2997 replies to this topic

[FutureScarless]

I didn't read any of the replies to your thread, so I apologize if this has already been said, but please do yourself a favor and see a Naturopath. They will take most of the 'guess' work out for you. Google Naturopath (or better yet, Wiki Naturopath) if you don't know what I'm talking about. They will check your body thoroughly and put you on a plan into getting healthy through vitamins, supplements, herbal medicines etc. I wouldn't believe in going to a modern (synthetic) medicine doctor for your issues. They will most likely put you on drugs that will further mess your system up.

Edit // Okay, yeah, I read the whole thread and my suggestion to see a Naturopath still stands. And as for the Omega-3, as Lamarr said, it supposedly acts like Accutane in some ways. So basically, your body doesn't need it because it has already had enough! I've also read that Omega-3 holds Accutane in your body even longer. It has been quite awhile since you've stopped Accutane, so I wouldn't worry about that last part, but your body is obviously still out of whack from it. Take an Omega-6 (like Borage Oil, or Primrose Evening Oil might be better) instead.

Edited by FutureScarless, 16 May 2011 - 06:22 AM.

[iRyRy]

I'm also looking into bowel/liver cleasing.

It's a good idea.
I know to do it properly you should withdraw from bad foods (like milk, bread, sugar, alcohol) for about a week... But I'm not sure I can go a week without cakes and what-not.
If I knew you had to do it just the once, obviously I'd do it.

For now though, I think I'm doing my liver some good with the milk thistle and dandelion root extract. I ordered the supplement you said about... 'Calcium D-Glucarate', though I'm not sure it'll really work as surely within 5 years my body would've elminated the toxins... But we'll see. You started with it yet?

No, I can't find it in stores. I'll have to order it.

Some people say they have high vitamin A even years after Accutane, so perhaps some of it stays in your liver. Your liver does store excess vitamin A when it can. Maybe this is why some get the long term side effects, their liver absorbs it, for some reason it can't get rid of it fast enough so it just continues to be deactivated and reactivated through the process of glucuronidation and beta-glucoronidase.

I've noticed something. When I take a tablespoon of olive oil, the next few days are hell and it's like I'm reliving Accutane. My bones begin to ache more, hair falls out more, and my skin begins to shed like crazy. I think it's because, when you consume a good amount of fat you gallblader will release your bile which contains all the toxins into your bowels, and then some of it is excreted while some is reabsorbed causing the side effects to reoccur.

Interesting. Why would you take a tablespoon of olive oil? I've heard you can do that as part of a detox. I feel terrible at the moment

Well yeahs it's supposedly good for detox. But I suppose I need to detox a bit slower. Do you feel terrible because you took olive oil?

I'm doing a liver flush tomorrow.

I've never tried olive oil.. But I imagine it'd be the same for me.
I've heard some people, on another site, have some success with liver flushing and one mentioned it make all his symptoms come back for a while.. Maybe you have to go through hell before the good stuff. Having said that, I feel so low energy a lot of the time, I can't seem to help reaching for bad food.
When you do the liver flushing do you cut out all bad food (bread/milk/sugar/alcohol)?

http://curezone.com/...ldas_recipe.asp

It's a 2-day process. I'm not sure of its real effectiveness, but many people praise it. Basically, you fast for a bit, and clean out your bowels, then take olive oil which stimulates your gallbladder to excrete all its bile (which contains toxins from your liver), it enters your bowel, and you clean out your bowel once more. I've done another cleanse type thing called a salt flush which is much less invasive.

