As stated in the title, this thread is here for people who had a POSITIVE experience with Accutane.

It would be helpful to know the length of your course(s), your dosage(s), and when you started or finished. Please make just one post describing your experience, and edit/update it as necessary ... this will make it easier for readers to follow each person's story.

Please do not post until AFTER you have finished your course. Feel free to keep coming back to update your story.

Many or most people do experience some unpleasant side effects, so feel free to expound on those. But on the whole, if you are glad you took Accutane, this thread is for you.

Please do not post links to other sites. This thread is here for personal stories of Acne.org members only. It has been pinned so that it will not be lost in the shuffle.

Neither this thread nor the "negative experience" thread should be regarded as definitive proof of anything, pro or con, about Accutane. This is by no means a scientific sampling and we are not checking up on anyone who posts here. It is simply a place where people can tell their stories and keep them up to date in a simple format that is uncluttered and easy to follow. Arguments, flaming, and off-topic posts will be invis'd.

This thread is here for people who had a NEGATIVE experience with Accutane. If you are sorry you ever took this drug, this thread is for you.

Please make just one post describing your experience, and edit/update that post as needed ... this will make it much easier for readers to follow each person's story.

It would be helpful, of course, to know the length of your course(s), your dosage(s), and when you started or finished. Please do not post until AFTER you have finished your course.

Please do not post links to other sites. This thread is here for personal stories of Acne.org members only. It has been pinned so that it will not be lost in the shuffle.

Neither this thread nor the "positive experience" thread should be regarded as definitive proof of anything, pro or con, about Accutane. This is by no means a scientific sampling and we are not checking up on anyone who posts here. It is simply a place where people can tell their stories and keep them up to date in a simple format that is uncluttered and easy to follow.

Something to keep in mind when reading this thread: quite a few people do get directed to Acne.org from anti-Accutane Web sites for the specific purpose of posting their negative experiences on this board. It's usually pretty obvious who these posters are (lengthy posts, one-time posters, etc.). However, this is a very open forum, and so long as these people stay within our rules and guidelines, we welcome them.

Arguments, flaming, and off-topic posts will be invis'd.

Link to Roche's news:
http://www.rocheusa.com/newsroom/current/2...2009062601.html
Copy/paste of Roche' news release:
June 29, 2009 -- Nutley, N.J.

Roche Discontinues and Plans to Delist Accutane in the U.S.


Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. has notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its intent to immediately discontinue the manufacture and distribution of Accutane® (isotretinoin), its ground-breaking treatment for severe recalcitrant nodular acne that has not responded to other therapies. This decision is being taken for business reasons during a reevaluation of our product portfolio of medicines that are now available from generic manufacturers, and is not being taken for reasons of safety or efficacy.

Since 2002, generic formulations of isotretinoin, the active ingredient in Accutane, entered the market. Current manufacturers/distributors are Barr Laboratories Inc., Genpharm, Inc. / Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Ranbaxy Laboratories Inc. As a result, Roche’s prescription market share of Accutane has steadily declined for several years and is now below 5 percent. Therefore, the generic companies can supply the market. In addition, Roche has been faced with high costs from personal-injury lawsuits that the company continues to defend vigorously.

Roche stands behind the safety of Accutane and the rigorous risk management program Roche developed over decades of cooperation with the FDA and the American Academy of Dermatology. Currently, the iPledge pregnancy risk management program is a model in the pharmaceutical industry. Roche is committed to working with the FDA and the isotretinoin generic manufacturers for the eventual transition of Roche’s business responsibilities in iPledge to the remaining sponsors.

We are proud of Accutane, a product of original Roche research that has been used in the treatment of severe recalcitrant nodular acne by more than 13 million patients since it was introduced in 1982.

Please see complete Accutane prescribing information at www.rocheusa.com/products/accutane and www.iPledgeProgram.com.

Generics are NOT affected by Roche's decision. Generic isotretinoin is still available in the US and abroad.

This thread is to be used ONLY to post the links to clinical studies on Accutane. It is here as a resource for everyone in the forum.

Linking to sites OTHER than clinical studies is not acceptable.

Please post any questions or discussion topics elsewhere so that this thread does not get unnecessarily cluttered.

ABSOLUTELY NO FLAMING WILL BE TOLERATED.

Posts that do not follow these guidelines will be invis'd.

Frequently Asked Questions - Accutane/Roaccutane

Disclaimer: The information below is provided as a courtesy to address general questions. As we are not medical professionals, we cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of this information. By reading this information, you agree not to hold us liable for any damages that may result in your use of this information. This information should not replace information that your Doctor or Plastic Surgeon provides you. Please keep in mind that this is for general information only and results will vary for each individual.


Firstly, if you are interested in the actual chemical makeup of accutane and the medical terms in which it is likely to be discussed, please read this excellent thread by m.d.student, http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Accutane-Info-t31242.html which details all of the information you will need about the exact nature of the drug itself. It might be an idea to print it off and familiarise yourself with it.


What is the difference between ‘accutane’ and ‘roaccutane’?
-These are essentially two different names for the same drug. Both are manufactured by Roche, but ‘roaccutane’ is distributed in Europe, whilst accutane is distributed in North America. Both will give the same results and both have the same risk of side effects.

