64 replies to this topic

[JakeUK]

Hey,

I gave Brevoxyl 4% a try, didn't like it. I didn't like how it went onto my skin, seems to instantly feel greasy and took a bit longer to get into the skin compared to PanOxyl. I kept using if for 2 weeks tho just to see how it went. I broke out pretty bad after 3 days. I can't explain why but compared to PanOxyl, this stuff just doesn't work for me.

Ive left Brevoxyl and jumped onto PA 10%. So far really good, small amounts + moisturiser = clear skin again

[Recycle15]

Hey guys,

I'm also gutted that the 2.5/5% have been discontinued. Does anybody know if the 10% has been discontinued too? Can't seem to find it much around my town. Luckily I've still got some Basiron left from my trip to Denmark (it's very similar to Aquagel, would get it if you can).

[gecko333]

Argh! This stuff was amazing and the only thing that keeps me clear! What can I use as an alternative? Is Quinoderm just as good?

Thanks in advance!

THANK GOD.
This stuff was AWFUL.
Panoxyl made my face red, dry, and as soon as i stopped using it my acne came back worse than ever.
It has permanently damaged my skin.
Thank god this stuff has been stopped so it can't cause any more damage.

[robertzombie]

I've managed to find some 5% Panoxyl in a pharmacy near to where I live, so I've been trying it out. Unfortunately this has coincided with a breakout (after enjoying two solid months of clear skin!) so it's difficult to tell at the moment how my skin will respond to the 5% in the long run, I'll have to wait and see.

*Should probably stress here that the breakout did not happen as a result of switching to 5%, it happened in the interim period when I'd ran out of 2.5 and hadn't found any 5.

I'm considering importing Dan's 8oz BP. Price wise it seems to work out fairly reasonable when importing from Amazon. £18 for 8oz is cheaper than buying what would effectively be 5 tubes of BP in the UK, and also the 8oz tube shouldn't get stung by customs charges.

Has anyone decided to switch from Panoxyl 2.5 to Dan's 2.5 BP? If so, what have the results been? Is it essentially the same product?

[anewflame]

If anyone is interested I feel like I have tried almost every alternative including:

• Dan's BP which is not the same thing at all - whatsoever. Ironically enough I found out about the regime on this site but couldn't afford to get his stuff shipped over so just went with Panoxyl 2.5 aquagel which worked absolute wonders - I had been clear for around a year and a half up until it was taken off the shelves. Then the cystic acne came back with a vengeance so I thought 'screw it' and spent £50 on getting a massive vat of Dan's BP gel over here. His BP is incredibly thin and takes around 15 mins to dry properly. Used this for about a week or two and was breaking out around the same amount as before I had discovered the regime.
• Then I used quinoderm 5% cream which appeared to work initially, but did nothing to control the oil and made my skin overly dry and sore. Because it is a cream it rubs off during the night, comes off if you accidentally rub your face with your hand, clothing etc. It's cheap but I think you'd be hard pushed to just walk into a store and buy it as they're usually out.
• In my desperation I went to my doctors who suggested I use Epiduo which is a 2.5% aquagel w/ 0.1% adapalene (sp?). The latter ingredient is extremely harsh on your skin; the gel is to be used once a day (either in the morning or night) and I must say is excellent in reducing the size and length of the spot, especially if they are cystic but does virtually nothing to prevent them from occurring in the first place (if that makes sense?). I had heard elsewhere that it is the 'topical version of accutane', but for me this has not proved to be the case. However I have only been using it for around a week now, so perhaps things will change.
• I have ordered Benzac online, which is a 2.5% aquagel from Australia (I think). It comes in a tube like Panoxyl which leads me to believe it could have similar results (I know, not great logic but hey, I'm desperate!)

All in all, since Panoxyl has been discontinued I have tried pretty much everything and nothing has worked for me. I was as shocked as anyone to realise that Dan's BP didn't actually do the job, since it has obviously done wonders for so many (from reading this forum at least). Perhaps I needed a longer adjustment period? I assumed BP 2.5 aquagels would be all the same, and having been on one for a few years I figured I could switch straight to another one and see the same results. I've already done those first awful two or three months using BP where it appears to not work and just makes your skin dry - do I have to go through this again when switching brands? I do wonder.