Here are my conditions as of now:

- Hairloss/thinning (includes eyebrows)
- Blurred vision
- Red/Dry eyes
- Very dry flaky skin
- Back/Joint/Muscle pains
- Osteoporosis
- Thickening of the skull
- Cranial pressure
- Brain fog
- Veins on eyelids and under eyes (weird)
- Lethargy, extreme fatigue
- Lowered Libido
- Genital pigmentation lightened
- Numbness feeling in genitals

[VanceAstro]

We do know that omega 3 and vitamin A are closely related in many ways and likely interact with each other

Before you start to give advices over the internet, first make sure to learn what is the difference between cod liver oil and EPA/DHA Omega-3. *moderator edit*

Edit // Okay, yeah, I read the whole thread and my suggestion to see a Naturopath still stands. And as for the Omega-3, as Lamarr said, it supposedly acts like Accutane in some ways. So basically, your body doesn't need it because it has already had enough! I've also read that Omega-3 holds Accutane in your body even longer.

*moderator edit* What are you talking about? Omega-3 like accutane? Omega-3 holds accutane? Where are you getting this from? No seriously, I didn't laughed that hard since ages

I repeat again: the only thing you should avoid while taking isotretinoin is Vitamin A rich cod liver oil which could cause hypervitaminosis A. It has nothing to do with EPA/DHA Omega-3 fish oil. EPA/DHA Omega-3 fish oil is even suggested while taking accutane because it can alleviate many isotretinoin-induced side effects [dry eyes, joint paints, increased cholesterol and more]. Fish oil supplementation is also able to produce durable reductions in fasting triglyceride levels despite ongoing treatment with antiretroviral therapy—a finding that is similar to those from studies of omega-3 fatty acid for the treatment of isotretinoin- and etretinate-induced hypertriglyceridemia".

Take an Omega-6 (like Borage Oil, or Primrose Evening Oil might be better) instead.

*moderator edit* Do you know that the intake of Omega-6 [N-6 PUFA] is linked with the developement of inflammatory bowel disease? Inflammatory bowel disease is also the most dangerous adverse effect linked with isotretinoin. Unlike Omega-6, Omega-3 intake can reduce the probability of inflammatory bowel disease by 77 percent. You can read about it HERE

I urge everyone to read studies i posted below, *moderator edit*

http://cid.oxfordjou...41/10/1498.full
http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/2954894
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/21395005
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/21157308
http://www.ehow.com/...s-accutane.html

[IndigoRush]

We do know that omega 3 and vitamin A are closely related in many ways and likely interact with each other

Before you start to give advices over the internet, first make sure to learn what is the difference between cod liver oil and EPA/DHA Omega-3. *moderator edit*

Edit // Okay, yeah, I read the whole thread and my suggestion to see a Naturopath still stands. And as for the Omega-3, as Lamarr said, it supposedly acts like Accutane in some ways. So basically, your body doesn't need it because it has already had enough! I've also read that Omega-3 holds Accutane in your body even longer.

*moderator edit* What are you talking about? Omega-3 like accutane? Omega-3 holds accutane? Where are you getting this from? No seriously, I didn't laughed that hard since ages

I repeat again: the only thing you should avoid while taking isotretinoin is Vitamin A rich cod liver oil which could cause hypervitaminosis A. It has nothing to do with EPA/DHA Omega-3 fish oil. EPA/DHA Omega-3 fish oil is even suggested while taking accutane because it can alleviate many isotretinoin-induced side effects [dry eyes, joint paints, increased cholesterol and more]. Fish oil supplementation is also able to produce durable reductions in fasting triglyceride levels despite ongoing treatment with antiretroviral therapy—a finding that is similar to those from studies of omega-3 fatty acid for the treatment of isotretinoin- and etretinate-induced hypertriglyceridemia".

Take an Omega-6 (like Borage Oil, or Primrose Evening Oil might be better) instead.

*moderator edit* Do you know that the intake of Omega-6 [N-6 PUFA] is linked with the developement of inflammatory bowel disease? Inflammatory bowel disease is also the most dangerous adverse effect linked with isotretinoin. Unlike Omega-6, Omega-3 intake can reduce the probability of inflammatory bowel disease by 77 percent. You can read about it HERE

I urge everyone to read studies i posted below, *moderator edit*

http://cid.oxfordjou...41/10/1498.full
http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/2954894
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/21395005
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/21157308
http://www.ehow.com/...s-accutane.html

I hate the fact that I can't get ONE answer, but due to the above studies it seems unlikely that Omega 3 could cause a problem.