Do I need accutane?
-Accutane is only usually prescribed for acne that is scarring and not responding to other treatments, such as antibiotics and topical creams such as retinoids and Benzoyl Peroxide. Dermatologists usually see accutane as a ‘last resort’, and consequently, it is typically prescribed for severe, cystic or nodular acne. The general consensus of opinion among members of acne.org is that you should think very carefully before deciding to take accutane, and that it should be a ‘last resort’ treatment.
-If your dermatologist decides you are suitable for accutane treatment, you will be assessed to your suitability through blood tests. The results of these may mean you cannot take the drug, in which case you will have to look into other avenues of treatment.

What is the normal dosage for the drug?
-In the UK, the maximum dosage in mg’s relates to your weight in kg’s. Accutane dosage per day in mg should not exceed to your corresponding weight, i.e.: for a person weighing 70kg, accutane dosage should not be higher than 70mg per day. In certain cases, it can be slightly higher than this, but if your dermatologist were putting you on a course where the dosage is considerably higher than your weight, it would be advisable to discuss this with them.

How long will my course last?
-Typically, accutane courses last from 3-6 months, at high doses. However, if the acne has still not been suppressed by the sixth month, the course may last up to 9 months. This can cause complications, however, and if you were still on accutane by 9 months without success, it would be advisable to discuss ending your treatment with your dermatologist.

Will I experience an initial breakout whilst taking accutane?
- Unfortunately, most people feel that this is the case. The initial breakout may be quite severe, as your body adjusts to taking the drug. However, it should have subsided significantly within 1-4 months.

How long before I start seeing results from accutane?
- You may not start to see your skin improving for several months. Do not despair, though; in the vast majority of cases, the skin WILL improve eventually.

What are the possible side effects of accutane?
-Possible side effects are many and varied. The most widely experienced side effects are: dryness and peeling of face and lips, increased redness of skin, rashes on hands and arms, dry eyes, muscle aches, back pain, headaches and increased sensitivity to sunlight.
-Other side effects that have been reported include hair loss, yellowing of teeth, blurred vision, bone changes, depression and other mental health issues.
Females taking the drug should MAKE SURE THEY ARE USING EFFECTIVE CONTRACEPTION AT ALL TIMES UP TO 6 MONTHS AFTER THE TREATMENT. ACCUTANE IS LIKELY TO CAUSE SEVERE BIRTH DEFECTS IN FOETUSES.

I am worried about becoming depressed on the drug. Will this happen?
If you are prone to depression, you SHOULD NOT take the drug. If your depression is related to your acne, your dermatologist will probably allow you to take the drug, but your mental state should be monitored closely by a friend, family member or doctor. Many people do not experience depression when taking accutane, but you should not take the risk. There have been people who have committed suicide possibly linked with taking accutane, so IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU TALK TO SOMEBODY IF YOU BEGIN TO FEEL VERY LOW.

Is it okay to tan/use sun beds whilst on accutane?
No. Your skin will be much more sensitive to sunlight, and will most likely burn very easily. You should wear a high-factor sun block throughout the course and for 4-6 months afterwards. Good sunscreens are recommended in the ‘tips for accutane users’ section.

Is it okay to exercise whilst taking accutane?
-Generally, yes. You may experience more muscle aches and pains after strenuous exercise, but there should not be any more serious complications. If you aches are severe, discontinue exercise and speak to your dermatologist.

Is it okay to take vitamins whilst taking accutane?
-You should not be taking vitamin A in any form whilst on accutane, as this may interfere with the drug, but other than this most other vitamin supplements should be fine to take.

Is it okay to drink alcohol whilst on accutane?
-It is not recommended, but the majority of people find they can have occasional drinks without any problems. However, since accutane impairs liver function, it is not a good idea to tax your liver with any other harmful substances, such as alcohol. If possible, avoid it.

I have heard several horror stories about accutane. Could the things they are speaking of happen to me?
-Unfortunately, there is a chance that you could experience such side effects. The drug affects people in different ways, and whilst cases of severe, permanent side effects are rare, they can happen. You have to assess whether you are willing to take the risk. Bear in mind that the horror stories are always more highly publicised than the success stories, and that people who have had success with the drug do not usually post as much on message boards, hence the amount of negative stories circulating on other accutane message boards.

Will accutane cure my acne?
-Dermatologists claim that typically 90% of patients’ acne is put into remission through use of the drug, and 60% is completely cured. It is possible that your acne may return after a course of the drug, but it is likely to be much less severe.

Can accutane leave me with permanent damage?
-There is a risk of permanent side effects, such as ongoing dryness, reproductive problems, and internal organ problems, but permanent side effects are relatively rare, and typically, normal bodily function resumes within a few weeks to a year after finishing the course.

I have seen accutane for sale on Ebay. Is it okay to buy my drug here?
THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED. ACCUTANE IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DRUG AND IF YOU ARE TAKING IT YOU SHOULD BE MONITORED BY A QUALIFIED DERMATOLOGIST TO AVOID COMPLICATIONS.


Is it okay to go on a second course of accutane?
Many people take this option if their acne returns significantly. There are no added problems with this, other than the risk of the same side effects again.

Is it okay to go on a long-term course of accutane but at a low dose?
This is not generally recommended – some people have found themselves on this kind of course for well over a year, and this can have a detrimental effect on your body. Personally, I would rather have stronger side effects, knowing that the drug will be out of my system within a year, than suffer milder side effects for years. Essentially, it is up to you and your dermatologist what sort of course you take, though.

