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.

for example,20mg/day month 1,2 Then there is no new acne come out. So 10mg/day month3,4.....
Can i take tane like this,i have no derm,cuz i dont want to see a derm,i dont want to leave my apartment before my acne cure.SOOOOOO,plz help me!!!!!!!

I am so puzzled about why the dose is increased with the acne is getting better!!!!!!!!
I am so appreciate your suggestion!

Was it straight away? few months in? near the end? never?
please share

i have been on accutane for 2 months and after month 1 my skin was looking almost cleared (from 20 mg) and then I started 40 mg a month ago and ever since I have had an initial breakout but it seemed to calm down though. Now what is awful is school started 3 days ago and I have been wearing tons of powder makeup to cover up redmarks and remaining acne . oh, my acne was mild/moderate but persistant to start with. so, i have been getting 1 new pimple a day every since I have started school on the same side of my face. Could this be from the makeup? Does wearing makeup stop accutane's progress? Does it mean that the makeup is bad for my skin and if I find a new one it will go back to normal?! Also my skin is now very itchy please help this is destroying everything:(

Hey everyone, I give up. Ha. But seriously, my last month of my 6mo/80mg daily went well. Zero acne for the first time in my life. Im 24 btw, I usually get a cyst a week, not much little stuff. things were going well for 3 weeks. Then all of the sudden my skin decided to return back to its pre-accutane state. Now Im about 2 months off and its worse than its ever been. I havent had a mega cyst but Im breaking out all over which I never did before. Lots of small/medium cysts. The type that look like a bug bite for a day, then turn into some gross lump filled with clear liquid and no puss. Any help??? I saw my derm today and she gave me retin-a and minocycline. Will I have a bad IB from the retin-a since I just got off accutane. Any help is appreciated

Here I am 120 days ( 4 months ) 1 month left to go and im all done... I dont feel my lips are as chapped anymore. I still feel great my skin cleared right away and has stayed that way. Ill be glad to not have to swallow pills every day but im scared to stop taking them. I do not want to go back to the way I was before. Anyways here are my updated pics.

Day 120
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/mar...ss/DSCF5593.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/mar...ss/DSCF5596.jpg
with makeup
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/mar...ss/DSCF5680.jpg



Day 1
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/mar...ss/DSCF5030.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/mar...ss/DSCF5035.jpg
with makeup
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g199/mar...ss/DSCF5051.jpg

ok so- i hate my acne
i love my hair


its one of my favorite features, of which there are few
so im worried- i know accutane will affect my hair

is it worth it to possibly lose one of my favorite things about how i look to possibly fix soemthing els,e which may not even work out either?

I started accutane about 3 weeks ago. During the past week I have been experiencing a new kind of back pain, but am unable to say for certain its from the tane. I think I remember seeing that most people here have lower back pain, but mine isn't really "low"

I'm not sure how to describe it. I think the best way would be to say that it is around the bottom of my rib cage, but above my kidneys. Its not near my neck at all though. I only really notice it when I lie down or arch my back backward. Its pretty sharp for a minute but fades quickly.

It's not something I remember experiencing in the past. I just have a hard time saying it's the meds because I have been under a lot of stress, been doing a lot more walking, and have had to carry things long distances lately.


It would help if anyone else who has had accutane-caused backpain could describe it so I know if that's a possibility.


Thanks!

i'm looking for help! anyone who has previously or is taking accutane for MILD acne? im on sortret for my mild but persistent acne, & i've been on accutane for 2 months now and my face looks worse than it has ever did before!

i'm starting to really regret taking this, but wondering how everyone else's course of accutane went for mild acne? please, i need someone to talk to

so in the last month, exactly two months post my first accutane course, i started noticing that veins on my forehead are becoming more and more visible. In fact, they're bulging out slightly. In some lighting you cannot tell, but in white fluorescent lighting you can easily see them bulging out and they're certainly not there before. And no i'm not talking about when i get mad or worked up or heated or anything. And I'm not a bodybuilder either.

It started out down the center of my forehead and then more and more started popping up on both of my temples.

I know it's kinda weird question to ask but could accutane have caused this? Generally speaking, does accutane cause vasodilation? I also flush so much more easily (which i've heard is a side effect of accutane usage?)

I have not had a pimple on my forehead. But this morning I woke up with a deep indentation on my forehead. The last time I took Accutane I had indentations on my forehead. Has anyone had this happen also?