Luckily for us Panoxyl plans to get its products back on the shelves by November (see http://www.facebook.com/StiefelGSK), though I suspect the US market will see the first rounds and the UK market will have to wait longer. In the end (and I am ashamed to say it) I ended up buying Panoxyl 2.5 from Ebay for an unholy amount. I did this out of total desperation, I have just started a new job and the cystic acne is beyond a joke. Having to go through acne again, as I'm sure many of you know is an utterly heart breaking experience.

Has anyone else found any alternatives that they have used in the long term and that have worked!?

[Meli55a]

Has anyone tried Oxy On The Spot? It contains bp 2.5%. I read the box and it says if you see no improvement after 14 days to consult your GP. So is this not meant for long term use?

[JakeUK]

Just a Update. Been to my local pharmacy today and was told that PanOxyl 10% has now also been discontinued. Drove around a few other pharmacy's to be told the same thing. Looked online and also of places don't have any left. Theres a few places that have some left in stock so if you use this product, I suggest stocking up.

I have emailed Stiefel to try and get a update on the Pan-Oxyl brand as I cannot accept that this product is being removed from out shelves permanently.

[JakeUK]

So I emailed a UK contact of Steifel. Heres the reply,

Thank you for your email regarding the Panoxyl Aquagel range.

I am able to confirm that all strengths (including 10%) have been discontinued. Unfortunately we have no anticipation of any future supply.

I apologise for any inconvenience that this has caused.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

Sincerely,

Georgia

So any hope that this rage will be coming back seems to be futile. Devastated and feel very bad for people like myself that depend on this product. Sad times indeed.

[JakeUK]

Cheers Jake. Confirmed what I thought sadly.

I hope Brevoxyl isn't next. Not sure what GPs are gonna prescribe now. Panoxyl was the first line of defence since I can remember.

My pharmacist has said that all Aquagel prescription have been moved on to Acnegel. He said it is very similar to the aquagel but its alcohol based so its a little harder on the skin. I guess it might be worth a try but I wouldn't be surprised if this goes down the pan in the near future...

[UKuser12345]

I am also a loyal user of the Aquagel range, which has assisted me for a number of years.

I have just been on the phone to a Consumer Advisor from GSK and was able to abstract the following information:

- Panoxyl Aquagel
- Panoxyl Acnegel

... all BP%s / washes have been discontinued.

The bottom line was that they cannot see any indication that the products will be replaced or re-introduced at any point.

When asked about why it has been continued, they informed that the recent move of these products from an area of GSK to GSK Health Care incurred changes to the manufacturing plant where this products are produced, therefore no longer able to manufacture these products. It was not discontinued for any medical or research reasons. They were not able to provide any more detailed information which was slightly aggravating.

I was able to leave some feedback (not that GSK in the slightest may have any interest) to say that these products have been used my a large population of people, who may rely on these ranges. Adding that they have produced little information about the product withdrawal; which has left consumers in an unhelpful situation where they will be forced to go back to square one looking for alternatives.

If any of the information above is incorrect please update.

In the meantime does anyone have any suggestions for the next best alternative to Panoxyl? (BP which is affordable, dries quickly, strong impact, works well with a good moisturiser)

Thanks

[JakeUK]

Also asked for details via email, this is what i got

I am able to confirm that the Acnegel is a temporary disruption, unfortunately we don’t anticipate for this to become available again until the third quarter of 2013. Please note that this is subject to change.

I apologise for the inconvenience and hope that this is of help to you.

Sincerely,

Georgia

So whether she has said "third quarter of 2013" just to keep be hopeful or they do what some sort of plan to bring this product back in the distant future. I guess we'll see in 12 months.

As for replacements, many have been suggested throughout this post. I think the trouble is the lack of water based BP. Alot of the products on the UK market are cream based and this really doesn't work for me. Please update us if you find any sutible replacements.

[dman2]

Hey guys.

I like many of you used panoxyl for a long tie (4 years) so it's very annoying that it's out of production now. About 6 months ago I finally got control of my acne using a combination or panoxyl 2.5, sudocrem, e45 cream and dead sea mineral soap. Obviously the panoxyl is an intergral part of this so when it ran out and I found it unavailable I tried Brevoxyl, which still works but not nearly as good. Had a break out about 3 weeks ago and it's only just coming to an end.

So basically I want to find something as close as possible to panoxyl. I've read that Dan's BP is probably this, but can it be shipped to the UK? Do you guys use the US amazon site rather than buy it from this site direct and what are the postage fee's roughly. Sorry for the noob questions but I've tried finding them and I keep seeing conflicting answers.