Will accutane exacerbate my scarring?
-Many people feel that accutane did aggravate their scarring. This may be due to the fact that accutane usually causes a significant flare-up in the patient’s acne, initially, and to the fact that it makes the dermis more fragile. It can also impair the functioning of the liver. However, it is highly unlikely that accutane actually CAUSES scarring. If you have been left with scarring, please check out the scar forum of acne.org for more information.

Is it okay to undergo scar procedures whilst on/after accutane?
NO. The things you can use on your skin to help with scarring whilst on or immediately after accutane are mild topicals such as copper peptides and amino-plex spray. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD AN INVASIVE PROCEDURE SUCH AS DERMABRASION OR LASER RESURFACING BE PERFORMED WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF TAKING ACCUTANE. Also, you should not be using any form of acid peels until at least 4 months after finishing your course of acne.

I have heard about liver flushing as a recommended treatment to cleanse my body after taking accutane. What does this involve?
-Liver flushing is quite a serious procedure that you can do yourself at home, but which requires careful preparation to avoid complications. Please check out the diet/holistic health forum for more information.

GENERAL TIPS FOR LIVER HEALTH FOLLOWING ACCUTANE TREATMENT:

-Avoid processed food, alcohol and additives.
-Eliminate fizzy drinks – they are loaded with phosphates and interfere with digestion.
-Eat fruits and vegetables which nourish the liver: apples, black grapes, carrots, blackberries, blueberries, asparagus, celery, cucumber, lemon, beetroot, romaine lettuce, seaweed, watercress, sweet potato. These balance the flow of emotional and physical liver energy.
-Try taking one of the following supplements for 1-2 months: soya lecithin, milk thistle, burdock root, alpha-lipoic acid, Chinese bitters, tejaswini.



USEFUL LINKS FOR ACCUTANE INFORMATION

http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/accu...cationguide.htm- FDA Accutane Medication Guide, with particular emphasis on side effects for females.
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/accutane/default.htm - FDA hub page for accutane.
http://www.rocheusa.com/products/accutane/ - Roche website - info on accutane.
http://www.accutaneaction.com/ - Accutane action group. Hard-hitting site that details some of the worse cases of side effects from the drug.
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/isotret.htm- Chemical and scientific descriptions of accutane, for those interested.
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/isotret.htm - Accutane info. from drugs.comhttp://accutane.poweradvocates.com/ - 'The Accutane team' website - a group of lawyers dealing with accutane cases. Again, very hard hitting, with details of cases with extreme side effects.
http://www.roaccutane.com.au/ - Australian website that contains a downloadable PDF about the drug.

*MORE TO BE ADDED SOON*





Top Tips For Accutane Users

These tips are IN ADDITION to the information that is provided on the instructions with the drug, and are in no way intended to replace these. The tips are merely recommendations based upon my experience on a seven month course of Roaccutane (the UK version of the drug) along with past comments made by other users of the drug. There is no need to follow the advice here rigidly, but some of the tips may help make your experience on accutane a little more pleasant!
The first and most important tip I could give is to take accutane or roaccutane under the supervision of a qualified dermatologist who will be able to monitor your physical and psychological health Accutane is a powerful drug and you should not be taking it unless you are under close supervision.


1) It is highly recommended to use an intensive moisturiser whilst on a course of accutane. Without a moisturiser, your time on the drug can be extremely uncomfortable and you may suffer permanent skin damage. The use of an effective, non-comedogenic moisturiser will not inhibit the results you will get from the drug – do not assume that ‘drier is better’. Watch out for certain ingredients in moisturisers – in particular avoid synthetic lanolin and stearic acid, as these can clog your pores and cause breakouts.
Recommended moisturisers are: Emu oil - available from Ebay or Skinbiology.com, Eucerin Daily Renewal, Cetaphil SPF 15, or Living Nature's manuka day cream - available here
Here is a thread about moisturisers: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/forums.html...wtopic=1477
Here is an article about moisturising. Sourced from skinbiology. http://www.skinbio.com/quickmoisturizers.html

2) Some people have advocated washing only with only water or even not washing at all whilst on a course of accutane. I would NOT recommended this. Just because you are no longer getting spots does not mean that your skin does not need to be washed. However, cleansers can leave your skin feeling very dry. A gentle cleanser is recommended. The following are very good: Puredeming's castille bar, Cetaphil gentle cleanser, Living Nature's purifying cleansing gel and most 'Simple' cleansers.

3) Use of a high factor sun block whilst on a course of accutane is highly recommended. Your skin will be very fragile and will burn more easily, so unprotected exposure to sunlight should be kept to a minimum and sunbeds/solariums should be avoided. Arguably the best total sunblock on the market is Total Block spf 65. Available here
However, I have also found Green People's SPF 15+ http://www.greenpeople-organic-health.co.u...sp?Pc=G001&cc=G and Aubrey-organics' SPF 15 http://www.aubrey-organics.com/ to be effective. Sorry for how expensive these products are, but good quality sunscreens are usually $20 and upwards.