All,

I know many users will browse this forum and others before starting their accutane course and will no doubt be extremely excited about the success stories, and let's be honest there are so many and I was certainly one of them a couple of years ago.

I know what it's like to have acne, hell of course I do, and I know how your world literally seems isolated and crippled because of it. It is such a horrible disease and nobody should have to suffer from it at all - there's simply not enough medical research being done to help everyone out with new safer treatments.

Accutane was my last resort, even though the Regimen had started to work slowly. I always ask myself do I regret it as I sit here with clear skin (the odd pimple here and there) but in a lot of pain. For ME, it wasn't. For many others it WAS. and for many others it WASN'T.

I never dreamed of ended up in the shape I am. Jesus, I'm a 25 year old male who just got acceped back in June 2007 into one of the toughest most physically demanding careers today, the Royal Air Force Regiment. I'm not blowing my trumpet, but I wasn't just fit, I was super-fit. I was a good 12.10 stone and the majority was muscle. I was playing sport and working out pretty much 5-6 times a week and loving it. This was a year since I finished my accutane course.

I've lost 10pounds in the last 4 months. I now have incredible and I really mean incredible chronic severe joint pain that nobody seems to be able to help me with. I literally feel crippled and I've cried more times in the last 2 months than I ever did in 6-7 years of having acne. People will say well 'how can you link that to accutane' - but it was.

Here's the key example. I had taken a couple of smaller maintanence courses of 20mg per day for about 3 months back in November and May. It was the occassional pill more than anything.

Back in late May 2008 I had a couple of spots appear and I still had a few 20mg capsules left so I took them. Hell I didn't know accutane was causing my chronic ankle pain. Within 15 days of taking about 6 capsules I woke up in widespread joint pain which I am still in to this day. That's no coincidence. Stupid of me I know, but just think about what's happening if you have that second course of tane or a longer one.

I'm not trying to preach, I'm just begging you to consider all other treatment options. I read somewhere that in 85% of cases acne can be cleared up through other treatments other than accutane. So, that's hope right? Seriously, I can barely hold down my job anymore, I'm trying but the pain floods my mind. My girlfriend and I recently split up after 3 years (funny we got together when I started Tane when I was so happy) and my mates and family haven't a clue what to do.

In summary: was I suicidal about my acne - yes at times but I know I would of never done anything that drastic as there were treatment options and I could still live my life fairly well.

Am I suicidal now? Every single day. Every minute I think about ending my life. I've seen a counseller but they don't understand the frustration of being in constant pain, nobody can fully appreciate it just like acne. People have ranted and slated me about posting this negative story, but honestly I'm just trying to help. I would hate people, anyone, even my worst enemy, to end up like this.

This isn't a life, it's a shell. I genuinely do not see any happy future ahead right now.

Greg

Anyone have any personal favorites they think work the best that can be found in most general stores? I just started accutane today and my Derm recommended Cetaphil but I heard somewhere it can clog pores? Appreciate any advice you guys got!

My right eyelid is acting weird and annoying. It is like a really strong twitch or something and it started this month, my first month on Accutane. When this "twitch" is happening, my eyelid will not blink smoothly -- it is hard to open and close it. I hope this is not any stroke-like problem. I do not have control over it. Anyone had this or heard of it! I did not mention it to my doctor because I feel like he won't know what to do -- not a common side effect. Help.

Hi everyone,

Anyways my question is can you take accutane with spiro, ????

Hey everyone,
Yes, i know i'm completely aware that there are many posts in regards to hair thinning/hair loss. I was on tane for about 7 months, and have been off of it for close to 5 months now and i've noticed that while on tane i was experiencing hair thinning. Not to mention that my hair was pretty much thin to begin with so, i noticed it immediately. Since then, my hair is way thinner to the point where normally i had thin baby hair on the sides and now there really thin and when i put my hair back it nearly looks bald! What makes matters worse is WHEN i do put my hair back you see my scalp right in the middle area. I told my derm about this and she said that she normally recommends that her patients buy rogaine. Has anyone gone through this and what did you do to resolve this issue?

Thanks so much

After stopping Accutane about 3 weeks ago with virtually clear skin despite a small pimple here & there, I had had enough after being on 7 months and got off hoping things would continue to improve and they did.
My skin really has improved but I am still pretty much everyday day getting these extremely tiny pimples mostly around the jaw. They pretty much completely disappear by themselves in a day or 2 (much better than before) but it still pisses me off that I’m not clear. Anyone else have those annoying little buggers? Still can’t believe I’m not clear.. Seems everyone else had at least at a month or 2 of being clear after finishing.
I had over my cumulative dose but I’m beginning to think maybe my daily dose of 60mg a day most of the course wasn’t quite high enough for a person weighing 75 kg.. Could this be the case? I’m beginning to think maybe I should have kept going past 7 months but far out I had had enough. Thankyou.

