This treatment requires a physician to write a prescription and for the patient to find a compounding pharmacist (CP) to prepare it. You can understand why this would be difficult to obtain since it is not as easy as going to a dermatologist and getting a prescription for standard prescription treatment. Using compounding pharmacists in the USA is not common knowledge and the unfamiliarity of this adds to the confusion.
However, obtaining a prescription for FLUCONAZOLE 1% SOLUTION or for the newer FLUCONAZOLE 10% SOLUTION and using a CP is not unethical or illegal. Finding a CP is the big deal and you can do this by going to the IACPRX organization web site and using the REFERRAL service. Getting a physician to write a prescription for this can be done since this is legal and ethical and physicians should know about and trust CPs. If your physician does not know about CPs or has issues with this contact a CP and ask what physicians can be recommended. Most CPs will gladly do this for you. So why the controversy?
The formula for this prescription as far as I know can be made by compounding pharmacists and you may read about it at this url by clicking here.
No one knows for sure the long term effects good or bad for the use of this prescription for rosacea since there are no clinical studies on this. Topical Fluconazol has previously been used only for nail fungus. DMSO may be counterproductive to rosacea but since it is known as an anti-inflammatory this can be debated and you might find that this prescription heals your rosacea. Under the direction of a physician and with the advice of a compounding pharmacist it has been claimed that this prescription is benign. So far only four persons have commented about this prescription from the standpoint of this website. These claims could be anecdotal and coincidental. All are impossible to verify in a clinical study and are merely reported here for your information. ANY new reports will be updated on this page. Email the webmaster if you know of any reports.
You can read all about this controversy at this url >
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rosacea-cure/
The prescription drug is DMSO Fluconazole 1% Topical Solution. DMSO is Dimethyl Sulfoxide and Diflucan is the brand name for the generic drug, Fluconazole. This prescription is a mixture of DMSO liquid and 1% Diflucan [Fluconazole] powder, which is intended only for topical use. It is created only by a special type of pharmacist called a compounding pharmacist as mentioned previously, and CPs are not commonly known by the public. This was first reported by Dave Fleming, group owner and founder of the above cited yahoo group. You may read more about Dave Fleming and what he has to say about this, which is a lot, by clicking here or by joining Dave's group.
There are posts outside Dave's yahoo group which you can read.
The most recent post is at this yahoo group >
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/rosaceans/message/2771
A past report of using this prescription outside of Dave's yahoo group (after two months of the prescription use) can be read at this url >
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rosaceans/message/1730
A second user of the drug got a physician in Canada to prescribe it and bought it at a pharmacy >
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rosaceans/message/1745.
A third report was posted on May 19, 2004 which you can read by clicking here >
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/rosaceans/message/2340
Finally a third poster, Perry, has informed the rosaceans group that he is trying this prescription for his rosacea and you can follow the results beginning with this message >
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/rosaceans/message/2706
Due to the controversy the first two posters left the rosaceans group mostly due to Dave's unusual manner of discussing this. Hopefully Perry will remain in the group and post his results. Although one claimed she was upset by Dave's doubts about her authenticity Dave states categorically that he believes that these posters were just thrill seeking trolls because according to Dave 'their claims did not make complete sense.' Of course, none of this can be verified by the two posters since they have left the group and refuse to post any further on this subject.
Recently the group owner of the rosaceans group at yahoo who is also the owner of this web site has obtained a prescription for TOPICAL DMSO 1% Fluconozale from a physician and purchased this prescription from a compounding pharmacist. On the bottle is states, 'Fluconazole 1% DMSO Solut #15.' The compounding pharmacist, Shelly Williams, Pharmacist & Compounding Specialist, made two telephone calls to the compounding pharmacist in Connecticut, Michael Roberge, R.Ph., who Dave Fleming mentions on his group site. Shelly Williams is willing to receive calls on this formula which she says is in supply at her business;
Malama Compounding Pharmacy, 81-6629 Mamalahoa Hwy., Kealakeua, HI 96750, Telephone (808) 324-6888 FAX 808 324-7888.
Dave Fleming insists that his CP, Michael Roberge, R.Ph., told him the complete formula. Dave posted this formula, at this url:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rosacea-cure/message/170
The url was public but now is a members only group which you have to join to post but you can still read the public archive of messages.
You may contact the CP yourself >
Michael Roberge, R.Ph.
Compounded Solutions in Pharmacy LLC
Monroe, CT 06468
Phone at (203) 268-4964,
Phone toll-free at:
(877)-RxNeeds or (877) 796-3337,
with a website at:
compoundedsolutions.com
e-mail address:
mike@compoundedsolutions.com
I have started a CP Locator List.
On April 19, 2004 the first application of this pink clear liquid with a 'wick' (brush) was applied to some small spots of rosacea (on the webmaster) and the results were immediate stinging which lasted about 20 to 30 minutes. This stinging is to be expected according to the doctor and CP. Within about an hour there was noticed some slight reduction in the redness of those spots. The bottle says, 'Apply Light Application to Areas of Rosacea Twice a Day.' I asked the CP if the rosacea clears up do I apply anyway and she said if there is no rosacea to NOT apply it. She emphasized only apply on the rosacea. The expected results of clearing according to the CP is about two months. The two side effects so far in using this prescription is stinging and skin peeling. If you can't accept these side effects you are not a candidate for this prescription.
If this prescription gets rid of my rosacea, it will be more than worth these side effects. Obviously no one wants stinging and skin peeling. But remember, there are side effects with any prescription drug like tetracycline and Metrogel! What are the side effects of IPL, Laser, ETS, Accutane or Botox? Every prescription or treatment has side effects. You choose your own side effects when you accept any prescription drug since you make the final decision as to whether to accept a prescription or not. My results are reported here. And as a public service I have posted Dave's Directions for Using DMSO Diflcuan by clicking here.
My experienced with DMSO Fluconazole is that it did not 'cure' my rosacea. I do use it occassionally for a pustule since it does dry up pustules quickly. There are very few reports that DMSO Fluconazle works for rosacea. Here are the ones I know about:
Report #1
