139 replies to this topic

[Hopeful*]

If you have to take two 40 mg pills a day, which is 80 mgs a day, Do you take them both togethor or do you take one in the morning & one in the evening? I did this before but it has been over a year ago. The last time I believe I took one in the morning & one in the evening. & Do you take it at the same time everyday? ... I think I did last time But for some reason I can't remember !

[Shannon S]

Hopeful*, on 16 November 2011 - 07:36 AM, said:

If you have to take two 40 mg pills a day, which is 80 mgs a day, Do you take them both togethor or do you take one in the morning & one in the evening? I did this before but it has been over a year ago. The last time I believe I took one in the morning & one in the evening. & Do you take it at the same time everyday? ... I think I did last time But for some reason I can't remember !

My doc say's it doesn't really matter, but I feel like it makes a difference by spacing them, especially with headaches! I also feel like it will stay in my system at a better rate, my doc says that each pill is effective for about 20 hours, so that way I have an equal distribution, and it's always in my body! But I think it's more personal preference

Edited by Shannon S, 16 November 2011 - 01:21 PM.

[matt f]

Good luck with your course.

[Hopeful*]

Shannon S, on 16 November 2011 - 01:16 PM, said:

Hopeful*, on 16 November 2011 - 07:36 AM, said:

If you have to take two 40 mg pills a day, which is 80 mgs a day, Do you take them both togethor or do you take one in the morning & one in the evening? I did this before but it has been over a year ago. The last time I believe I took one in the morning & one in the evening. & Do you take it at the same time everyday? ... I think I did last time But for some reason I can't remember !

My doc say's it doesn't really matter, but I feel like it makes a difference by spacing them, especially with headaches! I also feel like it will stay in my system at a better rate, my doc says that each pill is effective for about 20 hours, so that way I have an equal distribution, and it's always in my body! But I think it's more personal preference

Thank you Yeah the last time I was on accutane I took them spaced out .. One in the morning & one in the evening. I never knew if it mattered or made a difference.

[iwantprettyskin]

For whatever reason, I feel like taking 80 mg a day, one in the morning and one at night, has been easier on my body, in terms of side effects, than 60 mg and 40mg were. Now if my skin would finally clear up, I'd be feeling uber confident!

[ahasegawa]

Hopeful*, on 14 November 2011 - 04:13 PM, said:

I don't think we have a Chinatown but I believe we should have an Asian Market...

Check it out!! I am sure you can get lucky there

MelindaOne, on 14 November 2011 - 10:10 PM, said:

Oh, I love green tea too! Always buy it from different tea stores (Toronto), they are also loose leaf tea with all sorts of flavours (fruits, berries, etc). But thanks for idea about Chinatown, its right next to my area, will go there this week
Anyways, about alcohol.. I havent had for 3 months now or more (when started Accutane!). My derm told me not to drink alcohol and so I dont.. Have been reading it might be bad for your liver, so why to risk? Oh yes, just remembered I took 1 sip from my bfs ginger beer on his bday.. (I never drink beer, lol, but he said I can try as it was something strange..) So anyways, I got some stomach aches that evening and next day.. I actually dont believe it was related (as I only had 1 sip!!) but who knows.. I dont want to risk again.. So I am waiting when my Accutane course is done.. and then buying a glass (not bottle) of wine to celebrate

Oh boy, speaking of drinking ... check out my new log

iwantprettyskin, on 15 November 2011 - 02:25 PM, said:

I had 2 glasses of champagne Sunday night and then went in for a blood test Monday morning. Oops. My derm is probably going to fuss. Oddly enough I didn't even feel the champagne at all and I didn't get dehydrated.

Green tea has always upset my stomach. I wonder if the loose leaf tea y'all are referring to would be easier on my stomach. I love black tea and drink it, or Coke, whenever I need caffeine.

I would try the really good loose leaf green tea! It might make a difference

Hopeful*, on 16 November 2011 - 07:36 AM, said:

If you have to take two 40 mg pills a day, which is 80 mgs a day, Do you take them both togethor or do you take one in the morning & one in the evening? I did this before but it has been over a year ago. The last time I believe I took one in the morning & one in the evening. & Do you take it at the same time everyday? ... I think I did last time But for some reason I can't remember !

