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.

I got off accutane in september and my face has been clear ever since just left with some scars that are only visiable in light .....but i got a pimple and it stayed for a week or two and then it was gone and another pimple developed next to it i hope that my acne aren't coming back i am kind of worried ....i dont kno if i should go back on some other acne medicine even tho i am sick and tired of them coz i was on acctuane for 6 months should i be worried from 2 pimples?

So I took my 24th pill today and my body is extremely dry and itchy, pretty much everywhere you can think of. Everywhere. And just now, I was scratching my back and felt several big pimples that hurt. Before this, with the exception of small sweat pimples, I have never had more than one or two big (poppable) ones on my back. I am wondering if this is some kind of an initial breakout, or just because my skin is really dry which can sometimes break you out just as much as oily skin. I moisturize with Eucerin every morning and night but it really makes no difference. Before this, the skin on my back was extremely clear despite being dry. Whatever had been on my back prior to Accutane was gone in the first 2 weeks. What's going on here?!

Has anyone ever had under the skin pimples/cysts that have been there for years? Like I mean YEARS, where nothing ever brought them to the surface? I am just wondering if Accutane is going to purge those or is that something I am going to need to get a procedure like subcision done for? I was going to have Fraxel done but my dermatologist told me that it's better to get Fraxel when you've got a handle on acne, because of all the care that follows that type of laser. The underneath the skin bumps on the part of my face 3 inches from nose closer to my cheekbone, are really deep. Also, I don't know if they are large pores or icepick holes next to the bumps but that part of my face is what I am the most insecure about. When I catch my reflection in certain mirrors under bright lights, I cringe.

Has anyone dealt with this?

Hi everyone,

I'm one week into my course (just 20 mgs daily) and I'm already having IBS type problems; mostly gas and diarrhea. It's not painful, just uncomfortable. Is my body just adjusting to the medication? My doctor says I should continue if the symptoms are controlled by OTC meds. Did anyone else experience initial stomach problems?

Thank you!!!

I might have mono or strep throat and as some of you know I am on accutane. I am going to the doctor tomorrow to get checked, but I am worried when I tell him I am on accutane he might tell me to stop or something. Is it still okay to take accutane if I had either of these viruses?

Hi,

I have been on accutane (80mg daily) for 2 months now and I am noticing that my joint are extremely sore and stiff. I do high impact aerobic classes 3-5 times a week and I know that that is probably contributing to it alot - but I am not willing to give up being active. Has anyone had any sucess with any types of supplements that aid in this? A friend of mine suggested glucosamine - has anyone tried it?

-Sarah

I've been on accutane for about a month and a week now
With this being said, my face has not dried out one bit...
I have noticed other differences including a decrease in the amount of oil, its removed blackheads on my nose, and my nose and eyes are dry at times

I was just wondering if this is normal, because I hear all this talk about how your face is supposed to dryout immensly, yet I feel I should have met with this problem being over a month in???
ALso, I am continuing to break out as well...

i read that vitamin A should be avoided, so i will discontinue the use of my multivitamin. but are there any supplements that i could or should take while on accutane?

I'm writing for my boyfriend who has very severe cystic acne. His dermatologist told him that he was the worst case of cystic acne she'd ever seen and that Accutane is pretty much his only shot at clearing it up. His insurance has a $500 pay out after which he has to pay out of pocket. He's been on it for a month, with improvements, when he went to the pharmacy last night and was told that his prescription would be $464. Needless to say, he can't afford that. He is devastated. His nodules are very painful and can be embarrassing because they burst on his face and people sometimes notice the pus. Does anyone have any helpful suggestions? I feel terrible for him and don't know what to do to help.

Annie

hey all

complicated one this one.