4) Your lips will be extremely dry whilst on accutane, so use of a good lip balm is essential. Vaseline is highly effective but can be pore-clogging on some people. Members have had good results with use of Carmex and Puredeming’s Gilead Lip balm (available here: Puredeming)

5) Try to keep yourself hydrated whilst on accutane to combat dryness. There are several ways you can do this. Firstly, consume plenty of water. This may sound obvious, but your body can become more dehydrated by the drug. Try to keep your intake to 8-10 glasses a day, more if exercising. No additional benefit is gained by drinking more than 12 glasses a day and excessive consumption can be dangerous. (for more info on drinking too much water, see this website:
http://www.ivillage.co.uk/health/hlive/eat...88681-2,00.html )
Also try to increase your intake of essential fatty acids (EFA’s) whilst taking accutane. This may alleviate some of the dryness and can help keep skin supple. Good sources are all types of nuts (especially walnuts) and oily fish.

6) Try taking high dose supplements of Vitamin E in addition to accutane. There is some evidence that taking 400IU (around 300mg)– 800 IU of Vitamin E can help alleviate some of the side effects of accutane.

7) Avoid eating foods high in Vitamin A such as liver and pate on a regular basis, as this increases the risk of side effects from accutane such as potential liver damage. Instead, consume foods rich in Beta-carotene, which is only converted to vitamin A in the body if the body needs it.

8) It is quite likely that you will experience flare-ups in your acne at some point which may result in an increased risk of scarring due to the fragility of your skin. To combat this, I found using manuka honey on the active acne and wounds helped with the healing process. Manuka honey also contains anti-itching agents which can help to soothe your skin. An excellent product is Living Nature's honey and oil antiseptic gel: available here or you can buy pure manuka honey from Manukahoneyco.uk and Comvita

9) Make sure that at least one person close to you is aware that you are on the drug. This is especially important for young people going away to university/college. You should let a family member or friend know that you are on the drug and inform them of what the side effects can be, so that they will be able to keep an eye on you and ensure that you are not becoming too isolated or depressed. There are many people who go through a course of accutane without suffering from depression but it is best to be on the safe side.

10) be realistic with your goals whilst on accutane. Be prepared for flare-ups and redness which may last for several months. Do not expect instant results, but remain positive by thinking that despite the fact that your skin will usually get worse before it gets better, it almost certainly WILL get better.

Good luck to all people taking accutane or considering taking it. Please do not hesitate to post your experiences on this thread or add further tips of your own. Also, if you have any questions, feel free to send me a Private Message and I will try my best to answer.
Take Care,
Paul.



Last edited by Rossignol, 5th July 2005 - added links to useful accutane/roaccutane websites. (finally!)

Hey y'all! BeenThereDoneThat and I (as resident Post-Taners) compiled a great Accutane Advice list. This basically covers everything you need to know from real human beings who have taken Accutane. If you have taken Accutane and see something we missed, please PM me and I will add it to this list! I want to keep the topic closed, however, because I don't want it junked up with posts that belong in the forum below. Good luck with your course and don't hesitate to ask questions!


FIRST AND FOREMOST: DO NOT TAKE ACCUTANE UNLESS YOU ARE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED DERMATOLOGIST. Acne.org does not recommend or condone self-medicating with any prescription drug, ESPECIALLY Accutane. This drug is FDA-monitored in the United States for a reason - a treatment of Accutane, as with most prescription drugs, can be dangerous or fatal if taken improperly or unmonitored.


ACCUTANE ADVICE LIST


-Don't expect to be clear in a week, or even a month. Accutane takes TIME to work. Every single day there are people posting about how they've taken Accutane for 3 days with no results. People need to understand that it takes time, sometimes people break out through their entire course and don't clear until the course is over. It's unusual to clear quickly, not the other way around.

-Never go ANYWHERE without chapstick! Ever...ever...ever...ever. It SUCKS. I recommend anything from Bath & Body Works or Burt's Bee's because they all taste yummy, aren't super shiny, and have awesome staying power! Those are recommended for lips that are only chapped, not wounded or cracked (the peppermint oil in Burt's Bees can actually do more harm to those with cracked/wounded lips). Dr. Dan's Cortibalm and Aquaphor also come with highest recommendations because they can heal open wounds on the lips from peeling or cracking.

-Wash with a very gentle cleanser (Dan's new cleanser does an excellent job!) - time duration: just long enough to lather your face and rinse off. ~10-15 seconds! Don't overdo it because your face gets irritated so easily.

-Oil of Olay Complete with SPF is a great moisturizer - not greasy, and has sunscreen - your skin gets extremely thin and sensitive while on accutane! Don't skimp on SPF!

- For the generalized redness that sometimes occurs (often called "Tane-burn") BTDT used Clinique's Exceptionally Soothing Cream for Upset Skin with good results (subbed it for moisturizer).

-Baby yourself on accutane - get lots of sleep, drink lots of fluids, eat food that is good for you. Treat yourself like you have the flu for 6 months! Your body is under a lot of stress.

-Keep yourself hydrated! Accutane is dehydrating, and the early effects like minor headaches are almost always caused either by general dehydration or by dry eyes. Your eyes can be dry without actually feeling dry to you and that can cause piercing headaches. Get some good eyedrops and put some at home, some at work, some in your bookbag, whatever. BTDT liked Refresh Liquigel. TG liked Visine Tears for mildly dry eyes.

-Always take accutane with a fatty meal - it is a vitamin A derivative which is fat-soluble, and it absorbs into the body much more efficiently when it has fat to bind to. In fact, if you read the insert it will tell you that taking the pill without food decreases absorption up to 50%. Recommendations - olive oil, nuts, avocado, oily fish such as salmon, and dairy products

-The Olay in-shower moisturizer is great because you don't have to wait to put on your clothes since it rinses off.

