314 replies to this topic

[natalia321]

Thanks zuzygue, I belive our doctors do know whats best for our skin. I am on my second week today and I think, aside from my minor breakout, that my redmarks have already decreased a bit. Oh, and if you ever do feel like you need to wear makeup again, you should really try bareminerals. It is the best makeup I've ever used and it looks and feels like you're wearing nothing! and its really good for your skin too! truly truly amazing...

[DaveM]

I think it would be a good idea to pin this mods as it is asked all the time. This is for people who want to know about 'generic' brands of accutane and if they are different. See the last question for a quick answer.

What is the difference between Roaccutane and Accutane?

Nothing. Both are made by Roche pharmaceuticals. Accutane is the name used inside the USA, and Roaccutane is the name used in the rest of the world.

What are the brand names of generic accutane (isotretinoin)?

Generic accutane is sold as:

Sotret
Isohexal
Oratane
Accure
Isotrex
Amnesteem
Claravis

and other names, the key is to look for the active ingredient 'Isotretinoin'.

This is confusing, why are there so many brand names?

Once 20 years have passed on a drug patent (Isotretinoin was patented in the early 80's) the patents expire. This happened to accutane and now lots of generic manufacturers want to make money from it. These brands are cheaper in order to compete with the original maker.

So what is the difference between accutane (or roaccutane) and generic brands?

All contain the active ingredient isotretinoin. All are subject to the same safety checks (as long as you buy them within the same country, different countries will have different rules, so don't buy it over the net). Theoretically they will have exactly the same effects on the body (the other ingredients do nothing except to contain the drug and break down to release it). The only real difference is that the generics are cheaper. You also may not be entitled to support from Roche if you need it, but this isn't really a big deal.

[GoSaints04]

Based on my own reading and opinions of two derms, I disagree that the brand name and generics will have the same effect on everyone. Both have told me their patients have been more prone to side effects when using a generic than the brand and urge using the brand whenever possible. Both have also told me that those on the generics are more likely to need a repeat course and if that happens, will only allow the patient to use the brand.

As I mentioned in another thread, one of these derms is widely recognized for her research and teaches at Tulane University's medical school. I have to give some creed to her opinions as she is so often consulted on this issue.

[DaveM]

It isn't possible though. I don't see how something with exactly the same ingredient, and exactly the same amount of that ingredient, could possibly have a different effect on someone.

[unluckyguy]

It isn't possible though. I don't see how something with exactly the same ingredient, and exactly the same amount of that ingredient, could possibly have a different effect on someone.

In theory they should not.

But I think some derms feel the generic companies do not have the expertise to produce a pill the way the original compony did. I also do not think the generic companies do any clinical studies of thier own, only trials done were by Roche and every thing is based of that.

They might manage to get the said amount of isotretinoin in the pill, but who knows if they could put it in such a way that it gets absorbed in the body at the same amount, uniform rate etc as the main drug does.

I personally would rather go with the generics since they are cheaper, but just thought I will post this as some of possible reasons why some derms still feel strongly that brand is better than generics...

[mitchman]

Hey

hope this clears things up

i went to my derm last month and i changed from roche to amnesteen, i asked what is differnet she said they have to use 70% the same ingredients and then the others can be different "fillers"

she siad it may cause a difference, but probably not but she will only prescribe amnesteen...

mitch

[DaveM]

Yeah, those are the inactive ingredients that break down to release the drug.

I don't know, I just very much doubt that there would be any real noticeable difference between generics and the real thing.

[cassadie]

My derm told me to go generic as they are the same and the “filler� may be different but the drug that matters the Isotretinoin is all the same and that is what matters. I do not know where she went to school, and I really don’t care what accreditations she may have and my pharmacist also told me that the generic is the same. I am not a doctor so I will continue to follow their advise and take the Claravis and save myself nearly $300 a month by getting the generic, I use other items that are generic including prescriptions and even the milk in my fridge.
Thanks for the great tips Gettingthere!

[GoSaints04]

Hey

hope this clears things up

i went to my derm last month and i changed from roche to amnesteen, i asked what is differnet she said they have to use 70% the same ingredients and then the others can be different "fillers"

she siad it may cause a difference, but probably not but she will only prescribe amnesteen...

mitch

If I understand your post, then that matches what the two derms have told me - if you must have a generic, get Amnesteem. I accidently got Claravis in month two and my doctor made sure this time he wrote it for Amnesteem.

[LadyLane]

My friend took the generic Claravis and her skin cleared up beautifully...six months later and i havent seen a pimple on her face

My cousin took Accutane and within a few months she began breaking out again..

Im not saying that the generics are better then the brand at all...im just saying that i think you can get the same results...i think it just depends on your particular skin...because all of the drugs do the same thing so it really doesnt matter which you choose or how much you spend...