I know a few will say i shouldnt even do this but am defo gonna do it, but would like some advice , so heres the story.........


in january 08 a seen my derm at hospital and he agreed to put me on tane, three months supply and a dosage of 20 mg. fairly quick in out type job at the derm "yeah we will give you 20mg see you in three months" that was about it really.Anyways i got home and started the course. 6 days later i woke in the midle of the night to find my skin burning terribly ( a severe side effect i had when a took tane at 15) the burning brought back all the pain and crap i went through the first time and a bottled out and stopped taking it the next day. quick appointent to the derm and he said " aw well 20 mg is as low as you can go .unlucky please drop the tane back into the hospital" anyway a never got round to handing it in as the hospital is 30 miles away and a figured if he cant be bothered with me im no doing him any favours.


anyway almost two year later things have changed, my long term girl split with me after 5 years and im coming up for finishing uni next year. and i was sat thinking how a cant be bothered living this life anymore , so after a trip to my gp i have another derm appointment mid december with the hope of trying to get on tane again.

so question time :

1. i have started taking my old prescription again (the one i didnt hand back in, stupid i know but i figured i could be two months in by the time of my appointment) anyways been on it 4 weeks now all i have suffered is dry lips, dry face and a couple of nose bleeds. no burning face so far although im a bit red happy days! first few weeks i could see my skin and hair drying up and thought yeah the stuffs still good cause i was thinking it might have expired and wouldnt work ( i have read that it only has a shelf life of 18 months but on the box that my tabs came in it says expiry 05 2010 so i think there still good). last few days or so my skin is oily again and my dry flakey skin has stopped, hairs bk to being greasy aswell. does that sound right?shouldnt i be getting drier each day?i also had a really bad breakout this last week. i mean really bad worst my skins been for a loooooong time? IB? anyway my question number 1 is this : how long is tane good for if kept in the correct enviroment? will this expiry date be correct?

Question 2...........

Whats the dangers of taking doxycyclone and tane at the same time? i have been thinking it might help with my IB if a take doxy? will it effect how much tane works at all?

Kind regards everyone

Hey I've been on accutane for about a month now and I started on 40mg a day I went back to my derm his pretty old and a bit out of it and he just said stay on the same dosage. He only has me on a 3 month course but my acne is still terrible at the moment and I'm wondering if this dose is to low for me I weight 82kg with 8% body fat so I'm pretty sure I should be on a higher dosage eventually and a longer course then 40mg for 3 months?

Just asking here a fair few people are in the know, Just to add only side effects I get at all are cracked lips.

Thanks in advance!

I have gone 25 years w/out a single cavity. I'm on my last week of accutane and have noticed some teeth sensitivity. Has anyone had problems with cavities from accutane or are teeth just more sensitive during the treatment? Should this go away when I'm done?

Granted, I ended up drinking a lot of red bull (like 1 a day) on accutane because I was so tired, but I'd be suprised if 3 months of that ruined my teeth that fast.

hey guys
so i'm still suffering from hair loss from accutane, i was wondering what you guys think of hairloss that occurs all over the body, including the eyebrows. does anyone have any advice? i also experience fatigue, sleepiness and other problems that seem to point to either anemia/iron deficiency or something else but i'm guessing it could be iron deficiency since i'm vegan? anyway, does anyone have any advice, ideas..etc on getting the hair to regrow? i would greatly appreciate it!
thanks everyone

Do you also feel like the Isotretinoin is having more effects right after you take it (20,30 mins)? I mean my skin gets drier at that time

Hi everyone. As a mother I was very reluctant to start my daughter on isotretinoin (aka Accutane, Claravis, etc). Over the course of several years we had tried oral antibiotics and topical antibiotic/retinoid combinations with limited results. I became more concerned about her being on long-term antibiotic therapy due to the increasing problem (in general) of resistance, and because she seemed to be becoming less and less responsive to the oral antibiotic treatment in general. Her acne was mild to moderate, mixed type with a few nodules and mostly inflammatory pustules. The worst areas were back and shoulders with moderate breakouts with occasional nodule on the facial T-zone and jawline. At a visit with the dermatologist earlier this year we decided to take the plunge and try isotretinoin. Dosages are administered based on weight. My daughter was put on a 40mg/day dose; one pill a day. As far as I can recall, her response to the medication was as follows:

After first 2 weeks: drying of the lips only

After first month: hair and skin much less oily; no change in lesions

After 2 months: fewer breakouts on back and shoulders; clearing of older, larger spots

After 3 months: fewer breakouts all over BUT lots of nodular breakouts. My theory is that the accutane was doing its job and purging the pores that were just waiting to be future bad nodules. I learned that accutane literally restructures the lining of the pores.

