a derivative of Vitamin A.

It targets high sebum production, bacteria, inflammation, and scarring on the skin all at once. All of which sounds like a dream for someone suffering from severe acne for years.

But Isotretinoin is so potent that it is reserved for the most stubborn and severe cases of acne.

A treatment course of Isotretinoin is a serious investment that involves blood work, and close monitoring of fat levels in the blood.

So at high doses, when it the most effective, there is increased risk to the liver and a few other unpleasant side-effects.

What’s more, even after going through all of that, serious cystic acne can come back.

Better option: Diet and Supplementation. A diet rich in vitamin A is the most natural and safest way to reap the healing benefits for your skin like eating oily fish, liver, green leafy vegetables.

The next best options are topical retinoids: tretinoin, adapalene etc., to fight against inflammation and other acne symptoms.

Vitamin A in supplement form is another effective option when taken in high dosages—10,000 to 25,000 IU daily.

But this is normally done as a short term strategy due to the potential toxic side effects on the liver with prolonged use.

The good news is that Vitamin B5/ Pantothenic Acid is found to be just as effective. It is safer and can be used for a longer period because it is water soluble.

It has a similar effect on the sebaceous gland in helping to manage sebum production, reduce congestion of the pores, and ultimately leads to clearer skin.

There are other supplements in the Vitamin B family that have been found to have positive effects on skin health, but B5 is so effective that it can stand on its own.

PRESCRIPTION #4: ORAL ANTIBIOTICS

The reason for choosing oral antibiotics for acne by many doctors is somewhat straight forward.

Since one of the main contributing factors leading to acne is bacteria, antibiotics are usually the first line of defense because it focuses on reducing the bacterial infection.

But there are some serious limitations and side effects that can impact its effectiveness including the risk of antibiotic resistance over time, and severe nausea that makes it virtually impossible for some people to finish a treatment course of antibiotics.

And once you start, you are generally advised to finish. Highly unpleasant!!!

Better option: Use benzoyl peroxide in conjunction with selected vitamins—vitamin therapy— as previously recommended.

Benzoyl peroxide can be purchased over the counter and helps reduce bacteria and inflammation on the skin in a non-invasive way.

Final Checklist

Gone are the days when you can blindly take the advice of your doctor especially for dynamic conditions like PCOS and acne.

So here is the roundup of alternative treatments that may help yield even better results than expensive prescription medications.

• Diindolylmethane (DIM)
• Vitex agnus-castus
• Berberine
• Diet and exercise
• Vitamin B5/ Pantothenic Acid
• Benzoyl peroxide

Consider this your starter pack in the world of alternative medicine for PCOS and moderate to severe acne.

The good news is that you can easily adjust your treatment plan depending on how your body responds.

This is way better than making a huge investment in prescription medications without getting value for money, and taking unnecessary health risks in the process.