22 replies to this topic

[SteveL]

It all depends on you and your physician. I've mentioned on other threads that I've spoken to doctors who will almost immediatley recommend accutane...and believe me, my ance is not bad (mild to fairly moderate - with very oily skin). My wife, on the other hand, has severe acne and those same physicians have said she does not have the right skin type, and was directed toward the usual antibiotic regimins.

I see your point about antibiotics being one of few oral treatments available. I have seen many people posting here love their results. I just think long term it's a bad idea and it can result in just as many side effects and have just as my risks, even pertaining to the liver, as accutane.

Let us not forget the option of hormone therapy. Birth control pills for women and Aldactone for both men and women.

Your wife's situation is the result of the laziness I'm referring to. The doctor would rather not deal with the iPledge guidelines so he goes the path of least resistance, patient be damned. The iPledge discriminates against women, making it very difficult for women in child-bearing years (an approx. 40-50 year span of a woman's life). It's assumed that all adult women are too stupid and too irresponsible to take birth control and refrain from getting pregnant while taking Accutane, so they are going out of their way to keep us all from a highly effective treatment that will be offered to a man without batting an eye. Even the blood tests mentioned in all the iPledge information focus soully on pregnancy tests. Obviously, a non-issue for a male.

I think some doctors put many of their patients through the various courses of antibiotics and topical treatments in order to prove the necessity for accutane. By jumping through the hoops, maybe the iPledge process won't be so difficult.....I'm not sure.

What I do know is that, if a patient is resistant to antibiotic treatment for acne, there is no point of taking it and all the risks and complications that come with it. IMO

I can completely see your point of view, and agree.

Many women are neglected treatment via Accutane routes because of laziness, but not all. Some simply don't have the right skin type. But yes, it is bit easier for men to get an Accutane script (of course, not in all cases).

Just as an aside: I do understand some doctor's concern. Both they, and I, have seen women continue to get pregnant on this drug, regardless of what they tell us they are doing. I have personally seen the devastating effects this drug can have on a fetus...babies 'born' (or not at all) with abrnomalities, flippers, etc. Truly awful. Of course being exposed to this many times would cause a hesitation in anybody's mind, even a physician's mind.

As sad as it is, a small population of women have ruined it for the rest...

Personally, if my wife is eventually cleared for a drug like this, I would just say wait it out. If both her or I needed sex that badly, that's why god gave men opposable thumbs and women vibrators, lol .Am I telling everyone no sex even though you're using two methods of birth control? No. But this is just what I would do. I've seen the reprecussions, and to see something like that first hand is quite scary.

[Susan1967]

As sad as it is, a small population of women have ruined it for the rest...

Exactly. ITA

Personally, if my wife is eventually cleared for a drug like this, I would just say wait it out. If both her or I needed sex that badly, that's why god gave men opposable thumbs and women vibrators, lol .Am I telling everyone no sex even though you're using two methods of birth control? No. But this is just what I would do. I've seen the reprecussions, and to see something like that first hand is quite scary.

LOL. A dildo can be a woman's second best friend. mmhmm

I know that women can and do get pregnant while taking birth control pills -- it is only 98% effective (thereabouts). While many of those cases are just nobody's fault, a lot of women are part to blame for not taking them correctly and not using back up methods, especially mid-cycle. Most women, like me, knowing they were taking a medicine that could cause severe birth defects, would be extra cautious throughout the treatment. But alas, common sense often does not run rampant among accutane users, if the threads on this board are any indication...

[SteveL]

But alas, common sense often does not run rampant among accutane users, if the threads on this board are any indication...

I know some of the users on this board are young...but...thank you. This had to be said.