Isotretinoin (Accutane) Reviews

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Andrea from Venice Fl
August 28, 2007
Pros Clear Skin, No oil. Dont spend as much money on shampoo or make up while on accutane, although I bought alot of Aquafore. Kept it in my car, in my purse, at work, next to my bed, it worked wonders. Insurance covered it and labtests
Cons Acne may get worse before it gets better. Lights at night seem much brighter.Headachs, irritabillity, Dry lips, scars and nose bleads.Nose still bleeds a little. Also I seemed less hungry, which is not alway a bad thing. IPLEGE is a nightmare.
Bottom line I have been off for 5 months. Oil is starting to come back, I must wash my hair every 24hrs now. This morning I got my first post-accutane zit. Small like a normal persons pimple, not cystic thank god. The one thing I have noticed is scarring is worse. Chicken pox, acne, and other scars I have had before are MUCH worse than they were pre-accutane. If I would have know this would work I would have taken it as a teenager.I would probably have saved myself some scarring. Also I would suggest if you are trying to clear your skin for a wedding or reunion or are on a time line start taking the medication more than 6 months before your event. My wedding was in my 5th month on accutane. My skin was ok. Not broken out at all, but it was a wreck, dark circles, sullen ashy, definatly looked alot older in my pictures. It seemed like my skin lost some elasticity and suppelness. Once I was off the medication at 6 months my skin texture improved. Overall I am glad and wished I had done it sooner
Price paid $15.00
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Helpfulness score of this review: 0
Anonymous from California, USA
August 27, 2007
Pros Clear skin after trying every other acne product in the entire world. No more oily skin, no more breakouts, JUST CLEAR SKIN!! FINALLY!!
Cons nose bleeds (once i had 3x a day), super dry and flaky skin (contained with cetaphil moisturizer very well), VERY VERY sore joints, took 4 months to work, saw no improvements for 3 mos
Bottom line If you have tried antibiotics and perscription creams, and they have failed, trust me on this one. Take Accutane. Actually, take Sotret, the generic. It was $10 a month with insurance, so, very reasonable.

IT WORKS. Yes, it took four months but if I hadn't of used it, I'd still have severe acne and I'd probably also have scarring. Luckily, I took accutane before it scarred. My derm said if I had waited longer, I would have had severe scarring.

So, don't wait and do research for a year. I didn't experience anything close to suicidal or depressed thoughts. The acne was making me depressed, and being on accutane made me a lot happier and more hopeful. I'm on my last month, and I can finally look in the mirror and see CLEAR SKIN. Haven't done that in two years.
Price paid $10.00
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Helpfulness score of this review: 2
Raz from North West, England
August 25, 2007
Pros NHS covered all my bills so i got the pills free!!!! Made my skin as smooth as a whsitle...i completed my 6 months treatment about a week ago and the last active spot i had was about 2 months ago and i hope it continues..
Cons Very Very Very dry lips, skin, eyes, nose, dry everyfin really.....rash on my arms...sunburnt easily...made me very tired 1 day n then very hyper the next lol muscle aches, head rushs, dizzyness n thats all i can fink!!!
Bottom line If you cant stand the way you look in the mirror n feel sad/deprest about it and nothing else works and i mean NOTHING.....then try ya best to get on this drug....9/10 people the drug works perfect clearing up there skin....however about 7/10 who have taken the drug and its been successful there acne has returned (within years or months etc) and they might need a second treatment or third etc it cleared up my skin in 6 months (exept 4 red scars/marks that have been left over which will go in time)


Bottom Line is this....If you are going to take this drug you must have:-

1)Will Power,
2)Patience
3)and a social life to get your mind off the drug 24/7 when your taking it lol

GO SEE YOUR DERM......BEFORE ITS TOO LATE
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Helpfulness score of this review: 4
Kelley from Austria
August 24, 2007
Pros I thought the premise of the drug sounded viable
Cons nothing good came of it
Bottom line I have had moderate acne for years and thought this would be a godsend. NOT! After only 1 month my mucuous membranes were so extremely dried out that my tonsils became chronically infected and eventually removed (I'm 33 and that was painful!). Nine months after my istretinoin trial I still have dry mouth and eyes. Awful experience!
Price paid $15.00
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Helpfulness score of this review: 1
Kim from Boston
August 24, 2007
Pros Insurance covers $10.00

