12 replies to this topic

[Brownilocks]

Just wondering, cause I'm starting my first ever round at age 29 and my doc said she has never seem it happen, but I find it hard to believe after reading the posts on here.

I've seen where starting on a higher dose makes it less likely to happen and getting to an even higher does during the course of treatment makes it less likely to relapse, also. Seems the magic numbers tend to be about 120-150mg/day, but per the guidelines I can't take anymore than 100mg/day max since I only weigh 110 pounds (5'6" female too if it makes any difference).

Doc just started me out and I'm taking 60mg a day, so a bit more than the 1mg/kg dosage that seems to be the norm, but I'm okay with that if I'm looking at major, long term improvement.

So how many have relapsed?
Did anything "trigger" a relapse so to speak?
(I want to have kids in the next year after getting done with this and hope it doesn't get my hormones all out of whack again...)
Were you on a high or low dose the first time around?

Thanks, just looking for a little reassurance that this is likely to work out like it is purported to!

[Livetoregret]

I wanted to have kids the year after taking accutane...my periods stopped after accutane, my hairs falling out, my skin is irreversibly damaged and my life is ruined, Im losing my mind from it all. wish I'd tried anything but going on this drug. Pls think long & hard before taking the leap of blind faith.

[Brownilocks]

That's horrible! I'm sorry it didn't work out for you, but I do have several friends who took the drug for severe acne and 10-12 years later still have no side effects and rarely ever get a pimple. I guess it all depends on the individual. For me, I have no choice, as I have acne conglobata and accutane and is the only treatment to stop it from getting worse and causing massive scarring. Trust me, I gave EVERYTHING an ample chance before resorting to this and resisted it for years. I decided to get opinions from 3 dermatologist practices before agreeing to take the drug and have asked all of them multiple questions and documented their answers and they all agree that I have to take this or get even worse and that the side effects shouldn't be as bad as the problems I'll see if I don't take the drug. I'm in too much pain and too likely to be disfigured by my acne not to take accutane...

[spidermanforever]

After my first course, my accutane returned full blow with cysts and everything 8months later....now i'm on my second course i hope this puts an end to my acne misery

[Hadis07]

I'm starting my second course tomorrow, 40 mg a day , my derm said that 30% of people that finish the first may have to do a second round. After the first it will rarely go back to the original amount but make sure you develop a good skincare system after you are done your course.

[spidermanforever]

I'm starting my second course tomorrow, 40 mg a day , my derm said that 30% of people that finish the first may have to do a second round. After the first it will rarely go back to the original amount but make sure you develop a good skincare system after you are done your course.

yeah good advise i remember after my first course i started using a facial scrub which i think was very rough for my skin and i also did not moisturise every day....

[Brownilocks]

Thanks Hadis07! I was kinda wondering about the odds/statistics of it. how high of a dosage did you do/get up to the first time around for those on their 2nd course?

[Hadis07]

i started with 20 and finished with 60, I only took it for 5 months because my skin had cleared up dramatically. Keep in mind this was three years ago, and my acne came back beginning of this year, tomorrow I'm starting with 40 and by the end of it probably finish with 60 since I weight only 115 lb.

But be positive, I feel like I'm one of those that beats the odds when it comes to these things

Edited by Hadis07, 04 December 2012 - 08:15 PM.

[pinkandlilac]

I find it very hard to believe a Dermatologist has never known of a patient having a 2nd course of roaccutane, unless she didn't want to scare you. Was she an actual Dermatologist or a general Doctor?

I'm currently on my 2nd course. I took roaccutane for 8 months (60mg) when I was 19 and then from about 24 started getting mild acne again, usually around my period, nothing that bothersome but then at 29 it turned into full blown cystic acne - I personally believe it was triggered by emotional trauma.

I've been back on it since January,starting at 20mg and working up to 60mg. My skin has been completely clear since August but my Dermatologist wants me to complete a year course to lower the risk of the acne returning, especially as it's my 2nd time. He says some patients will just stop taking the drug as soon as their skin is clear but that's not the best way to do it.

In the 10 years gap I've found that roaccutane now has far stricter guidelines (in the NHS anyway). I've had to sign two consent forms, take the pill alongside the roaccutane and report to the hospital every month for a blood test and pregnancy test. The 1st time around, once I was prescribed it I only returned twice in 8 months.

Also, during both courses I've never had any side effects apart from the dry lips thing.

Good luck

[spidermanforever]

I find it very hard to believe a Dermatologist has never known of a patient having a 2nd course of roaccutane, unless she didn't want to scare you. Was she an actual Dermatologist or a general Doctor?

I'm currently on my 2nd course. I took roaccutane for 8 months (60mg) when I was 19 and then from about 24 started getting mild acne again, usually around my period, nothing that bothersome but then at 29 it turned into full blown cystic acne - I personally believe it was triggered by emotional trauma.

I've been back on it since January,starting at 20mg and working up to 60mg. My skin has been completely clear since August but my Dermatologist wants me to complete a year course to lower the risk of the acne returning, especially as it's my 2nd time. He says some patients will just stop taking the drug as soon as their skin is clear but that's not the best way to do it.

In the 10 years gap I've found that roaccutane now has far stricter guidelines (in the NHS anyway). I've had to sign two consent forms, take the pill alongside the roaccutane and report to the hospital every month for a blood test and pregnancy test. The 1st time around, once I was prescribed it I only returned twice in 8 months.

Also, during both courses I've never had any side effects apart from the dry lips thing.

Good luck

wow your lucky with respect to your s/e. this is my 2nd round too and ive experienced so many cuts on my hands and 2 ingrown toenails!!

[sh1234]

its been a year and some i think since i ended it and my acne came back, not as bad but still bothersome.
sometimes its to the point where i truly want to go back on accutane again, but other days my skins pretty clear and i am convinced i dont need accutane again. i have truly been struggling for months now to make up my mind if i would want to go back on it or not and my skin is just so back and forth i dont know what to do, is a second course really that worth it or will it just end up the same as the first one and acne will come back?? ugh what to do...

[Sasch83]

I am currently on my 3rd round of accutane and as you can guess, i relapsed after 2 years on each of my courses. If you want to have kids, give it at least a year and a half after your last pill. No one can sayfor sure what pregnancy will do for your acne - yo'll just have to wait and see

Good Luck

[CWR24]

I took 70mg for 5 months and my acne came back worse than before.