So, today I started Accutane. I've been waiting ten years for this...I can't believe it's finally here.

I'm 23, I live in New York City. I've been battling cystic acne since I was a teenager, and I've tried everything (like most of you). I'm in graduate school for International Affairs and I also work as a paralegal. I figured it was time I got my skin under control (okay, I decided that a looooong time ago, but now I have the opportunity) since I'm entering the professional world.

I'm going to try to update this everyday, for my own personal use. If anyone wants to follow on my journey, that would be awesome too. I have a little bit of an idea of what to expect....but not much.

What should I expect within the next few days? I'm really nervous as to how it will affect my productivity (I hear it makes you really tired?) what with grad school and full time work. Thoughts?

Cheers,

Catherine

 

Catherine first of all good luck with your treatment.

In the first few days I don't think you should notice too many side-effects. I only experienced my skin and lips drying out a bit, and maybe a few whiteheads (by day five). Also my acne started to calm down before I had my initial break, but hopefully your one of the few who are lucky enough not to get an initial breakout.

What dose are you starting on?

From what I've seen most people who work and/or study seem to be fine with it, but to be honest I have problems (University student). Though I used to have problems with sleeping and fatigue, so hopefully it's just a by-product of that and won't affect you.

My best bits of advice would be to look through other peoples logs, to see what they are/have experienced. I can give you a few links to some logs of people who have finished if you want.

Lastly what are you using for your lips? In the United States you guys have Aquaphor or bag balm. They are meant to be really good, but not available in my country, Australia.

I am on day 170 of my lower dosage course, so feel free to ask me anything. Also not judge your expected improvements of me, because I had a three month period on only 20mg/day, so effectively I am on day 80 of my accumulative dose. If you don't know about the accumulative dose I could give you a rough idea, until you next see your dermatologist and they can explain it better.

Again good luck,

Jamie

Good luck! I just started about 11 days ago, still haven't really seen many side effects, though I had a nosebleed this morning. I'm on 40mg/day.

Catherine first of all good luck with your treatment.

In the first few days I don't think you should notice too many side-effects. I only experienced my skin and lips drying out a bit, and maybe a few whiteheads (by day five). Also my acne started to calm down before I had my initial break, but hopefully your one of the few who are lucky enough not to get an initial breakout.

What dose are you starting on?

From what I've seen most people who work and/or study seem to be fine with it, but to be honest I have problems (University student). Though I used to have problems with sleeping and fatigue, so hopefully it's just a by-product of that and won't affect you.

My best bits of advice would be to look through other peoples logs, to see what they are/have experienced. I can give you a few links to some logs of people who have finished if you want.

Lastly what are you using for your lips? In the United States you guys have Aquaphor or bag balm. They are meant to be really good, but not available in my country, Australia.

I am on day 170 of my lower dosage course, so feel free to ask me anything. Also not judge your expected improvements of me, because I had a three month period on only 20mg/day, so effectively I am on day 80 of my accumulative dose. If you don't know about the accumulative dose I could give you a rough idea, until you next see your dermatologist and they can explain it better.

Again good luck,

Jamie

 

Hey guys, day 2!

I'm on 20mg/day for the first two weeks, and then I go up to 40mg/day until I go get my next blood work done. They're estimating that I'll need to be on accutane until March or April, which doesn't seem all that long at all.

Yesterday, I had two new whiteheads popup...today I had three, and I can feel two cysts forming. It's only day two..I don't want to say I'm discouraged. But, needless to say, it makes my super massive corporate job (can you read into my sarcasm, here? No? It was meant to be a sarcastic pretentious...not a real pretentious) a little awkward. Corporate work in Manhattan = looking perfect all the time. Anyway. Not even my point.

Yesterday, I started to get some back pains (stress related? Maybe) and my legs feel tighter than usual. I have found that if I am going to have any kind of reaction to a drug, it's going to be fairly immediate. (I had to take Izoniasid for TB profylaxis, and I found out I was allergic to it after like, a day. A mild allergy, but an allergy nonetheless. There are also certain antibiotics I can't take (which are in the line of antimalaria pills) because of negative reactions. I'm assuming that, while I shouldn't be allergic to Accutane, whatever side effects I'll have will come on fairly quickly.)

For my lips, I've stocked up on Aquaphor and Burt's Bees. To wash my face, in the morning I use a gentle cream cleanser and a little scrubby brush, and in the evening I use an antibacterial soap called Detol (I think that's the spelling), again with my scrubby brush.

I'm noticing that my skin is a bit more sensitive today, and definitely more red. I looked flushed all day; I guess it's just a constant embarrassment 😉

Also, the rest of my body is fairly dry and itchy. I'm not sure if that has to do with the Accutane, or the fact that it is getting so cold. I wasn't ready for the weather change.

As a final thought tonight, I'm on Amnesteem. And the little pictures of the X'd out pregnant woman on the blister packs really makes me giggle.

I'm trying to keep a positive and playful air about this.

Good luck Catherine

i had too back,knees and chest pains in the first week of my treatment

don't you keep a photojournal too?