-Don't exfoliate any part of your body more than once every week or two. Your skin can't handle the microabrasions. Actually, I would avoid exfoliating at all costs because it is so traumatic to your skin, but if it is absolutely necessary, don't do it more than once every two weeks.

-If you get little weird dry patches on the skin (often on the backs of hands) they are probably Accutane-induced ezcema. Use an over the counter hydrocortisone cream on the patches until they seem like normal skin again (this should only take a few days), then use a normal moisturizer to prevent it from happening again. If you moisturize properly from day one you can prevent it all together.

-Fish oil supplements seem to greatly ease Accutane-induced joint aches.

-Keep lots of bandaids - your skin is going to crack, peel, tear, and otherwise become damaged extremely easily. Expect this side effect!

-Keep a photo journal if nothing else, even though it can be painful to look at the pictures - you won't believe how far you have come.

-Be aware that you might get an initial breakout. Most derms won't tell you this because it is disheartening to think your skin will get worse before it gets better. (It will likely get oilier before it gets drier also!) BUT ... it will be all over with in just 2-3 weeks!

-Don't add too much to your regimen - if you let it, accutane will do its job!

-DO. NOT. WAX. NO WAXING. Be hairy, depilate, shave, do threading, pluck - just do not wax. It will destroy your skin - I have heard horror stories to the nth degree. No salon will wax you if they know you're on accutane. What happens is the skin is so paper-thin that when the wax strip comes off, so does the skin.

-No tattoos, microdermabrasions, or surgeries while on tane or up to six months after without specifically talking to your dermatologist first.

-Don't go to the tanning bed. TG went to the tanning bed a full 4 months post tane, was there for only 10 minutes, and burned so bad she peeled for a week. It was AWFUL. It is just NOT a good idea. Being pale for a few months is a whole lot better than being in THAT much pain. Mystic tan seems to do a really great job.

-For an itchy scalp, Neutrogena TGel is recommended to soothe the itching and get rid of the dandruff.

-A common side effect is decreased ability to focus in school. Be aware of this before attempting to start Accutane within a difficult semester. For a generalized list of side effects see www.rocheusa.com or www.fda.gov

Here is a link to the Acne.org before and after accutane photos list:

Before and After Accutane Photos

If you want or need an acne prescription, see a doctor and get it legally. If you get prescriptions illegally online you could easily hurt yourself or waste your money.

- Independent studies have been performed on the sale of Internet-bought prescriptions. Often the prescription contains no active ingredient, little active ingredient, or in a worst case scenario toxic amounts of active ingredient.

- Drugs bought without a prescription can actually be a completely different compound from what the buyer intends.

Acne.org prohibits the illegal trade of any form of drug or prescription drug. If you see a post from someone selling a prescription, please report it immediately. Thanks.

Does anyone else get it while on accutane, when your embarrassed you go bright red, and when i was scared once i went pail as a ghost.. anyone else get that, its really embarrassing

I'm currently on 20 mg/daily for persistent moderate acne that I've suffered from for close to 11 years, and am now approaching my fourth month. Since the beginning of my course, me derm told me he planned on keeping me on Accutane for five months at most.

I told him I needed to reach my cumulative dose as I don't see the point in trying a last-resort measure like Accutane just to have acne pop up again a couple months after wrapping up an incomplete course. My derm, however, has other ideas - he gets really condescending and tells me a cumulative dose course is ONLY necessary for people with very severe, nodulocystic acne.

This guy has said and done plenty of other things that have made me question his professionalism, but this is the most worrying. What should I do? He basically has the "you didn't go to med school for a decade, you don't know anything" type of attitude and has refused to extend my course.

What do you guys think?

I'm going to shop around for a new derm if continues to refuse me flat out, but I thought it was weird he would say what he did. I thought a cumulative dose was standard for ALL types of acne, except on a maintenance course.

Okay so im kinda new at this. So far this journey is OKAY. Im going to break this down as best that I can.

1st 2 weeks 30 mgs daily (DAY 1 started 9/22/09)
-REDNESS & ITCHING!
-NEW PIMPLES POPING UP LIKE CRAZY
-DRY LIPS (they look like i have on hot pink lipstick..haha )
-2 bloody nose episodes
-scalp became dry and itchy as well, i have a few scabs here and there with alot of dandruff
-towards the end of the month peers have started to notice less oil on my face, and pimples started to clear. (WIth makeup (neutrogena concealer & Bare Minerals) my face looked very clear, but without the makeup my face was very red with red scaring.)
-Hair is falling out in the shower!!!!!! started taking b-complex & Biotin!!!
-kinda irritable, but im not so sure if its the sotret or the birthcontrol! im trying to figure it out. I think, but im not 100% sure, that the BC is making me moody as in cranky, and the sotret is just kinda making me a lttle on the lazy side, not as focused as I was prior, also easily distracted! (esp at work& school when i need to consentrate)!!!!!!