After 4 months: Only a few spots left. Back and shoulders virtually clear; face clear. Some superficial redness from old spots that dermatologist said could be treated with laser after 6 months.

Currently: Face is luminous, back and shoulders clear. Maybe one little pimple now and then, just like anyone with "clear" skin might have.

Side Effects: No major side effects. The only one she experienced was a rash on her arms (due to skin being overly dry) which the doctor treated with a topical cream. Was gone in a week. I have to say my dau. has a sensitive stomach but she never had any effect from the medication. No sleeplessness, no change in mood, no visual changes, just DRY LIPS.

Cost: Isotretinoin is now available in generic form. With insurance our cost was $75/month for meds and doctor visit.

Suggestions: If you decide you want to take the plunge and try this drug, just remember a few things.

1) Always take it with a food that has a fat or lipid. Isotretinoin is soluble (dissolves) in fat and that is how it gets into the bloodstream to work. If you don't take it with fat, you may as well be flushing it down the toilet, because you won't see results.

2) Always take the med consistently. Try to take it at the same time every day. Having a consistent level in your bloodstream helps it to work best.

3) Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Find what works best for you. By recommendation by derm, we used CeraVe.

3) Stay out of the sun. Do not sunbathe (even with tons of suncreen) while on this drug because your skin will BURN. Because cell turnover is happening at an increased rate, the skin is thinner and extremely susceptible to damage from ultraviolet rays.

4) Avoid alcohol. Your liver is already being asked to work hard by using this drug. Your liver hates alcohol.

5) Eat well. Try to get a few extra fruits and veggies in your diet. Your skin will love you back.

Hope this information is useful. Good luck to all.

What % of people with mild/moderate acne go through Accutane without getting a crazy breakout?

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

Hi Everyone.

I just really wanted a little advice.

I was on Roaccutane for 4 months which doesnt seem alot to like some of you guys but my acne has started returning already.

I finished my course in June , was clear for about 6 weeks,thats all and no i am stratimng to get them all under the skin again.

Im so upset.Has this happened to anyone else.

I am going to a private derm next week as i really didnt like my last one.Do you think he will put me on it again so soon as i am desperate for the acne not to come back as bad.

I am 9 half stone and had about 5000mg in total.Is this enough for me?Is this why the acne has returned so quickly.

God i am so depressed.6 weeks is nothing.I would have been happy with a year, but 6 weeks.

Is there anyone else out there that this has happened to ?xxx

I dont get why this is not a topic of a larger discussion.
I think the latest research on accutane is something that should be known by all interested in the drug.

Anyways, I am only a click away from begining a course of low dose accutane.
Somewhere between 2.5mg-10mg per day for up to 6 months.
I will probly begin with 1mg per day for the first month, judge results....
Then 2 mg per day for a month......judge results
5mg per day,etc until I notice improvement, upon which time I will remain at the current dose for the remainder of the 6 months, where upon I will begin to decrease the amount of accutane each month until results indicate otherwise.
A good measurement for me will be just at the point my lips begin to become dry and thats it....no more.
Ahhh, fun with science:)

Definitely a work in progress.
If I decide to go through with it.



Articles worthy of notice.



Low Dose, High Rates of Success

Ultra-low dose isotretinoin is all many acne patients need

San Francisco - Low and ultra-low doses of isotretinoin are an effective therapy for many acne patients. This safer and cheaper solution can even be used continuously.

Gerd Plewig, M.D., believes that the doses of isotretinoin typically used in the United States and Europe are far too high. For many patients, as little as 2.5 mg twice a week, which he describes as "a drop of rain on a dusty road" is adequate.

Dermatologists all over the world already are treating some patients continuously with low doses of isotretinoin, according to Dr. Plewig, director, dermatology and allergy clinic, Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich.