As for FutureScarless, thanks for the comment and advise to see a Naturopath.. I know a little about them, so will consider seeing one soon. P.s did you take accutane? x

[lamarr1986]

We do know that omega 3 and vitamin A are closely related in many ways and likely interact with each other

Before you start to give advices over the internet, first make sure to learn what is the difference between cod liver oil and EPA/DHA Omega-3. *moderator edit*

Edit // Okay, yeah, I read the whole thread and my suggestion to see a Naturopath still stands. And as for the Omega-3, as Lamarr said, it supposedly acts like Accutane in some ways. So basically, your body doesn't need it because it has already had enough! I've also read that Omega-3 holds Accutane in your body even longer.

*moderator edit* What are you talking about? Omega-3 like accutane? Omega-3 holds accutane? Where are you getting this from? No seriously, I didn't laughed that hard since ages

I repeat again: the only thing you should avoid while taking isotretinoin is Vitamin A rich cod liver oil which could cause hypervitaminosis A. It has nothing to do with EPA/DHA Omega-3 fish oil. EPA/DHA Omega-3 fish oil is even suggested while taking accutane because it can alleviate many isotretinoin-induced side effects [dry eyes, joint paints, increased cholesterol and more]. Fish oil supplementation is also able to produce durable reductions in fasting triglyceride levels despite ongoing treatment with antiretroviral therapy—a finding that is similar to those from studies of omega-3 fatty acid for the treatment of isotretinoin- and etretinate-induced hypertriglyceridemia".

Take an Omega-6 (like Borage Oil, or Primrose Evening Oil might be better) instead.

*moderator edit* Do you know that the intake of Omega-6 [N-6 PUFA] is linked with the developement of inflammatory bowel disease? Inflammatory bowel disease is also the most dangerous adverse effect linked with isotretinoin. Unlike Omega-6, Omega-3 intake can reduce the probability of inflammatory bowel disease by 77 percent. You can read about it HERE

I urge everyone to read studies i posted below, *moderator edit*

http://cid.oxfordjou...41/10/1498.full
http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/2954894
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/21395005
http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/21157308
http://www.ehow.com/...s-accutane.html

Dude, Point to where I demonstrated ANY confusion in regards to the difference between omega 3 and cod live oil? I'm perfectly clear on their differences and have been for years.

The point you qouted was in relation to how the body processes vitamin A and how they interact, not once did I say you get vitamin A from omega 3 (although you do in some brands). Go and read more carefully this time.

Borage oil does NOT act like a normal Omega 6, you need to do more research.

Edited by lamarr1986, 16 May 2011 - 04:57 PM.

[lamarr1986]

P.s. this is why I don't hang around these boards anymore....I and others who have experienced side effects post tane have learn't how our bodies respond to particular supplements, I was advising you that MANY people in the same boat as 'us' experience a worsening or completely new side affects when taking omega 3's.

I took the shit 5 years ago so I know how my body reacts to many substances since I ingested it. Others have had over 20 years so you can either listen to studies based on the general population or take the advice of people who are in the same boat as you.

Knock yourselves out if you don't want to listen and there will always be people who think they know better.

[sanadai]

Sanadai, don't drop out of school over this stuff. I feel for you, given you have some side effects, but, given what you said, you should be able to function and proceed at school. You don't have severe lethargy, cognitive malfunction, depression, anxiety or crippling joint pain. I think you should see someone about the diminished vision, however.

I do have depression, and probably OCD as well. I started suffering from depression since September when my face broke out with cysts, people would ask me what happened to me and such. However i didnt snap until i started to lose hair, and ive been forcing myself to go to school everyday and its becoming unbearable. Trust me, i tried my best in doing what i can do

[VanceAstro]

Dude, Point to where I demonstrated ANY confusion in regards to the difference between omega 3 and cod live oil? I'm perfectly clear on their differences and have been for years.

