7 replies to this topic

[grenal1]

Hi, how’s everybody doing?

I’ve been reading the advice on this website and discussion board, it’s really useful and informative and I thank the administrators of this site for an awesome resource.

I’m a 15 year old lad (16 next month), living in London, UK.
Had acne since 12 years of age and since 13, I’ve used Dalacin-T roll on tropical antibiotic, oxytetracycline antibiotics, lymecycline antibiotics and Adaplin gel. My acne has gotten much worse and scarring is now beginning on my face. No medicine has made any significant affect and my dermatologist will now push me hard to start Roaccutane (Accutane) on August 8th.

I’m an athletic person and next year I have my GCSE exams, the General Certificates of Secondary Education – very important as they represent your hard work and intelligence since KG ffs! I’m aiming for A+ grades all round and if I experience any depression and don’t make the grades I can – I’ll kill myself from that alone! Jk!
Apparently the medicine will weaken muscle endurance and make strenuous exercise impossible – so that’s the weight-lifting regime in the gym out the window!

Anybody have any advice as to whether my concerns are well-founded in my situation or if I should proceed with Roaccutane and hope my studies aren’t affected.

Thank you very much!

[all4accutane]

Buck up soldier! First off think, is the acne I have affecting my life to the point where its a worry everday and preventing me from doing things that Id normally do? If its severely affecting you and your derms reccommending it, so go back to the derm and ask him how fast you can get on the tane. If it truly freaks you out that bad(it shouldnt), you could go on a long term low dose.. I personally think get your 5-6 month course on a decent dose done for the reward that lies at the end. The first time I went on tane I was 14-15? and I was on it for 7 months. I had severe acne before and it lowered it to mild\moderate if not better for awhile. It slowly regressed to me needing a second course now, but thats life!
Thats my unprofessional, experience induced advice over having acne since 12-13 myself taking accutane now for the 2nd time after dicking around for TOO long with topicals and oral antibiotics, BP, everything to realize Accutane is the best option! Every derm I went to mentioned it to me saying it would be a good option if I wanted to do it, but I opted out thinking something else would work for me... Finally gave up after years of acne frustration to get on the Tane at 20 years old for a second full course. Im on day 8 and wish I would've done it sooner!!!!!!!

[beautiful.life]

No, don't be scared of it! The side effects are nothing compared to what it can do for you. Depression and muscle fatigue as severe as you are thinking are very rare. The common side effects are dryness - of everything lol. Don't worry, you can still lift weights. And I doubt it will effect your grades either.

Just remember, it affects everyone differently, so just be prepared for anything - but don't freak yourself out about it. And good luck!

[Sara_1987]

I was also very scared of going on Accutane because of all the side effects I read about and some of the horror stories on here but I haven't had any bad side effects... just the suaul dry skin and lips but nothing bad besides that.

Don't worry about it too much. Just make sure you're monitored by your derm and you're having all the blood tests done and you'll be fine and have clear skin!

good luck

[ScoobyDoo]

I had some mild fatigue and some mild joint achiness...but I'm 39.

My derm said he had no reservations about prescribing tane to athletes. One of his patients was a pro football player and he took tane during football season, my dr said he had no problems.

[Ako]

go for it dont b scared!

[Noremac]

i'll tell you my story so far.

i'm a little over half way done with my course and the main thing i notice is that i'm incredibly depressed, more so than before i even went on accutane, with a face full of acne. most of it is clear now but i'm even more self-conscious then before for some reason. i can't even stand going out during the day now. i'm a vampire for shits sake i even cried the other night, and i'm a guy that just can't cry, even if my parents just got ran over, it's not really physically possible.

i don't mean to scare you, infact i probably shouldn't even post this. but this is just my personaly experience, and what the other guy said, the depression is very rare (i've actually been naturally depressed my whole life, went on pills for it and everything).

but beside all these, it is most definitely working, and i'm glad i went on it. it's a bit of a struggle but it's worth it, besides, the best things in life are achieved through suffering.

aside from the depression, i havn't had any other real side affects. oddly though my left and right pinky fingers smell like vomit all the time now.

weird.

[grenal1]

Wow, thank you everybody for the detailed responses!

I have read your comments and it does look like the extreme side effects are rare, however not as rare as with other medicines… People do stress that problems are much more common with this acne treatment than most others – hence it being one of the later resorts in treatment.

My acne has actually improved through the last week, a great deal actually as I've started a strict detox diet with homeopathic supplements, I'll see if the lifestyle change actually helps over a longer period or if the results only last a week or so!

If it does help, I'll post details so others can take advice.
I'll see what my dermo says about roaccutane tomorrow, it definitely does have a high success rate that's for sure.

Thanks.