[scarred4lyfe]

I'm taking sotret...at first I was scared that it might not have the same effect as accutane, because that was the generic kind...but I was told that it was the same thing...you can still possibly die...no I'm just playing...but their no difference..its just cheaper

[stantheman9]

id laugh if the generic was actually more effective than accutane.

[pokerpundit]

Generic brands don't do any advertizing, and they also don't give your doctors perks for prescribing their product. Drug companies track this stuff, and doctors can get free stuff, including family vacations, if they prescribe the name brands. Of course, why not prescribe them then? Insurance companies pay for it, right? Well, no, we all pay for it. And not everyone has great insurance.

On the bottom of your prescription form you will notice a "will accept substitutes" box (or something to that effect). If your MD isn't checking that box, they are intentionally trying to earn their "frequent flyer miles" with the drug company (not just from Roche, but from all drug companies).

And if your MD is still pretending that there is a difference based on anectdotal bull shit, they aren't the trained scientists you are paying to see, and I'd go see another doctor. Credentials don't make them care about your bottom line - quite the opposite I think.

[davidrules]

Generic brands don't do any advertizing, and they also don't give your doctors perks for prescribing their product.  Drug companies track this stuff, and doctors can get free stuff, including family vacations, if they prescribe the name brands.  Of course, why not prescribe them then?  Insurance companies pay for it, right?  Well, no, we all pay for it.  And not everyone has great insurance.

On the bottom of your prescription form you will notice a "will accept substitutes" box (or something to that effect).  If your MD isn't checking that box, they are intentionally trying to earn their "frequent flyer miles" with the drug company (not just from Roche, but from all drug companies).

And if your MD is still pretending that there is a difference based on anectdotal bull shit, they aren't the trained scientists you are paying to see, and I'd go see another doctor.  Credentials don't make them care about your bottom line - quite the opposite I think.

those "perks" you speak of are illegal. My bro is a drug rep for Merck Pharm. and I asked him about those. After GlaskoSmithKline (GSK) got sued big time for about...10 million dollars, every pharm company is on serious watch. Dr's prescribe what is necessary to make somone healthy, when you go and ask for "accutane" and get a prescription for "accutane" its not because of Roche paying them off. Next time you go see a Dr. ask for the generic brand of what you need. "Sotret" or any other shit, I'm sure she will be glad to write you the prescription for what you asked for.

[DipItLow]

Does anyone know if Shrimps are high in vitamin A and can affect you? I RARELy if EVER eat shrimps and Monday night I ate alot of them as im on the abs diet and my sister cooked some with steamed spinah and brocoli. Well the same nigh my head was hurting a bit. I didnt think much of it. Untill the nextday my god I felt bad so I went on with erands, post office, pick up my car from the shop blood test (accutane) and when I came home I felt horrible like I had the fever plus I was sore from working out the day before. I dont know if it was the shrimp but I took some Ibiprofin (sp?)lol anyways I feel alot better TODAY but I felt like total crap yesterday so weird how the body works.

[zuzyque]

I'm going to answer a question many people seem to have. I've been on accutane for about three months now and my daily dose is at 120mgs. My doctor originally wouldn't put me on accutane saying it wasn't "bad enough", and there's also the small factor that I'm a girl. Well I started taking lithium, which is perscribed for bi-polar, and I later found out it had a side effect of acne. I broke out really bad on my cheeks where I actually never had broken out before, which resulted in mayjor scaring. So my doctor put me on accutane. And I'll tell you what, my scars are totally fading away. I mean come on accutane makes your skin cells turn over, and that's what ultimatley gets rid of scarring. And some of you claim to become scared because of accutane, well if you were on it long enough, or if you went on it a second time, accutane would then go to work getting rid of those nasty scars. So for those of you who have been told by your doctors that accutane gets rid of scars, it does so just relax it'll happen.

[zuzyque]

oh and I guess I should let you all know, I didn't start at 120mgs, I started at 80mgs and just my last apt. I was upped(if you will) to 120mgs.

[zuzyque]

as with any top brand name, they advertise and make their packaging look nicer. Generics just don't do that, so it saves them money so they charge you less for their product. Which in turn saves you money. I had 3 or 4 brothers who went on accutane, at the time accutane was the only brand. They peeled really bad, their skin for the most part cleard up. I'm on ammnestine paying only ten dollars a month, where they were paying like two to three hundred a month, and personally I'm getting the same results if not better as my mom thinks. Origional or generic, you're gonna get great results.

[acne ruins my mojo]

hey i was on orotane anyone know the difference between that and arracutane????????????????????

[eric_in_va]

can I use a 3% BP cleanser while on a low dose? [ 20mg/day ] ??


I want to avoid the initial breakout, but fear its too LATE!