End of month 1, start of month 2 (10/22/09)
-By 10/23, i had about 2-3 more new pimples poping up on my face that looked so much clearer before these guys came back! =(
-MD increased dose to 60mg daily, so the itching started up again, along with increased redness and the pimples like i just mentioned
-I feel like i am definately getting impatient as far as my face goes! my mood cranky once again, impatient, lazy, achey, feeling kinda "down" as far as looking pretty.(bc i definatley dont feel pretty)
- I also find that i am so easily awakened!!!! its hard to fall asleep, and once i do, i sleep well, but
i wake up to the sound of a door opening, a phone ringing, or anything so small sounding, will wake me!! and Once im awake, i cant get back to sleep!!!!
-im noticing more red scars poping up, and peer who was also on accutane, told me to use Vitamin E oil, works very well.
-for some odd reason, my face doesnt really feel so DRY like everyone else is saying! ONly thing thats really dry are my lips, scalp, & hair. BUT my friend who was on this med is a nursing student, told me that you MUSTT MUST MUST moisterize! Reason being as she said is : If you dont, your skin will produce more of the sebum, thus.. (you gus get her point...) but IS THAT TRUE? can someone get back to me on that? haha id appreciate it
-today is Nov 2nd, im starting to notice some of those active pimple go down, becuase i grabbed the pro-activ sulfur mask and just dotted some on the pimples after i applied the Vit E oil with pea-size Cetaphil Moisterizer. I see some affect, but does anyone think this is a good idea? If someone would get back to me on that i would appreciate it.

Like i mentioned im new at this. Im getting impatient , ive been dealing with acne forever like i know everyone on this website has, im just desperate for this junk to just go away!!! Ill take all the adive I can get! Is this medicine making me crazy ??! or is it the Birth Control? should I still with the vitamin E oil and keep using the Pro- Activ sulfur mask when new pimps come up? Do I have to apply Moisterizer even if my skin isnt so dry yet? &&&&&& most importantly- WHEN AM I GOING TO STOP BREAKING OUT &&WHEN IS THIS MEDICINE GOING TO START TO CLEAR MY SKIN?? ADVICE PLEASEE


THANK YOU! & GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO ARE IN THE SAME BOAT AS ME

I still wake up with a dry mouth, dark yellow urine and even have dark circles under my eyes.
I stopped accutane 1yr ago - why is this stuff still occurring?





My acne is all gone, and so are my red marks

Guys,

I will be starting Accutane on Monday. Its been years since my first go round. I am trying to come up with a regime that will
a) protect my liver (I take excedrin and clonezepam for Headaches)
b)Avoid getting sick during the winter when I am always sick (2 kids in daycare)
c) Start and maintain a light weights/cardio routine at least 5 days a week
d) Lower cholesterol

The surprise to me was my bloodwork came back with my cholesterol being around 220/ldl is a little high and Im not even on Accutane yet.

So I obviously need to address this cholesterol and stay healthy without going near Vitamin A. Can you guys help?

So, I have many indented scars ranging from boxscars to icepicks that are recent to older than 5 years old from acne. Something I've began to notice over the last few weeks is that some of these scars seem to be improving.

I'm not sure if it's the dryness or thinning of skin or what, but I'm almost certain my indented scars have improved since I've been on accutane which is wierd because my redmarks won't fade for the life of me.

Has anyone else noticed this? Also, for anyone that finished a course and had scar improvement...have the results remained or are they temporary?

This is my biggest concern other then will it make me go bald, which seems like that may be the case as ive only taken two pills and im losing some hair already.

Plus i could tell a big difference in my concentration.

Hi I am on a 60 mg 3rd moth roaccutane.. in the last two days I got a severe stiffness in my left hand and joint pains, now it's gone but my hand now feels way different.. It is very loose, I can not control my joints especially my small finger and somehow my left hand feels very weak and tilted ? It does not heart anymore but it feels funny,

Did anyone experience this ? Should I stop the medication ? What do you think ? I would really appreciate your help..

My GP says that I'm not sure that this links to roaccutane, and I should see a specialist ? What the hill

Also, both of my hands scar very easily, I've got many scars because of that ? PLEASE PLEASE HELP HELP

I NEED SOME HELP FROM AN ACCUTANE USER THAT KNOWS WHAT HE/SHE IS TALKING ABOUT! Been taking 40 mg 2x a day for almost 2 weeks. I had only mild acne, but have been on antibiotics for about 25 years (I am 42 yrs old male). and getting thoise cysts more often lately dermatologist thought it was time to get rid of this once and for all so started accutane.
Started out fine dry lips, dry face dry everything...couldnt care less got some lip stuff and went about my business. Second week started and whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa pimples, cysts red bumps places I didn't even know zits could go eyebrows, corner of nose right under lips I look like before pictures for that ridiculous pro active. Called in to work for past 3 days hoping this would get under control, but zits seem to be enjoying this and having a party. Never had zits on my chest before but its nice to see that my face zits wont be lonly cause now they can talk to these new chest and shoulder zits...I mean all kinds of zits. They pop real easy loads of delicious pus comes out...AND DONT TELL ME NOT TO POP....After stopping and staring in mirror every time I pass bathroom and looking in amazement and disbelief I have to pop them. Truly if my derm told me this would happen I would never have started this I would have went on with the semi nightmare I had. A friend told me prednisone might help so I called derm and waiting for him to call back.. Anyone know anything that will help me get through this initial breakout and how long does this crap last. Truly embarrasing and I have a new found respect and empathy for anyone who suffers with this. I mean my chin is so stinkin red and zitted up almost impossible to shave. Im using cetaphil soap just started moisturizing but geeeeez this sucks somebody help please Does anyone know how much prednisone I should take a day to help this nightmare? Will fish oil omega 3 supplement help at all What about acidophillus always took that when on antibiotic to stop yeast buildup.

