11 replies to this topic

[Milly]

Been reading all your logs and as I sit here with Isotane (New Zealand name) prescription in hand I cannot bring myself to go to the pharmacy and get the pills.

I have moderate acne and at 33 I postively HATE my my skin. I am so fed up with crying about it and hiding if someone comes over unexpectedly and I have no make-up on. I long for clear skin.

BUT i am really scared about starting. I am so worried about the IB... when does it start and how long does it last? I have a family wedding in 4 weeks. I could quite likely be right in the middle of a face explosion - could I handle that? Oh the embarrassment of having photographs taken?!!!

Also how long is the course usually for moderate acne? 6 months?

Hopefully you can give me some positive feedback and help me make the right decision..........anxiously waiting

[ctb85]

The sooner you start, the sooner you'll be CLEAR!! I'm starting tomorrow, and I'm nervous too, but I would say I'm more excited. Yes, I know the IB is going to suck, and the treatment itself may not be so pleasant, but having clear skin will be worth it, right? At 33 years of age, I'm sure you're ready to be done with acne once and for all. Good luck! You have a whole community here that's pullin' for ya.

[Milly]

THANK YOU for the words of encouragement! You're right...at 33 I am sick of it. I want to have a few years of clear skin before I have to seriously start worrying about wrinkles!
My prescription is for 20mg daily for 1 month then 40mg daily for a month. Do you think the low dosage means I may not break out as bad in my first month?

[sasson]

THANK YOU for the words of encouragement! You're right...at 33 I am sick of it. I want to have a few years of clear skin before I have to seriously start worrying about wrinkles!
My prescription is for 20mg daily for 1 month then 40mg daily for a month. Do you think the low dosage means I may not break out as bad in my first month?

Hi, Milly! Your bravery for taking the step against acne is commended! =) Now it's time for you to unleash the sword! Heehe... Well, your worries are not uncommon, believe me. I was terrified, too, and most of everyone else on this message board.

But from your dosage (20mg), I personally wouldn't expect a terrible initial breakout. Plus, not everyone gets it and not everyone gets it at the same time; some break out the first month, some the third, etc. From what I've been reading, lower the dosage, lower the severity and even chance of "the" breakout. Also, the more moderate the acne, the more moderate the breakout. (This is, of course, just my humble opinion and inferences from everything I've been reading). So, hope this bit helps. Good luck!

P.S. Isn't your prescription going to expire if you don't get it filled within the 7-days limit?

[Milly]

THank you for your thoughts...valued and appreciated!

Here in NZ it seems we do it somewhat differently in regards to prescriptions.... I simply rock on up to the pharmacy to get my pills and take the bloodtest after and then another blood test 6 weeks later before I see my Dermatologist again.
I have heard everyone talking about Ipledge... what is this?

[sasson]

Luck you! Ugh...only if it were that simple. Well, it's a program to help prevent pregnancy in, of course, women on Accutane. The baby, exposed to isotretinoin, will have severe birth defects. So basically, ipledge requires that: 1) the patient use 2 forms of contraceptives. 2) Patient and doctor need to register and answer monthly questions. And 3) We get a bloodtest and pregnancy test done each month, before we're allowed to get our prescription filled (in a certain window of time).

[Milly]

I have read and understand the risks of getting pregnant whilst on the drug... infact I think it may be the same here (monthly blood tests) as I have 2 forms for blood tests. I don't feel my dermatologist has informed thoroughly in regards to getting pills, tests done etc.

I already have an 8 month son and hope to begin trying for another baby once I finish my course. Does anyone know how long before all traces of the drug has left your system and you CAN begin trying to get pregnant safely? Does tane affect fertility at all?

[Sotret99]

I have read and understand the risks of getting pregnant whilst on the drug... infact I think it may be the same here (monthly blood tests) as I have 2 forms for blood tests. I don't feel my dermatologist has informed thoroughly in regards to getting pills, tests done etc.

I already have an 8 month son and hope to begin trying for another baby once I finish my course. Does anyone know how long before all traces of the drug has left your system and you CAN begin trying to get pregnant safely? Does tane affect fertility at all?