You said that people shouldn't take "ANY" Omega-3 because they "interact" with 13-cis-retinoic acid. You didn't posted a single study or article that would support your claim, yet still you are advising people to stay away from Omega-3's. Most of the scientific studies, articles and personal experiences [including myself] show that docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid [found in fish oil] alleviate many side effects of isotretinoin [joint paints, increased cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia]. So now we have science vs "Lamarr" and his "feelings" about Omega-3. Honestly? Saying that you are confusing people would be an understatement.

The point you qouted was in relation to how the body processes vitamin A and how they interact, not once did I say you get vitamin A from omega 3 (although you do in some brands). Go and read more carefully this time.

I read it very carefully and the only interaction between "fish oil" and 13-cis-retinoic acid could be hypervitaminosis A caused by vitamin A rich cod liver oil taken together with retinoid. If you have some other "alternative" knowledge then feel free to link us your studies and articles.

Borage oil does NOT act like a normal Omega 6, you need to do more research.

I didn't wrote a single word on "Borage oil". I was referring to Omega-6 PUFA's that "Futurescareless" suggested. And it's funny, because If you had done at least 10% of the research I did [on 13-cis-retinoic acid and EPA/DHA] then you would simply hang your head in shame and instantly delete your every post in this topic.

I and others who have experienced side effects post tane have learn't how our bodies respond to particular supplements, I was advising you that MANY people in the same boat as 'us' experience a worsening or completely new side affects when taking omega 3's.

I didn't experienced "worsening" or "completely new side effects" when taking "OMEGA-3" [btw. nice generalisation here, I'm guessing you took every omega-3 supplement on the market]. In fact, it was quite the opposite. My symptoms got much better just by taking a little over 1 gram of EPA/DHA daily. So instead of speaking for "us", maybe try speak for yourself?

you can either listen to studies based on the general population or take the advice of people who are in the same boat as you.

Exactly. You can either listen to some random guy from the internet called "lamarr" or read the studies, articles and listen to other people personal experiences. No matter what you decide, please don't stop taking your Omega-3's [often suggested by your dermatologist] only because some ignorant is telling you to do so.

P.s. this is why I don't hang around these boards anymore

[lamarr1986]

Dude, Point to where I demonstrated ANY confusion in regards to the difference between omega 3 and cod live oil? I'm perfectly clear on their differences and have been for years.

You said that people shouldn't take "ANY" Omega-3 because they "interact" with 13-cis-retinoic acid. You didn't posted a single study or article that would support your claim, yet still you are advising people to stay away from Omega-3's. Most of the scientific studies, articles and personal experiences [including myself] show that docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid [found in fish oil] alleviate many side effects of isotretinoin [joint paints, increased cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia]. So now we have science vs "Lamarr" and his "feelings" about Omega-3. Honestly? Saying that you are confusing people would be an understatement.

The point you qouted was in relation to how the body processes vitamin A and how they interact, not once did I say you get vitamin A from omega 3 (although you do in some brands). Go and read more carefully this time.

I read it very carefully and the only interaction between "fish oil" and 13-cis-retinoic acid could be hypervitaminosis A caused by vitamin A rich cod liver oil taken together with retinoid. If you have some other "alternative" knowledge then feel free to link us your studies and articles.

Borage oil does NOT act like a normal Omega 6, you need to do more research.

I didn't wrote a single word on "Borage oil". I was referring to Omega-6 PUFA's that "Futurescareless" suggested. And it's funny, because If you had done at least 10% of the research I did [on 13-cis-retinoic acid and EPA/DHA] then you would simply hang your head in shame and instantly delete your every post in this topic.