Hey guys...I mostly just want to vent to people that may understand my situation. Has anybody seen their acne become 100X worse since they started accutane, but then it NEVER get better? My acne is just so much worse than it was before I started, and I'm starting month 5 now and I'm nowhere near better. I've been on such a high dose (160 mg), so it's so frustrating that this is not working for me. The most frustrating thing of all is that my acne was not this bad to begin with--I believe, now, that I could have lived with what I had, but this stuff makes me want to cry. I seriously do not want to see family I haven't seen in a while because I look completely different. If someone can give me hope, or if someone wants to vent with me, I would appreciate it . Sometimes it really helps to talk this stuff out..thanks

I've been on 30 mg of Sotret for 9 days. The first time I popped a pill, it was before bed. A few hours after I went to sleep I woke up with a throbbing head. So I skipped taking it the next night and took my second dose the following morning. Within 2 hrs the headache returned and nothing worked to make it go away. My Halloween was awful =/ On day 6 the headache started to subside but I took my 9th pill today and I could still feel it, although it's not as painful. Has anyone had this experience? Does it go away or is it likely I will feel like this for the entire treatment?

Other side effects have been

- Swollen red nose first few days
- Red face that got worse if I was hot or doing any activities (first 5 days)
- Really bad break out on chin
- Tons of bumps, but not cysts, on my forehead..a couple have come to heads
- Itchy/dry skin on body even after using tons of moisturizer
- Chapped lips but so far seem to be okay when frequently using aquafor and aveeno lip balm

Again, it's only my 9th day so a lot of the side effects might just be because I'm not used to the stuff. Or it might get a lot more annoying..heh. I don't have very serious acne, but I did up until last yr when I started Doxycycline, Spironolactone, Differin, and Duac. Those things helped for a while but after my skin got used to the topicals, the oil production went back to how it's always been..which is really bad. I have to use over 10 oil blotter sheets a day, and if I don't..my face will be dripping oil. I know it's gross, sorry! I'm 24 and I've had acne since I was 12...which is half of my life thus far. A few yrs ago I started getting really bad hormonal acne on my jaw line, sometimes it was so bad that people at work (I'm a receptionist at a record label) would ask me if I had a rash. I tried birth control pills but did not like the way I felt on them so never really gave them enough of a chance to see if they'd be effective since most dermatologists have told me it's hormonal. So at this point I am desperate. People close to me tell me I am risking a lot just to have clear skin, but they don't understand what it's like. They get to wash their face and not feel bumps, my girlfriends can easily walk out of their apts without any makeup when I haven't went without foundation and concealer since the time I was first allowed to wear it. I just want to know what it's like to be able to look at myself in fluorescent lights without cringing. I want to stare at my face in a mirror from all angles and see nothing but smoothness. I honestly feel like acne should be considered a disease because it can limit a person from living their life to the fullest.

Wow I didn't intend to write a novel haha, so I guess I will go back to my initial question which is, did anyone who took accutane experience really bad headaches, and should I be worried?

Thanks a lot,

- Angela

I'm new to this site and was wondering if any of you have had this problem. I'm 16 and started accutane 7 weeks ago. I'm now getting alot of extremity muslce weakness, I feel like I can't lift or do anything. In the side effects it says to stop immediatly as is can be serious which is what I'm going to do. Has anyone else experienced this side effect and is it permanent?

Thanks

For those of you who have completed your accutane course, how long did it take for the typical side effects to go away?

I really would like to give accutane a try but I'm wondering what my chances are for my derm prescribing it for me. Some stats:

• duac
• differin
• tazorac
• doxycycline
• monocycline
• cefadroxyl (sp?)

I have relatively moderate (sometimes mild) acne. Occasionally, I get a cyst or two. What do you guys think my chances are?

I've been reading on here that it's necessary to reach a cumulative dosage of at least 120mg/kg of body weight over the course of the accutane treatment in order to achieve permanent results. I've also heard that one should take 1mg/1kg body weight per day. I weigh 47 kg and my doctor prescribed a dosage of 20mg/day. At this rate, over 6 months, I will only reach a cumulative dosage of 3650mg, when I should need at least 5640 (47*120).

Should I approach my doctor about this and request that she increase my dosage? What should I tell her - that I read it on here? I'm only about 15 days into treatment and so far have had the normal side effects, dry lips, eyes, etc, nothing too bad. I still have some cysts from before I started treatment, but no new acne since starting. I don't think I have had the "initial breakout" yet or if I will. Any advice on whether I should request a higher dosage, and how I should go about it, would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Ok Im a senior and like shit I have grad photos soon in like weeks or i would say week.

I dont know what to do. I know for a fact I cant get clear in a week. Now I am thinking in the long run. I have acne on face back and little on chest.

I need to get rid of it all and I am going to the doctors on Monday. im 17 male... And my mom is taking me to the doctors to get a recomended derm but last time i went to the doctors and talked about acne he was telling us about some medication he has . He didnst specify what it was, could be acutane or anti biotics. He said it was a 3 months thing and that people dont see results because they stop ( I dont know why he mentioned that I assume that the pill doesnt work and he is making an excuse... i didnt even ask if it worked or not... lol) Something just sounds fishy but I want acutane.

What do you think he is going to offer, what can he offer? can he offer accutane?