"When you talk to doctors in this country and other countries of the world, they use 10 mg twice a week or three times a week, which is a low or ultra-low dose. But nobody ever bothered to show and demonstrate that it works," he said. Thus, he and his team performed two clinical trials to assess its efficacy.

Study Spotlights Low Dosing In the first trial, 28 patients with acne conglobata and inflammatory acne took a low dose of isotretinoin: 20 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, or 0.5 mg/kg body weight daily for six months. In the second study, 11 acne patients took an ultra low dose of isotretinoin: 2.5 mg to 5 mg daily or 2.5 mg twice a week for six months. Both trials involved multiple endpoints, including clinical grading, lesion counts, counts of follicular filaments (believed to be precursors to lesions), bacterial colonization, patients' opinion of seborrhea levels, two objective measurements of sebum levels (Sebutape and Bentonite clay), qualitative assessment of sebum using high power, thin layer chromatography, and biopsies to assess size and configuration of sebaceous glands.

Trials Yield Significant Improvement Results of the first trial in which low doses of isotretinoin were used revealed significant improvements in all parameters tested. Numbers of follicular filaments, and lesions dropped, as did levels of bacteria and sebum. Sebaceous glands shrank, as well.

At the end of the second study, which investigated ultra-low doses of isotretinoin, efficacy was maintained on many of the parameters. There were significant reductions in numbers of active lesions and follicular filaments as well as objective measures of sebum levels. Patients' ratings of seborrhea improved, and levels of P. acnes on the skin diminished.

"The endpoint or the lowest point of a retinoid being effective for the treatment of seborrhea, persistent low grade acne, or maintenance therapy for patients with bad acne probably is around 2.5 mg or 2 mg, or maybe even 1.5 mg," Dr. Plewig said.

The best candidates for low and ultra-low doses isotretinoin therapy, Dr. Plewig said, include patients with severe acne who were controlled with higher doses and require a lower-dose maintenance therapy, individuals whose facial acne has persisted from adolescence into adulthood, and people with sebaceous gland hyperplasia. "Some patients come only because of their oiliness. ... For these patients, I think the low or ultra-low dose is very good, and it's cheap, too," he said.

Severe Patients Still Receive Low Doses Dr. Plewig keeps doses of isotretinoin relatively low in patients with severe acne. "I pretreat patients with severe inflammatory acne with systemic corticosteroids to begin with...about 1 mg/kg body weight for about seven to 14 days, taper it off, and then give an antibiotic, usually an erythromycin, a macrolide," he said. "And then I start with the isotretinoin [0.2 mg/kg to 0.4 mg/kg body weight]. It is so much better. We used to start immediately with isotretinoin or tried antibiotics, but often it takes too long, the patients are miserable, and it is so much better for them because you can have a faster final result, a better final result with cooling down the skin first, then adding your active treatment."

Continuous Use Offers Versatility A great benefit of using lower doses of isotretinoin is that it can be used continuously. There are other important advantages, as well. "In terms of pharmacoeconomics, it is cheaper to use lower doses, it is better tolerated by patients, has fewer side effects, fewer laboratory abnormalities, and of course the patients like it when they have continuous elegant treatment," Dr. Plewig said.

Despite the safer side-effect profile with low-dose isotretinoin, Dr. Plewig emphasized that, at any dose, the drug should still be considered teratogenic and be used with great caution in women of childbearing age.

http://www.dermatologytimes.com/dermatolog...il.jsp?id=65528

******
Changing dosing patterns Dosing patterns have become quite varied among dermatologists. While most still use the label guidance of 1 mg per kilogram per day for about five months, there is a growing acceptance of lower dosing regimens.

"The Europeans always used lower doses," says Dr. Plewig. "Even the 1 mg is too high. The usual dose (in Europe) is 0.5 or less; sometimes we use 0.2 mg. Although we sometimes treat for a longer period."

"I'm a strong believer that low -dose Accutane is the way to go," says Craig G. Burkhart, M.D., a clinical professor of dermatology at the Medical College of Ohio. "We use between 10 and 20 mg per day and that's all we use. I don't care if the guy is 350 pounds, the most he'll get is 20 mg a day."