I and others who have experienced side effects post tane have learn't how our bodies respond to particular supplements, I was advising you that MANY people in the same boat as 'us' experience a worsening or completely new side affects when taking omega 3's.

I didn't experienced "worsening" or "completely new side effects" when taking "OMEGA-3" [btw. nice generalisation here, I'm guessing you took every omega-3 supplement on the market]. In fact, it was quite the opposite. My symptoms got much better just by taking a little over 1 gram of EPA/DHA daily. So instead of speaking for "us", maybe try speak for yourself?

you can either listen to studies based on the general population or take the advice of people who are in the same boat as you.

Exactly. You can either listen to some random guy from the internet called "lamarr" or read the studies, articles and listen to other people personal experiences. No matter what you decide, please don't stop taking your Omega-3's [often suggested by your dermatologist] only because some ignorant is telling you to do so.

P.s. this is why I don't hang around these boards anymore

Your missing the point you completely, well done you OWNED me mate (if only you realised what your doing).

Bye bye.

[Max-]

Simple, just listen to what your body is telling you (not anyone else). If it works for you and makes you feel better, continue to take it. And if it makes you feel worst, come off it. Everyone is different. What works for Mikkael may not works for Heinrich, and may in fact causes Heinrich even more problems. And when that happens to Heinrich, who should he blame?

Edited by Max-, 18 May 2011 - 06:33 AM.

[Seattle JT]

P.s. this is why I don't hang around these boards anymore....I and others who have experienced side effects post tane have learn't how our bodies respond to particular supplements, I was advising you that MANY people in the same boat as 'us' experience a worsening or completely new side affects when taking omega 3's.

I took the shit 5 years ago so I know how my body reacts to many substances since I ingested it. Others have had over 20 years so you can either listen to studies based on the general population or take the advice of people who are in the same boat as you.

Knock yourselves out if you don't want to listen and there will always be people who think they know better.

I agree with Lamarr on this as Omega 3 supplementation was just making things worse for me. I know that you wanted scientific evidence to back that up, but unfortunately you will find very little scientific evidence on the post accutane side effects overall so I can't provide any. The dermatologist that gave me tane straight up denied that accutane could cause my flushing when i came back complaining about it despite the fact that six months prior I had never flushed in my life. Trust me man. If I didn't have to do all of my own research on trying to heal the damage that accutane caused I wouldn't. I would much prefer going to a doctor and getting a standard treatment, but there aren't any and the vast majority of doctors don't have any idea how to treat post accutane sufferers. If you strongly believe that it will help you then go ahead and give it a go. Who knows. Maybe your side effects are caused by a different reason than mine. I really can't say. I would just say to be careful and to stop if things get worse.

[Seattle JT]

Yo dude, I'm doing ok man, yourself?

L-carnitine I presume you mean? I try it every now and again because the science is there but long term it doesn't seem to do alot?

I'm taking 480 mg of GLA a day from borage oil. It seems to help my eye and dryness, but i've read it can take several months for full affects so i'm giving it longer this time! Dr Chu really advocates GLA.

No sides from the mepa, I'm on half the dose I used to be on, and no, no signs whatsoever of flushing. My main problems (now that I'm working full time) is cognitive function and my ocular rosacea, i'm going at both full on at the moment and seem to be making progress...

Meh I'm OK I guess haha. Still have the flushing and joint/muscle issues. Within the last year or so I have developed daily headaches too which sucks, but overall I'm surviving. Glad to hear that mepacrine is still working out for you. Do you plan on staying at that dose long term or continue to ween yourself off it?

I'm going to start either L-Car or GLA soon and I was just wondering what dosage you were using for L-Car when you take it? Also, what brand is that borage oil that you take?

Thanks again

[Max-]

Obviously the thread starter only hear what he wants to hear. So if he has decide what he wants to take or do then just let him be. It is his life and body anyway. Engaging in an arguement regarding someone else's life is a waste of time. And being angry during the confrontation make you look haggard because of the unnecessary stress involved.