Milly, I think it is nine days after you stop the drug is out of your system...However, I am no derm so really make sure that is correct before you try to get pregnant because it can caus severe birth defects. I just know that you cannot give blood for nine days after you stopped and then you can so seems to make sense. Anyways, have you started taking it yet??? Seriously, accutane is the best miracle drug ever. Dont be scared to do it. Its life changing. It may be a bumpy ride while you are on it, but it is life changing. I promise you will not regret it when it is over, and dont delay starting the treatment. Because once you start, you will kick yourself for delaying it. Every day you delay taking that first pill, is one day later you acne will be cured. So taking it now will get you clear skin in the fastest possible time. So do it. And yes, with lower doses you will have lower side effects, and possibly a lower IB. Dont be so scared of the IB that you dont take the drug. Its the last breakout you may have...ever for some people. Just take it in stride, knowing that once it fades out you may get a few more here and there for a little bit but thats it. Its the last time you have to go through it. But anyways, ya some derms seem to have different theories. Some start you off balls to the wall, 80mg or so a day. With that, the IB comes on fast and hard...as with all the side effects. Usually u feel them the first day with doses like that. But the theory is you get it all over with faster and in the end your skin clears up faster and then u can tone down the doses towards the end. Other derms, like what yours seems to be doing...pyramids the doses up. Which personally, I think is much better. You dont get as bad side effects, the IB is much less prominent and you can build up a tolerance before getting a hire dose. The thinking here tho is that you wont get as bad of an IB and the side effects wont hit you as hard, but it takes longer to start getting that clearer skin. Its a much less harsh way of getting the treatment. However, the end result is the same.....5-6 months you will have a clear face. Just take the pills everyday, try and forget about it, live ur life, and before you know it, youll be done! Hope I helped you some.....


By the way, just so you know Im taking a second course of accutane now. I took accutane when I was a teenager and it was amazing!....I had bad acne and it settled it completely. I didnt get another zit again for years! literally....about 4-5 years later i noticed i started breaking out again. Not nearly as bad as before....much more mild. But my derm says another round of accutane will ween it off again a few more years and then Ill prolly be grown out of it. During my first treatment.....I didnt get that bad of an IB at all. It seemed like my skin was just sorta staying the same for a couple weeks. You know usualy breakouts and all that, and then the dryness started to hit and i could just see my acne drying up and it just got less and less and that was it I got clear fast so that was my experience. I think some people who tend to break out a lot anyway who brake out while on accutane blame it on the IB, like the accutane caused it....when in reality it was going to happen anyway....the accutane just hasnt started working yet. It takes a while to work. So just remember that when you hear all these bad IB stories....its not always accutane....accutane is going to help you ....tremendously!....DOnt worry about that wedding in 4 weeks...start taking your accutane now!

[Lucky Charms]

I took 4 courses of Accutane with 2 kids inbetween. I wouldn't even start trying to get pregnant until 3 months after the course is over. Why risk it? Scary.

[Platinum007]

Milly, I think it is nine days after you stop the drug is out of your system...However, I am no derm so really make sure that is correct before you try to get pregnant because it can caus severe birth defects. I just know that you cannot give blood for nine days after you stopped and then you can so seems to make sense.

That's interesting. Here in the US they so no blood donations until 30 days post tane. They also want you to use two forms of contraception for 30 days after the last dose.

I guess I would wait at least a month before trying to get pg again.

[Unnamed]

I did 40mg's for 3 weeks, then 50mg's for 1 week, and all I can say is that I look slightly better than when I started. I had an initial breakout around 2 weeks, when my acne was at it's worst, and then it calmed down, and now I'm experiencing steady improvement.

I think most people will experience a breakout around week 2. After a month of accutane you might still get zits, but it definitly won't be worse then if you didn't take accutane at all. I think if you read a few logs, people might mention that they get new zits while on day <insert random day here>. But OVERALL, you'll keep looking better.

Just remember accutane means no alcohol, and you have to avoid bright sunlight as well!

And the course can take anywhere between 5 and 12 months, and you can't really predict how long it's gonna take. Usually it's 6 months, but don't hope for anything. Your derm might tell you the last day you need an extra 2 months of accutane... It's always a possible scenario.

[Nick9567]

I was on 20mg to start and my IB wasnt bad at ALL. Dont stress about it and to be honest within my first month i have actually noticed results of clearing. Go get that prescription filled right now. The minor side effects you MAY expirence are SO worth it because when you are done...CLEAR SKIN is the only memory you will have of accutane.