Hopeful to hear all the pros on this site.....
Cons Slight Headaches after taking a pill (using advil to combat)
Nose (sinus) somewhat dry inside.
Bottom line Just started 5 days ago 20 mg in am 20 mg in pm. Getting a little bit of a breakout on the back - new for me
My pores that were not to big at all to begin with are not almost invisible. (5 days! yahooo)
Will give an update.....next month! Had one cyst on face that I know by now would have been severe, although it is still there is not nearly the size it would be by now (as in all past cysts)
Price paid $10.00
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Helpfulness score of this review: 3
Lukiboy from Perth, Western Australia
August 24, 2007
Pros I've been using Oratane... a cheaper version of Accutane and it works well! I don't have an oily face anymore and I've been on it for.. hmmm.. wow 11 months! It works!
Cons I get the occasional pimple but they are not so big. Dry lips, dry skin, and thirsty. My dermatologist said it worked so well my Asian skin are building up keloids.. but they look like pimples rather than something out of a horror movie.
Bottom line I'm happy with it! I feel much better and it is a big confidence boost. Try it... or go see your doctor or a dermatologist a.s.a.p. because I waited for four years and left it too late.
Price paid $12.00
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Helpfulness score of this review: 0
Noel from Atlanta, GA
August 24, 2007
Pros No more painful bumps for now. No more covering the sides of my face & trying to keep my head down so no one notices the bumps.
Cons Serious issues with side effects. Rashes, bleeding lips, horrible sunburn despite 70SPF, sore back, vision issues, dry eyes, Ipledge program is a disaster. Suicidal when taken as teenager 1st time.
Bottom line You will go through hell & jump through hoops if you are female of child bearing age. You spend a ton on bloodwork & follow up visits though this med has come down in price considerably. I am on my third course in 15 years, each time side effects r different. I took this for the first time at 16 years old, I am 35 now. If you are a teenager, make sure that your family knows you could have SEVERE depression. When I took it the first time, they did not know what they know now. I was suicidal. Took it again in mid 20's & had less serious depression issues. No depression in my 30's taking it, but many more minor side effects this time. Serious issues with going in the sun for even 15 minutes. I have perfectly clear skin now. I would look like a monster had I not taken this drug. You should have acne so bad you just can't stand it to take this medication. My acne was so bad it hurt to put my head down on my pillow. A good dermo will not prescribe this b4 exhstng all othr effrts.
Price paid $15.00
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Helpfulness score of this review: 1
Victoria from New York, NY
August 21, 2007
Pros Temporarily clears acne, if acne returns its not as severe. Also allows other acne treatments to be more effective.
Cons Drys out skin, causes severe breakouts before you clear up, if at all. Not permanent for some people. Left really bad scaring on face from tane breakouts.
Bottom line I have heard people say that Accutane is a cure for acne and I would definitely have to disagree.

I have been through 2 courses of Accutane and both times it only cleared my skin temporarily (under a year). My acne returned however not a severe as pre-tane. I still suffer from cystic acne however my skin is more responsive to other acne treatments (antibiotics, creams)
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Helpfulness score of this review: -3
Anonymous from Colorado Springs, CO
August 18, 2007
Pros Really cleared skin within 3 months and i didn't get a new pimple for the remaining 2 months of my treatment. Also smoothed out skin quite a bit
Cons Slight decrease in night vision, really dry skin all over, dry lips, and feeling dehydrated all the time.
Bottom line If you have moderate to severe acne it is definetely worth a try. Most of the side effects are managable and the bay off for having clear skin posibly for a life time is well worth it.
Price paid $5.00
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Helpfulness score of this review: 3
Amber from W'ville, Ga.
August 17, 2007
Pros Wipes out breakouts the first month! And knocks out all of the oily-ness I have put up with for several years, so it makes your skin a lot more manageable and feels and looks so clean.
Cons Skin is desert dry and very tight; Lips are extremely chapped outline of mouth is especially cracked, so that it may bleed if you do not use Vaseline, Aquaphor, or any other medicated lip treatment for it; lower back and chest pain may occur
Bottom line It is definitely a must try if you are fed up with acne and such oily skin. It will boost your confidence to the max, so do not be afraid to ask for this medication if you are a good candidate for it, or if your dermatologist recommends it.
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Helpfulness score of this review: 0

Total results: 2,060    Viewing page: 139 of 206