[oli girl]

One of the reason for No OMEGA 3 is the fact that Omega-3 fats and other moulecules bind to Vitamin A receptors. Same as Vitamin D is also the most important partnership with Vit A and Omega's.
Retinoids, Vit A, Vit D, Thyroid hormones is in a group called the steroid family. This family is known for developing partnerships w/other hormones (such as growth hormones) They all bind to nuclear receptors, meaning they have acess to the nucleus, where they influence gene expression.

When you have either Vit A or Vit D it almost always does so in partnership with Vit A receptor, which binds vitamin A or the omega-3 fatty acid DHA. In the nucleus of the cell, it sits as judge and jury, deciding which genes are turned on and which are turned off. Vit D and its partners Vit A and DHA (omega 3) are conducting the orchestra.
(book written by James E. Dowd, M.D. from Mi Arthritis Institute)

So in a normal person who hasn't been damaged by accutane, receptors haven't been damaged or genes haven't been altered it would be okay, but for thoose like me it is not.

Numerous Post Accutane Suffers Do Not React Well to Omega 3's! I myself eat salmon and am okay, but other foods high in omega 3 make my symptoms worse, just like many Vit A enriched foods.

As for Omega 6 my Rhuem acutally told me that I could take either GLA (omega 6) in a high dose or a anti malaria, or mix of both.....High dose of GLA is very benifical in people with Rhuematoid Arthritis and has shown to decrease inflamation.

If you are looking for help we can try and give you the knowledge that from our research, studies and knowledge from our own experince. Not trying to be rude, but you come asking for help, If your taking Omega 3 right now and not doing any better, it won't hurt to stop!

I myself was on death's bed from accutane and acutally almost died (not from depression or suicide reasons either)...Thanks to other suffers including that of Lamarr I am in a much better place then almost 3 yrs ago!

Oh and thanks Lamarr on the tip for the supplement on memory! Will try you bet and having a teenager doesn't help with having lack memory she tends to get away with too much lol

[mitch UK]

I'm also looking into bowel/liver cleasing.

It's a good idea.
I know to do it properly you should withdraw from bad foods (like milk, bread, sugar, alcohol) for about a week... But I'm not sure I can go a week without cakes and what-not.
If I knew you had to do it just the once, obviously I'd do it.

For now though, I think I'm doing my liver some good with the milk thistle and dandelion root extract. I ordered the supplement you said about... 'Calcium D-Glucarate', though I'm not sure it'll really work as surely within 5 years my body would've elminated the toxins... But we'll see. You started with it yet?

No, I can't find it in stores. I'll have to order it.

Some people say they have high vitamin A even years after Accutane, so perhaps some of it stays in your liver. Your liver does store excess vitamin A when it can. Maybe this is why some get the long term side effects, their liver absorbs it, for some reason it can't get rid of it fast enough so it just continues to be deactivated and reactivated through the process of glucuronidation and beta-glucoronidase.

I've noticed something. When I take a tablespoon of olive oil, the next few days are hell and it's like I'm reliving Accutane. My bones begin to ache more, hair falls out more, and my skin begins to shed like crazy. I think it's because, when you consume a good amount of fat you gallblader will release your bile which contains all the toxins into your bowels, and then some of it is excreted while some is reabsorbed causing the side effects to reoccur.

Interesting. Why would you take a tablespoon of olive oil? I've heard you can do that as part of a detox. I feel terrible at the moment

Hi there i'm in UK but it was my son son whom recently was taking Isotretinoin. he has had lots of real bad side effects to the drug also.
Having just read about the drink with the cabbage , broccoli etc, which may not be as good as you think as dark green Veg has Vitamin A in them
My son is 17 and his life has changed dramatically ...
It Pi**es me off that they have the balls to tell us you can't prove its the drug.