So, with the topic around here about how accutane is evil, started by someone who has no experience with it, I was just wondering how many people out there have had good experiences with tane, and bad experiences.

Hi I have mild/moderate persistant acne and Im planning on taking Accutane soon! Wish me luck! I was just wondering though is it ok to take Accutane with an anitbiotic? If so which ones are ok to use with it?

Thanks

I'm used to go to a salon, and tan twice a month, as I am very ligth skinned. Now I have started using accutane, and so I heven't done it for a little over a month, and I miss it!!

So I wanted to her what peoples experiences are? How much ones skin can take and so on?

Hey guys. I'm new here, but I've fully read the fifteen or so page on Accutane and everyone's experiences. I'm a 22 year old male who's ready to make the change!

Well after using the typical antibiotic treatments I was prescribed accutane and took my first pill today. Now, naturally, I have some concerns, but I'd like input from someone who has taken the drug or someone that feels they could help me out.

For starters I know I have to moisturize and even on Day 1 I've already started. Would you guys reccomend I use Lubriderm Moisturizer or Cetaphil Moisturizer? And also Should I be doing this twice a day or only once in the morning? And what is the best cleanser to use on my face? I recently bougt the Neutoregena Deep Cleaning daily cleanser, but would that be to extereme?

Secondly, as far as chapstick / balm goes whats the best one I could purchase in a Walgreens and wouldn't be hard to find? I've heard Carmex makes you breakout ?

My last question, and my biggest overall concern is the initial flaring some people have experienced. I was wondering if getting Cortizone shots about 2 weeks in would counteract this whole problem and maybe help me stay clearer? People had mentioned they dabbed BP on problem spots, but cortizone shots work pretty well and seem to recover the area they inject almost fully.

So yeah, some of this has been covered already, but I still think my questions are a little different than the norm, so if you can help me out please do!

Edit..forgot to add i'm taking 40 mg once a day

Hi, just wandering how did most of the people out there stop their accutane cources. If you were on a high dosage, lets say 60 mg/day, when you were through with your course did you just stop at once, or is it required that you slowly start lowering the dose and then stop after some time?

Thank you.

I'm on month 2 of accutane and i knbow i shouldn't have but i have squeezed one spot it has now all the skin over it has goen and i ham left with a massive red mark. there is no skin over it so it is hard to cover up. i'm going to my derm tommorow to get my tablets for month 3 but if she sees this mark she will think i've been squeezing all the time which i havnt how cna i make it go down????
Please help
thanks x

Today was the first day I could officially call my face clear (free of any blackhead or clogged pore).
I'm so happy!!
Acne on my face is over.
I have little scars, so the next fight will be the scars after the accutane is finished!
this shit works guys
Just posted for some inspiration for people who are about to give up.
My IB lasted forever and I thought it wouldn't ever go away B.T.W, like many of you guys are going through



but I got 1 spot on my shoulder

So ive been on accutane for 4 months and
no results

so my derm has put me on 500mg of cephalexin with the accutane just for 1 week 4 times a day idk.. is it too much medication? will i be okay taking on those two medications?


idk

Is it possible to somehow prove that Accutane is the cause for severe facial damage and depression?

My life feels pretty much over since taking Accutane for six and half months and it's disgraceful that I have to suffer 24/7 and the morons responsible for the disaster don't even know about it.

I read that the parents to a boy who took his own life by flying a helicopter into a building blamed Accutane for their son's death and filed a $70 million lawsuit against Roche.

I have this pimple that I got with my 1st IB on 20mg so prolly about 6 1/2 wks ago. It was the worst pimple/cyst ive ever had. Well it goes down, then skin grows back over it but when clear stuff in it....I pop the clear stuff out (since its inflamed) and viola....the same thing happens...skin grows and the clear stuff. I remember my esthetician telling me awhile ago i had one like this so she microdermabrasioned (lol) it off for me. I guess I need that again... but i cant do this while on accutane so is there anything else to do for it?

Just got my accutane bumped up from 30mg per day to 65mg per day.

I get dry skin and dry lips, with bright facial redness.


I know it won't 'double' the SEs exactly, but there's presumably a correlation between a much higher dose and the SEs?