What are the sideeffects are there like bad sideeffects that include like cancer or anything serious like head tumurs. I know there has to be something wrong with acutane or everyone would use it... I saw the results on the pictures and it was amazing for everyone..

whats the ratio eprox of works and not works for accutane. like how many cases does it work over how many does it not work for ppl.

Iv tried bp and sayllic acid for about 2 months each and i couldnt get rid of my acne completly. all i know is that I want to get rid of acne b4 i graduate so I can atleast get agf or prom date.. like ****.


I know there are answersr to these questions on the forum but i am so stressed with hw and i hope you can answer them here.

thanks.

My scalp is itchy and starting to flake. I've never had dandruff before, so I'm positive it's Accutane-related.

I bought the itchy scalp Selsen Blue, and I've used it twice so far. I have highlighted hair, though, so I'm not terribly excited about using this frequently.

What conditioners-- leave in, deep conditioner, etc do you use for itchy scalp? It itches so bad it's beginning to burn. I have to remedy this ASAP.. can't spend months like this. My whole body is pretty itchy, but it's so easy just to apply moisturizer to body skin. Hair and scalp is a little more complicated.

Hi,

I feel like I've been broken record on this forum but I am very distraught and frustrated at this point. I just finished a 7 month course of Accutane. 40mg for month 1, 80mg months 2 through 4 and 100mg for months 5 through 7. My face has improved from where it was before I started this course but I am still having breakouts, pimples under the skin and what's really making me worry is that I just got a big new pimple on my chin. I'm unfortunately stressing about each new pimple at this point because it seems like I should be in the clear if this course is going to work for me.

When I saw my derm about a month ago he told told me that he hoped to see me clear up after finishing my course. It's been one week since I finished my course and I'm still having new breakouts. If I am going to see improvement post-Accutane, should I be seeing it by now? Should I lose hope that this course is going to work for me?

A quick note on my acne history and part of what makes no sense to me and is driving me absolutely crazy:

I had moderate to somewhat severe acne from a young age until age14. At 14, I went on Accutane and didn't have any significant problems or worries with acne until just last year when I was 22 years old. My acne just came back on at age 22, which really bothered me because I was so accustomed to being clear, hadn't dealt with Acne since my self-conscious years of being in middle school and didn't know why I was breaking out. At first it didn't even dawn on me that the years that had passed since Accutane may have been the reason the acne came back out of the blue but it's the only thing that makes sense to me.

What's driving me crazy is after being clear for so many years, I've now finished a 7 month (fairly high dosage course) of Accutane and am still not clear. I know I can be clear. I was clear for 8 years. The dosage on my Accutane course at age 14 was even much lower than my current course as well at only 60mg a day for 6 months. Is there any hope that I will clear up in the coming weeks and return to having the clear skin I had for many years or am I looking at going through an entire course of Accutane again?

Thanks again for all of the input,

-Scott

I have been on accutane for about 2 weeks now. My face is peeling around my mouth and my chin area? Is this a side effect of tane? I have been using moisturizer. I have also been using benzaclin about every other night. Should I quit using this?

I took Accutane for moderate facial acne and severe back acne. It cleared up my face well, I still get pimples once in a while but they are very tiny and go away fast with some BP. It did not work for my back acne whatsoever but I was still happy that my face cleared up.

During my course of Accutane I had moderate back pain. I assumed that after I was finished with 'tane then it would go away, but it didnt. To this day I still have back pain and it is very uncomfortable. Im pretty sure it will never go away so I just wanted to say be careful and keep the dose as low as possible.

Back when I was just starting out on Accutane I was a big supporter of the drug. I would be the person that says "I dont care if I get side effects if it clears up my acne!" But now I regret even taking the drug.

This post isnt to scare people into not taking tane, it is just to show that some of the effects are real, and bad even after your course. If you really need Accutane my advise is to keep it very low, and if you experience back pain then you should be taken off the drug or you might end up in pain like me.

edit: forgot to mention I have ankle pain too but its not as bad as the back pain

So I am on my 10th week at 40 mg per day. My course is for 20 weeks.

I called the derm today cause I am still losing eyebrow hair and breaking out with cysts (I have about 4 cysts right now). Three of them actually are returning cysts.

Of course, I had to leave a message and the nurse called me back after speaking with the doctor. The derm said it's basically my call if I want to quit now. The nurse says that most people she has seen don't break out this far into the course. Going up to 80 mg is not an option since side effects only got worse for me.

My next appt is in 2 weeks. Your thoughts?

Ok, I've been on accutane for about 5 months I think, and I've got a question about safe ways to remove hair. I can deal without getting my eyebrows waxed and although they now look quite odd (I'm not even gonna try to pluck them because they're quite strange shaped and too difficult for me to deal with) that's cool. But I want to know if there's any safe way to remove hair from my upper lip. I obviously can't wax so I've tried sensitive skin hair removal cream and one of those smooth away things that rub the hair off. Both of these caused a high amount of irritation, the latter resulting in quite a large ugly scab.

Is there any safe way I can approach removing hair from my upper lip? Please share your experiences because I'm so happy with my clearer looking skin, but now I'm constantly embarassed by my hairy upper lip! This really defeats the purpose of clearing up the acne lol.

Thanks for your help!

When coming off accutane is it normal to get really small clusters of whiteheads around your skin?

I have them just under my mouth and they've only started developing in the last 3 weeks since Ive been of accutane, they are not visible, you can only see them if you look at them right up close in the mirror, also the skin in that area feels dry and rough, wheras before it felt smooth.