Just wondered if you people have asked about or looked into Nerve damage or Chemical Neurotoxicity. check out the link below and read what we know to be the truth. It makes sense that it could be the brain that is the problem when the doctors cannot find any problems with bloods, MRI scans etc,...

the link was missing.. but you can find it on Neurotox.com A Dr Raymond Singer



Mitch UK

Edited by mitch UK, 28 May 2011 - 06:47 AM.

[Espinilla12]

Hi Indigo, Ganoderma lucidum extract may be something worth considering - it is a medicinal mushroom that is supposed to have incredible healing and detoxifcation abilities due to the high anti oxidant and glyconutrient content. Also, come over to the nutrition board - there are loads of very experienced and knowledgeable people there who don't generally hang around the medications section who would definately be able to help you.

I've just heard of ganoderma in the form of soap. Supposedly it will help fade away pigmentation. Have you used the soap or now anyone who has? Do you think it helps scars?

[Chico Esposito]

I have extremely severe sebborheic dermatitis of the face as a result of taking Accutane when i was 17 years old. The seb derm was so bad, that i didn't go out the house for years, it covered the entire length of my face and scalp in thick diffuse plaques similar to psoriasis. I have to use vaseline every night to stop my lips from cracking and bleeding. Likewise I've developed scarring of the face as a result of the skin condition. I'd suffer from very bad joint cracking and hair loss as well. All in all pretty brutal stuff.

Anyway i'm not here to scare people into not taking Accutane, i understand what happened to me was an extremely rare thing, although unfortunate it should not deter people from taking the drug. I am only here to help people suffering from the long term side effects of the drug. I've had this for 8 years now and as you can imagine i've tried everything under the sun to cure it. I'm getting better now, alot better infact and it's down to the things i'll share with you now. Bare in mind everyone is different, what works for one might not work for another, but there are certain things all people suffering from Accutane side effects have in common and can benefit from.

Firstly as i say, all these symptoms are based around retinoic acid (accutane) and it's effect in the body. Retinoic acid cannot be stored in the liver like normal vitamin A. It only works in the skin cells. All these people thinking Accutane is still stored in their livers are wrong, it's not. The reason in my mind why Accutane causes side effects is because it is a glucuronidated drug. Ie as it comes into the body, the liver binds the retinoic acid to glucuronic acid molecule which makes it more water soluble. The only problem is over time these glucurides build up and slow down bile flow, or bile acid transport to be precise. Just like anabolic steroid's Accutane causes a similar Liver toxicity. If your suffering from accutane side effects, check your stools....i know i sounds gross but how dark are your stools? if they are a light brown / clay colour you ain't got enough bile flow, chances are your bile has slowed to a snails pace.

Heres an analogy....imagine a bathtub, now look at the hole in the bottom of the tub, it's filled with clumps of hair, the taps are on full blast, eventually it's going to overflow right?

Well the hole is your bile flow (or lack thereof) and the water is the toxins that you accumulate from living ie processed food, air, shampoos, cleansers, soda's, trans fats.

First port of call is to clean up your diet, eat a high percentage raw food diet, organic fruits, vegetables, lots of green juices, spring water, small amounts of soaked nuts, natural personal care items, throw out your perfumes, cleansers, synthetic chemicals, if it's not natural don't put it in your body or on your body (everything you put on your skin is absorbed into the bloodstream in 15 minutes)

Now if you do have low bile acid transport as a result of Accutane toxicity their are certain things that help.....Firstly if you got very low bile flow you cant digest fat or fat soluble vitamins

1. Virgin Coconut oil - is a MCT, it's a medium chain fat.....which means it doesn't need pancreatic enzymes or bile to be absorbed. Without bile it's almost certain you wont absorb any fat so Coconut oil will be one of the few you can absorb very easily. Coconut cream, young coconuts, coconut meat anything coconut related it fine, as long as it's raw.

2. You wanna avoid eating lots of high retinol foods they'll make you more ill....ie milk, cheese, eggs, liver etc. Retinoic acid is a derivative of vitamin A (retinol), so taking large amounts exasperates hair loss, skin conditions, joint cracking, impotence, chellitis etc.

