9 replies to this topic

[futurestars]

Hi i've had acne ever since I was 16, bad acne, cystic-- the bad kind. I'm 23, going on 24 in March 12.

I've used every topical cream. They do nothing for me, even tried proactive.

I've been on every every pill you can think of, amoxocilln, minocycline, doxycycline -- theres more.

Bactrim worked great for me for 1 year. So excited, found something that actually worked great for me. The doctor said my body was getting immune to the medicine and started putting me back on all the old medicine i've tried that didn't work?

Guys is my doctor a quack or what? I pay like 65 dollars a visit and have been going for 8+ years to the same doctor. Is she just milking me or what? Finally she told me last visit, that there is nothing more for me to try, and she cannot help me, and tried to refer me to another doctor in a different city.

Years ago my same doctor mentioned how she wishes she could put me on Acutane, but it was $100 a pill and I would require blood tests. She said it would be very expensive since I have no health insurance. So we couldn't do it.

What I want to know from you acne.com users, is .... is there an Acutane generic. I heard they have recently started making it. If so what do you think my prescription would be?

I have been so upset to switch doctors ... I mean I haven't been back to a doctor --- since my doctor broke up with me.

My face is scarred really bad, it is difficult to shave, and is only getting worse. I cannot kick this acne. I don't know what to do since I can't afford health insurance.

[dreamingofclearskin2011]

i dont recommend this but alot of people say that taking big amounts of vitamin A or vitamin B5 panthenic acid are very similar to accutane because it reduced the subem production more than like 70% meaning your pores wouldnt be producing all that excess sebum causing pimples. do some research on the forums about it. i wouldnt do this myself because there are inital breakouts and there are side effects that could possible happen like hair thinning.. ect but no worse then what would hapen on accutane.. if youre desperate enough i guess you could try those. good luck man! i hope you cear your acne soon! just dont give up. and search those vitamins you may be a good candidate for them.

[gia1]

I dont know if there is a generic accutane. Since you have tried alot of different things and cant afford accutane have you thought maybe the cause is internal. Did you ever consider maybe it is a food allergy. Alot of people on this site are allergic to gluten, dairy, caffeine etc... Some people have candida like me and that was the cause of my cystic acne. I started taking probiotics and other supplements that the candida diet recommends and i no longer get cysts. Just an FYI antibiotics can mess up the flora in your stomach (gut) which can lead to candida which in turn causes cystic acne. It didnt cost me alot of money and i just changed my eating habits. For most people if topicals or antibiotics dont work it is because it is internal mainly starting with your gut. Many doctors say if you have a leaky gut it can lead to cystic acne. Some people take zinc and swear by it and it has cleared their acne. There are many options out there for you but you have to do research.

[thrillpink]

100 dollar a pill? What the hell, I pay about 50 euros a month. Didn't know it was so expensive in the US.
But there are a lot of generic brands that make isotretinoin, but I don't know if they are much cheaper?

[jhonyguy04]

try buying online...

[Alexis Little]

Change dermatologists. I don't have insurance and my blood test visits cost less than your regular appointments... I pay roughly 400 a month for my Accutane. Still a lot but that isn't 100 a pill. Find someone who is a little more understanding about not having insurance and can work with you better.

Oh, and there is a generic Accutane. My pharmacist told me they don't even sell the name brand anymore (in America, idk where you are)

Edited by Alexis Little, 17 January 2012 - 11:25 PM.

[cvd]

Spend the money and see another dermatologist. There is always something new to try! Accutane can works wonders and is worth every penny. Think of it as an investment in your future. At the very least it will make your acne less bothersome. I think some dermatologists just want the easy cases...I know because I am one of the hard ones. I have an extremely resistant case. Hang in there and advocate for yourself. There are treatment regimes designed for resistant acne and I'm on one now...prescribed by one of the best derms in our area. There is no reason for a dermatologist to give up on you unless they are lazy...it is their problem not yours!

[melissa6980]

There is generic accutane, several forms of it actually. Claravis, Sotret, Amnesteen... They are not cheap but they are less expensive than brand name accutane. In fact, I thought at least in some places that the brand name was no longer for sale. I read on-line at yahoo answers that ehealthplus insurance which is about $20 a month helps pay half the cost of isotretinoan. So maybe look into that or other prescription drug plans and see if you could find something to help reduce the cost.

[liz90210]

I agree with Gia...you may have a food allergy. The usual triggers are dairy, gluten, sugar. For me personally, I was breaking out due to gluten (wheat, barley, rye). My skin is perfect now...it has never looked like this....and no doctor even suggested cutting gluten or food allergy issues. Many people get tested for food allergies.....with gluten, many peope test negative for a gluten allergy and really are allergic to gluten. The only way to really know is to cut outall gluten and see what happens. If this is your trigger you will notice within a week or two. I would give it 3 weeks to be sure. Accutane for many works amazingly well, but then the acne returns. If you have a food allergy it will return post accutane....it did for me. I also take supplements: A,E, D, zinc, bromelain (enzime in pineapple.) Many have success with probiotics too. Good luck. I never thought I would kick acne....I am in my 40's and have been dealing with this since my teen years. Hopefully I am saving you the same fate. Best of luck!

[MCaulier24]

I would try anything and everything before you use Accutane. A friend of mine tried it and he started losing his hair...it's nasty stuff. It sounds like an easy solution, but you will likely pay a price.