I take my pills once a day in the morning per my pharmacists instructions But everyone is different ^^

Shannon S, on 16 November 2011 - 01:16 PM, said:

Hopeful*, on 16 November 2011 - 07:36 AM, said:

If you have to take two 40 mg pills a day, which is 80 mgs a day, Do you take them both togethor or do you take one in the morning & one in the evening? I did this before but it has been over a year ago. The last time I believe I took one in the morning & one in the evening. & Do you take it at the same time everyday? ... I think I did last time But for some reason I can't remember !

My doc say's it doesn't really matter, but I feel like it makes a difference by spacing them, especially with headaches! I also feel like it will stay in my system at a better rate, my doc says that each pill is effective for about 20 hours, so that way I have an equal distribution, and it's always in my body! But I think it's more personal preference

I think its a personal preference. Like for me, I rather take them all at once- because knowing myself...ill probably forget the other pill if I get too busy haha

matt f, on 16 November 2011 - 02:07 PM, said:

Good luck with your course.

Thank You!!

iwantprettyskin, on 17 November 2011 - 11:35 PM, said:

For whatever reason, I feel like taking 80 mg a day, one in the morning and one at night, has been easier on my body, in terms of side effects, than 60 mg and 40mg were. Now if my skin would finally clear up, I'd be feeling uber confident!

Thats great!!! I am so glad that is working for you!! Keep it up!!!

Day 31


Wow!! Month One is COMPLETE! This is great! Only 4 more months to go! ^^

Ok sorry I have been neglecting this log....It has been really busy at work and then I went out of town with my husband for a couple days to get away.

And there is where my first confession starts. I went out with friends and we got drinks....ok slash that. We got a LOT of drinks. I drank way way too much. I really hope that won't have any problems at the end of this month when I get a blood test done. I am going to completely cut out drinks for a very long time...at least until next month but I wanna shoot for the end of my course. SIGHHH STUPID ASHLEY!

In other news...not much. I have scabs healing on my face and I am still using neosporin for that...
Also, when I do get my VERY TINY whiteheads pop up in the morning and I try to pop them it is SO PAINFUL! Something that usually would have been no problem now hurts like a *(*3;2'IE()@I!!!!! Anyone know how the accutane is causing this? Just curious....

Just continuing on.....Month 2 here I come!

[Hopeful*]

Well.. Your skin is much more sensitive. Not sure why it's causing it but you definitely shouldn't pop anything while you're on accutane!

[ahasegawa]

I know I should be good ! Its just sooo hard because the whiteheads gross me out so much T________T

Day 33

I have been sick for the past 3 days with what I am guessing is the flu I can barely get out of bed let alone go to work. I feel horrible that I have already missed 2 1/2 days. @@

But Im not going to stop taking the accutane. I can see no effects from the drug while sick other then the annoying dry lips so I will keep pushing through. Once I start feeling better I will post a picture of how far I am alone.

My forehead WAS completely clear but now I feel a very small pimple rising. Like one of those under the skin pimples....

Left side of my face is completely clear it just is healing the scars and leftovers of scabs.

right side is giving me issues (its always been the most stubborn part of my face for acne) i have a patch of small cysts which HURT SO BAD ! I can't even touch them! I never get cystic acne so this is weird...) Now I know slightly what people who suffer from cystic acne go through and I have a whole new respect for them. Other then that I have some other scabs healing....

Im in month 2 and Im hoping I start seeing big results. I feel like I haven't improved all that much lately....its just verrrrry slow

[ahasegawa]

Day 38


Welp Day 38 and I am still dragging through this 2nd month. My forehead was completely clear and smooth as a baby and guess what? Short lived much...I have about 3 non active pimples there. UHG!

My Jaw is still a mess as usual. This whole process is so up and down. One day my skin looks great and the next its just as bad as when I started I also am getting cystic pimples which is so irritating because I never got them before

I am trying to give my skin a break from makeup as much as possible but its so hard because I have to wear it for work.