3. Drinking lots of alcohol is very bad for those with long term accutane side effects as retinoic acid react's with alcohol, especially those with liver problems related to accutane.

3. Organic raw food diet is the best tactic to bring about healing, as it stops the chemical load coming in which takes the strain off the liver, kidneys etc. Plus its just the natural way to live. You can eat some steamed chicked occasionally, but at least 70% of your food should be organic raw food, with some green juices, ginger, lemons etc

Accutane basically shuts down the bile acid transport in people with severe accutane side effects, joint cracking, hair loss, seb derm, psoriasis, impotence. All these side effects are caused by the accutane still being in your body, because once the bile has stopped, how is the retinoic acid going to be removed? it isn't? the bodys going to go into hibernation mode and it'll try and protect the organs by storing the accutane in the fat cells. A lack of bile means a lack of fat absorption hence inability to gain weight.

Thats my two cents.

[jmsil]

Hi Chico,

What you've said is interesting. I'm going to get some coconut oil, as I didn't know this differed from other fats in terms of digestion.

I have no reason not to believe that bile flow is adverseley effected during/after accutane. I'm not convinced though that this could be the only cause for accutane's side effects, as I think this is just too simple, as there are ways to increase bile flow through certain herbs (chinese herb coptis) and via liver flushing. So are you saying that by simply getting a good bile flow back, in simple terms, "accutane", or "retinoic acid" as you say, can be removed from our system?

I've been on another forum (via searching google) and someone posted something similar to what you have posted, about glucuronic acid binding with the retinoic acid. Maybe this was also you... maybe you could confirm this? The post said there's an enzyme called beta-glucosidase that will un-bind the two and thus reactivate Accutane causing a viscous cycle, and that there's a supplement called Calcium D-Glucarate that inhibits this process, thus allowing your body to eliminate more Accutane. Is this something you wrote on another froum (i pretty much have copied the exact wording, so you should know if this was you).

If this was you, why didn't you mention Calcium D-Glucarate in your post? Do you know if anyone has had any positive results using this supplement? I've briefly googled but can't find anything really.... maybe this is a relatively new theory therefor know ones really tried it????? Could it work?

Your thoughts on these would be good.

[IndigoRush]

Hi Chico,

What you've said is interesting. I'm going to get some coconut oil, as I didn't know this differed from other fats in terms of digestion.

I have no reason not to believe that bile flow is adverseley effected during/after accutane. I'm not convinced though that this could be the only cause for accutane's side effects, as I think this is just too simple, as there are ways to increase bile flow through certain herbs (chinese herb coptis) and via liver flushing. So are you saying that by simply getting a good bile flow back, in simple terms, "accutane", or "retinoic acid" as you say, can be removed from our system?

I've been on another forum (via searching google) and someone posted something similar to what you have posted, about glucuronic acid binding with the retinoic acid. Maybe this was also you... maybe you could confirm this? The post said there's an enzyme called beta-glucosidase that will un-bind the two and thus reactivate Accutane causing a viscous cycle, and that there's a supplement called Calcium D-Glucarate that inhibits this process, thus allowing your body to eliminate more Accutane. Is this something you wrote on another froum (i pretty much have copied the exact wording, so you should know if this was you).

If this was you, why didn't you mention Calcium D-Glucarate in your post? Do you know if anyone has had any positive results using this supplement? I've briefly googled but can't find anything really.... maybe this is a relatively new theory therefor know ones really tried it????? Could it work?

Your thoughts on these would be good.

Hey. Sorry to disappoint, but after being recommended Calcium D-Glucarate myself, I bought it and took consistently for 2 months. Nothing happened.
I'm currently trying some chinese herbs (Reishi, Ho Shou Wu and Cordyceps along with Astragalus). As soon as I have help to offer, I will write here.