However, there are concerns over the low dose method....
"Dr. Maddin has other concerns. "To me, the only problem in low dosing is that it increases the risk of pregnancy." He says that since the patient is on the drug for a longer period of time and duration, there is a greater likelihood that a breakdown in pregnancy prevention will occur. "

Thats it?!!!
Sheesh.


A relevant staement on the wonders of low dose accutane on rosacea:

"As for accutane side effects, my take is that these are only an issue
at standard dosages,(40-80mg) except that it is very clear that women must
never get pregnant on ANY dose of accutane. A leading rosacea
researcher even mentioned to me in a private communication that he
does not do usual blood work at low dosages, and indeed feels
long-term, low-dose accutane treatment is safer than long-term use of
systemic antibiotics. I plan to continue current regimen for at least
6 months, and possibly a year depending how it goes. There is
evidence that symptoms remain in remission after accutane is stopped.


Another low dose study:

Low dose accutane for Acne
Abstract below. I find the impact of low-dose accutane on the previous scarring very interesting.

Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 2003;23(2-3):41-6.
Low-dose schema of isotretinoin in acne vulgaris.
Mandekou-Lefaki I, Delli F, Teknetzis A, Euthimiadou R, KarakatsanisG.
In severe papulopustular and in nodulocystic/conglobate acne, oral isotretinoin is the treatment of choice. It is also required forpatients with moderate to severe acne, especially when acne scars start to occur A new therapeutic approach consists of a low-dose regimen of isotretinoin. We performed a comparative study of high-and low-dose schemas of isotretinoin per os for the treatment of acne. The purpose of this study was to assess the therapeutic effect and tolerability of low doses of isotretinoin in the treatment ofacne vulgaris and compare low-dose with high-dose regimens. Sixty-four patients (35 women and 29 men) with different types and grades of acne vulgaris were divided into two treatment groups of 32patients, in a trial that compared a low dose of 0.15-0.40 mg/kg perday with a high dose of 0.5-1.0 mg/kg per day. These regimens were analyzed with reference to clinical history of acne, baseline investigations, dose and response to isotretinoin, clinical and laboratory adverse effects, relapses and cost of therapy. The mean success rate of the low-dose schema was 69%. The total dose up to120 mg/kg should be followed for optimal results (success rate of91%) and avoidance of relapses. The low-dose schema produced fewer adverse effects and offered a very beneficial effect on pre-existings carring. Our results confirm the beneficial effect of the low-dose schema. We recommend a total dose > or = 120 mg/kg, as this therapeutic regimen of isotretinoin has proven to be the mostsuccessful in preventing relapses and scarring.


Continued.....

So I started Amnesteem about 10 days ago, 40mg per day. All the dryness and stuff I can live with. But every time I go to the gym now I feel pretty tired, light-headed, etc. This makes working out very frustrating and hard to accomplish. And on Saturday I finally heaved at the end of my workout. I drink 2 bottles of water at school and water during the workout. I am 17 and take the pill in the morning with breakfast. I was wondering what I could do to help this out. Will taking the pill after dinner instead of the morning be better (I workout right after school)? Or more water? Food? I don't think this classifies as the serious brain damage in the iPledge book as it only happens when I work out vigorously so if I didn't there wouldn't be any problems. But I am trying to beef up since I am only 135lbs and 6'0". I have not contacted my doctor yet but I want to get some feedback before I contact her, thanks!

Anyone out here who is on similar dosage pattern as me??

My derm prescribed me roaccutane last week -
20mg roaccutane to be taken for 1 week per month, over a period of 6 months..

Every since i started roaccutane, i realised that all my clogged pores seems to be developing whiteheads or developing into "potential"zits... may i ask if roaccutane causes purging? I've never had such bad clogged pores before! Getting real worried right now.. especially when i thought roaccutane is suppose to help control my breakouts..

need help.. I m developing a fever after taking roaccutane for 2 nights.. May I check if anyone have similar situation before? I m being prescribed with amoxyillin antibiotic for my fever.. Wonder if this anti biotic wld interfere with roaccutane.. Or should I stop
taking roaccutane? Pl help..