I guess I'm feeling discouraged right now. Im trying to stay positive but my face looks like I'm sort of drug addict ....its embarrassing to go outside without makeup on when my face looks like this.....

[Shannon S]

Does your job require you to wear makeup? If so, that sucks! I just put on some powder to make the redness go away, but that's it. I hateeee wearing makeup with bad skin because i feel it makes it way worse, and it looks very obvious! Their are plenty of people at my work who have mild-moderate acne who don't wear any at all, and i'm like, good for you!

[ahasegawa]

Shannon S, on 26 November 2011 - 04:58 PM, said:

Does your job require you to wear makeup? If so, that sucks! I just put on some powder to make the redness go away, but that's it. I hateeee wearing makeup with bad skin because i feel it makes it way worse, and it looks very obvious! Their are plenty of people at my work who have mild-moderate acne who don't wear any at all, and i'm like, good for you!

Its not exactly -legal- to say that makeup is required but definetely there is a pressure to wear it. You are in front of the public every day and so makeup is almost considered like part of the uniform.

I dont mind as I like wearing makeup BUTTT I hate when I have dry scabs because you just cant cover up that stuff ! ;_;

[daredevil89]

Hi Ashley and friends! its been more than 5 weeks, almost 6.. Done with my exams HOORAY!! I cannot believe how i went through with those exams haha.. My face is a mess now but at least i have no more exams=)

The doctor dropped me down to from 30 mg to just 20mg of accutane a day because my breakouts did not settle down.. He wanted to put me on 40mg for month 2 initially. Which means i have to take the drug for an extended period of time!?!
My lips are becoming dry and wrinkled, face breaking out smaller pimples with stubborn cyst bumps on my jawline that are not going away arghhhhh accutane are u even working??? Its kinda stressful to wonder if it is working when it is the last resort lol..

Anyway I'm worried about permanent scarring.. (did not have much scars before i went on accutane but now the breakout is really bad)
What is the difference between the pimples bursting themselves or you popping them? It seems that either way may leave scars but accutane should help to heal them up right?

[ahasegawa]

daredevil89, on 29 November 2011 - 09:08 AM, said:

Hi Ashley and friends! its been more than 5 weeks, almost 6.. Done with my exams HOORAY!! I cannot believe how i went through with those exams haha.. My face is a mess now but at least i have no more exams=)

The doctor dropped me down to from 30 mg to just 20mg of accutane a day because my breakouts did not settle down.. He wanted to put me on 40mg for month 2 initially. Which means i have to take the drug for an extended period of time!?!
My lips are becoming dry and wrinkled, face breaking out smaller pimples with stubborn cyst bumps on my jawline that are not going away arghhhhh accutane are u even working??? Its kinda stressful to wonder if it is working when it is the last resort lol..

Anyway I'm worried about permanent scarring.. (did not have much scars before i went on accutane but now the breakout is really bad)
What is the difference between the pimples bursting themselves or you popping them? It seems that either way may leave scars but accutane should help to heal them up right?

Awww I am really sorry to hear that you got dropped But your doctor knows whats best for you and so you gotta have faith its all going to work out!! <3
My lips are the same, they are soooo dry! I have to keep up with them even MORE so now ten ever.

And as far as if accutane is working or not let me quote my dermatologist from last week

Me: My only symptom is my lips are SUPER dry
Dermatologist: Thats good. You know accutane is working its magic when your lips get really dry

See!!! So it is working and we just have to be patient (as hard as that is)

[hotburrito]

ahasegawa, on 30 November 2011 - 09:34 AM, said:

Me: My only symptom is my lips are SUPER dry
Dermatologist: Thats good. You know accutane is working its magic when your lips get really dry

*laughs* Oh god, I HOPE this is really true.

For the record, makeup is "implied" at my workplace too - I'm actually surprised I'm managing to get away with NOT wearing it considering a) how bad my acne is, and b) how image-conscious my company is. I told both my boss and supervisor that my face starts itching really terribly when I wear makeup and that my derma recommended I lay off it. Surprisingly, they were both pretty sympathetic and agreed that was probably for the best. So you never know?

