Mirvaso Gel 30g

What is Mirvaso Gel?

Mirvaso gel contains the active ingredient Brimonidine, which is indicated in the treatment of facial erythema of rosacea.

It can be used by adults over the age of 18 years old.

You must have a prescription to buy Mirvaso Gel. 

What is Mirvaso Gel used to treat?

Mirvaso Gel is prescribed for the treatment of facial erythema of rosacea. 

Facial erythema is a subtype of rosacea and can cause the following symptoms:

• Facial flushing
• Dilated or broken blood vessels
• Burning or stinging
• Papules or pustules

Brimonidine belongs to a group of medicines known as alpha-adrenergic agonists, specifically targeting the alpha 2 receptor. It possesses highly effective vasoconstriction properties which cause visible blood vessels on the face to constrict and reduce, suppressing some of the main symptoms of Rosacea.

Why is Mirvaso Gel recommended for facial erythema of rosacea?

Brimonidine is the first medicine to be approved for the treatment of facial erythema of rosacea. It is very fast-acting and can reduce symptoms over a sustained 12-hour period once applied to the skin.

Mirvaso gel is considered safe to use in the long term treatment of facial erythema of rosacea. It continues to provide long term relief of symptoms when used consistently and applied as instructed.

How does Mirvaso Gel work to treat rosacea?

Brimonidine works to reduce the appearance of blood vessels visible on the upper dermis layer of the skin. It does this by restricting them, causing them to dilate and reduce in size. Mirvaso gel also possesses anti-inflammatory properties, redness and swelling of the skin are also visibly reduced as a result.

In summary, when applied to the skin, Mirvaso works to narrow the blood vessels back to their normal size, reducing visible redness and inflammation of the skin surrounding the affected area.

Who should not use Mirvaso Gel?

Mirvaso Gel is not suitable for everyone to use. Before using this medicine, we recommend thoroughly reading the patient information leaflet for advice on who this treatment is suitable for.

Do not use this medicine if:

• You are allergic to brimonidine or any of the other ingredients contained in the gel (please refer to the ingredients tab for a comprehensive list)
• You are taking certain medications for Parkinson's disease or depression (please refer to the Warnings tab for further information)

This medicine is not suitable for people under 18 years old.

Can you buy Mirvaso Gel over the counter?

No, Mirvaso Gel is only available on prescription. You cannot buy it over the counter.

Can you buy Mirvaso Gel online?

Mirvaso Gel is a prescription-only medicine that can be purchased online from most UK online pharmacies. This rosacea treatment needs to be prescribed by a doctor or prescriber.

You can buy Mirvaso Gel online from Medicine Direct after completing an online consultation. Next day delivery is available if you order by 2pm. 

Never order any medicine online unless it is from a regulated UK pharmacy, like Medicine Direct. 

Mirvaso Gel alternatives

There are a number of rosacea treatments available to help reduce some of the visible symptoms. However, when it comes to facial erythema of rosacea, Mirvaso gel is the first and only indicated treatment.

Other commonly prescribed rosacea treatments include:

• Rozex (Metronidazole) Gel which is a topical treatment for rosacea.
• Finacea (azelaic acid) gel which reduces the swelling and redness of the skin caused by rosacea
• Soolantra (Ivermectin) cream which visibly reduces pimples and spots associated with rosacea

How to apply Mirvaso Gel

Our pharmacists and prescribers follow NICE prescribing guidelines when prescribing Mirvaso Gel.

Mirvaso gel should only be applied once every 24 hours.

Begin by applying a pea-sized amount of gel to the five key areas of the face:

• Forehead
• Nose
• Chin
• Both cheeks

Avoid contact with the eyes, eyelids, and lips.

Spread a thin layer of the gel smoothly and evenly across the skin. Do not exceed the daily dose of 1 gram, which is the equivalent of five pea-sized amounts applied to the entire face.

You should use your fingertips to apply the cream, once you have applied Mirvaso to the skin, wash your hands immediately.

Always use Mirvaso Gel exactly as instructed by your doctor or pharmacist. Read the patient information leaflet thoroughly and ask your doctor or pharmacist for further instructions if you are still unsure how to use it.

Do not apply any other skin treatments or cosmetics directly before applying Mirvaso Gel. Only apply other skin products once this gel has dried.

Mirvaso Gel side effects

Like all medicines, Mirvaso Gel does come with the risk of side effects, although not everyone will suffer from them.

Common side effects of Mirvaso Gel include:

• Flushing
• Skin redness or a burning/itching feeling

Uncommon side effects may include:

• Acne
• Headache
• Nasal congestion
• Cold feeling in the hands and feet
• Swelling of the eyelid
• Urticaria
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Feeling hot

Speak to your doctor if any of these reactions bother you or do not go away.

Always read the patient information leaflet for full details on side effects and how to cope with them. If you have any questions or concerns at all, please do not hesitate to talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Mirvaso Gel Warnings

Mirvaso with other medicines

Before you start using Mirvaso Gel, please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are already using any other form of medicine. This includes prescription and non-prescription medication, herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements.

For more information on medicines that interact with Mirvaso Gel.

Alcohol and driving

Inform your doctor if you drink alcohol on a regular basis. This may affect your treatment with Mirvaso Gel.

Mirvaso will not directly impair your ability to drive. However, one of the side effects of this medicine is dizziness; if you experience this while using Mirvaso Gel, you should not drive, cycle or operate machinery until you feel better.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Mirvaso is not recommended for use by pregnant women, as the effects on the unborn baby are unknown.

It is also not known whether this medicine passes into your breast milk, so you are advised not to use Mirvaso Gel while breastfeeding, too.

Always read the patient information leaflet for full details on who may not be suitable to use this medicine.

Mirvaso Gel Ingredients

The main active ingredient within this medicine is: Brimonidine tartrate

For a full list of the inactive ingredients, please read the Summary of Product Characteristics.

How much does it cost to buy Mirvaso Gel online in the UK?

Is there a generic form of Mirvaso?

Currently, there is no generic version of this medicine.

Can Mirvaso make rosacea worse?

1 in 6 people who use Mirvaso will experience a return of their symptoms, with the redness being worse than it was before. This normally starts to develop within two weeks of using Mirvaso. This side effect should go away after a few days. However, it is best to test Mirvaso on a small area of the face before you start treatment.

Can I use Mirvaso twice a day?

You should not exceed the daily dose of 1 gram across the whole face a day. Do not use Mirvaso more than once a day.

How effective is Mirvaso?

Mirvaso has been found to reduce the appearance of rosacea for up to 12 hours and to get to work within 30 minutes.

Is Mirvaso available on the NHS?

Currently, you cannot get Mirvaso on the NHS, but it is available to buy from regulated pharmacies like Medicine Direct.

Does brimonidine cure rosacea?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for rosacea. However, Mirvaso can effectively reduce the visible symptoms of this condition.

What is the difference between Rhofade and Mirvaso?

Rhofade is a cream, while Mirvaso is a gel. Both medicines are used on the face once a day for the treatment of rosacea. However, Rhofade contains the active ingredient oxymetazoline hydrochloride, while Mirvaso contains Brimonidine tartrate.

Is brimonidine FDA approved?

Yes, brimonidine has been approved by the FDA since 1996.

What class of drug is brimonidine?

Brimonidine belongs to a class of drugs called alpha-adrenergic agonists.