[daredevil89]

ahasegawa, on 30 November 2011 - 09:34 AM, said:

daredevil89, on 29 November 2011 - 09:08 AM, said:

Hi Ashley and friends! its been more than 5 weeks, almost 6.. Done with my exams HOORAY!! I cannot believe how i went through with those exams haha.. My face is a mess now but at least i have no more exams=) The doctor dropped me down to from 30 mg to just 20mg of accutane a day because my breakouts did not settle down.. He wanted to put me on 40mg for month 2 initially. Which means i have to take the drug for an extended period of time!?! My lips are becoming dry and wrinkled, face breaking out smaller pimples with stubborn cyst bumps on my jawline that are not going away arghhhhh accutane are u even working??? Its kinda stressful to wonder if it is working when it is the last resort lol.. Anyway I'm worried about permanent scarring.. (did not have much scars before i went on accutane but now the breakout is really bad) What is the difference between the pimples bursting themselves or you popping them? It seems that either way may leave scars but accutane should help to heal them up right?

Awww I am really sorry to hear that you got dropped But your doctor knows whats best for you and so you gotta have faith its all going to work out!! <3 My lips are the same, they are soooo dry! I have to keep up with them even MORE so now ten ever. And as far as if accutane is working or not let me quote my dermatologist from last week Me: My only symptom is my lips are SUPER dry Dermatologist: Thats good. You know accutane is working its magic when your lips get really dry See!!! So it is working and we just have to be patient (as hard as that is)

Yea my lips are really dry haha but cant wait for my face condition to go on an upslope tho=)

[Gutterflower]

daredevil89, on 29 November 2011 - 09:08 AM, said:

The doctor dropped me down to from 30 mg to just 20mg of accutane a day because my breakouts did not settle down.. He wanted to put me on 40mg for month 2 initially. Which means i have to take the drug for an extended period of time!?!

I know it's frustrating to do it this way, but I'm on a low dose for longer period and it works just as well, just takes a little longer but with less side effects.

[ahasegawa]

Day 46

Ok so I dont know if my hormones are completely wacky at the moment or something but I am feeling REALLY discouraged at the moment. I am now on day 46..yeup almost to day 50 and I STILL am breaking out here and there. I get about one or two tiny tiny pin sized pimple once a day or every other day and its so frusturating. My face is covered in patches of healing scabs and god knows you can cover those up

I also am having the HARDEST time stopping myself from picking the scabs. they gross me out like no other and its so hard not to. Its really making this whole healing thing harder I think.

I really am just so sad that I wasnt one of those exceptional cases where all my skin cleared up by month one. Im becoming impatient and I have a huge fear I will be apart of that small percentage that isnt cured. Even the thought of that depresses me

[daredevil89]

hey dont be depressed!! i think its working for u since it is usually after accutane that ur skin will look its best not while we are on it. i took 10mg for a week in the past and it sucked during that week but afterwards it was super clear and smooth for 2 weeks..

For now i have seen 3 doctors and they said its normal for my face to breakout on accutane and my face is really bad at the moment. I thought they would tell me to stop but they were all confident that it will get better soon.

So ya just hang in there, hoping there is no problem with my body for my upcoming bloodtest..

Anyway my best friend died in an accident a week ago. He was the one that motivated me to take my exams and hangout with friends even though my acne was severe. Now he is in a better place and one day i will join him. For now, i will live strong regardless of bad acne or no acne.
Treasure the people around you.

"The Mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven." John Milton in Paradise Lost.

[Quiescence]

I'm so sorry for your loss. You're right you have to let this be a reminder that we are very lucky indeed to have familly and friends who love us, to live life to its fullest, and to remember that bad skin is not the end of the world.

My thoughts are with you and your friends.

[daredevil89]

Hey there happy 2012!!

Its week 11 and things are finally taking a turn for the better. A much smoother face with the occasional pimple but not as big or as many as it used to be. The bigger bumps are mainly below the jaw, the oilier part says my doctor. Mainly just leftover marks and scars.

School is starting next week so just gonna focus on studies and hope for the best. Hope u are doing well Ashley

Month 1 - 30mg
Month 2 - 20mg
Month 3 - 20mg