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so the roller coaster that is accutane has taken me once again to a new low.
i had my 3rd appointment. which means this is now the start of my 4th month. only had bad news. I had 9, yes 9! cysts form all along my jawline which the doctor had to inject cortisone shots into (hurt like a bitch). the doc said normally he would have increased me from 40mg to 60mg but since i was having a pretty bad breakout he didn't want to until next month which now means i will need an extra month added to the course. what the actual fuck.2
i broke out of of no where. the doc says I'm a 'slow absorber' which fucking blows, nothing ever comes easy for me.
praying that by the end of this month things really start to take a turn for the better. trying not to give up hope, was pretty upset and frustrated by the news.
Hang in there man! You're on a relatively low dose for your body weight (I recall you saying you were the same weight as me) so maybe it will take a little longer for your skin to see the full results. I've been on 60 mg for about 6 weeks and after some really great clearing, my skin took a significant turn for the worse over the past two weeks. I'm now wearing hats to cover the four red zits on my forehead. I was so pissed!
Point is, given the difference in our doses, we may be at similar points (I'm in week 9 now, starting month three, and I've reached about 45 mg/kg body weight so far) medication-wise. I like to think this relapse is "acne's last stand." It will work for you, but I hear your frustrations. Just try to think of the progress you have made and don't let the recent flare up stop you from living your life. It's summer, so get out for a run or play frisbee or something. Get your mind off your skin. And realize that you will have clear skin soon, just in time for shitty winter weather (depending on where you live. I'm in Minneapolis so I kind of hate the fact that my skin will be looking nice just as everyone starts wearing parkas and bundling up under 18 layers of clothing. But I'll take it!)
Final note: my derm has a weird rule about being on 1 mg/kg body weight for at least 5 months, so I need to get to 80 mg (even though I weigh 70 kg) for 5 months, meaning I'm looking at a longer course also (7 months on a high dose for mild-moderate acne seems excessive). But I'm reminding myself that by the 5 month mark, my skin may be looking so good that I will want to stay on accutane as long as possible! Being on it is a pain, but don't let a longer course get you down. You may be craving more tane at the end.
thanks breakitoutnow, your words are encouraging. My doc says that 40mg is the average dose and he likes to keep patients on that for a while so they have less chances of side effects, and also less chance of having a really bad IB. His plan for me is to be on 40mg for a few months , than 60mg for a month, and finish with 80mg for a month. the extra month does indeed suck.
My biggest dilemma is that I can sometimes literally feel the accutane making me depressed and it sucks. I stay active and exercise everyday though to try and combat that.
By the way, for anyone wondering, I lift and run every day except for sunday and I take fish oil and so far I have not had excessive joint pain. So anyone who might be afraid to exercise because of the potential joint issues, just take fish oil and give it a try.
I hear you about the depression. I was a wreck this morning. My skin is probably at its worst point, certainly its worst point on Accutane. I pop everything (horrible habit. Although the one cyst I did get on Accutane I didn't pop and it left an equally large red mark so I'm not sure) and it has left me with pretty awful red marks and hyper pigmentation that don't appear to be going anywhere soon. Small whiteheads that would be gone by now are now scabby red messes. I looked in the mirror this morning and just wanted to cry my eyes out basically, or punch the mirror. Managed to go to work though and take on the day. Anyway, I don't really feel like the Accutane itself is making me depressed, only that when I go through these breakouts I feel much more depressed during them than I would a normal breakout pre-Accutane. I hated those too and was a mess then, but I do sort of feel like Accutane takes some of those dark feelings and makes them much stronger. Hang in there. You are halfway through your course, and I'm nearing the halfway mark for a 20-week course (and I like to think that at 20 weeks I will be looking good).
Glad to hear about the lack of joint pain. I run most everyday (4-8 miles usually) and I have noticed that running is tougher and my recovery takes longer, but it hasn't stopped me from running. Joint pains now and then but nothing TOO awful.
yeah I tend to run about 2-3 miles every other day and haven't had any major problems. Can't freaking wait to be done accutane. I'm hoping by the time the fall semester starts that I'm super cut from exercising and have perfect skin. I got about 7 weeks till school so anything is possible I suppose... Good luck to you! at least you know theres someone else out there going through the same exact thing
That's awesome that one can still workout!
I assumed from other posts that the joints and back hurt so much as if you've already done a hard workout.
Feeling hopeful
I think most people who are already active won't have trouble maintaining their fitness while one Accutane. I didn't experience any out of the ordinary aches and pains on my first course, and so far none on my second. And I run 34 times a week, swim four times, and do a long bike ride every weekend, plus lift weights 4x a week. So far, Accutane has not limited the quality of my work outs or my recoveries. You should be fine!
Acne continues to be clearing! all the spots I have have been on a steady fade since my last post. Don't wanna jinx it though! Please no more breakouts please no more break outs
might as well post since it's been about a week.
today marks 15 weeks on accutane. or 105 days.
Skin: my skin is definitely at it's best and has been progressively getting better each day, still more work to be done but not complaining. However, I do still get pimples every couple of days or so. I got a small cystic pimple on my left cheek about 5 days ago, it popped today finally and looks to be healing nicely, i expect it to be gone within a week. other than that cystic spot I only have had very minor white heads arise. The 9 cysts i broke out with about 3 weeks ago have almost all completely gone. I think i finally made it past the breakout phase. I won't be surprised if i continue to get a little something here and there but overall i anticipate my skin going on a steady incline from here on out.
my lips continue to be dryer than the sahara, my hair doesn't even need to be washed since there's no oil. I still feel and get tired very easily. My lower back has been aching. I still have spouts of random depression. Still glad I'm doing this though. Can't wait to have flawless skin. I don't think i will have scarring, but i think it's too early to tell.
Goodluck everyone else!
I feel as though my skin is at somewhat of a standstill. I get occasional pimples or tiny cysts but overall spots that I have are taking forever to fade it seems. It's like even though I don't have acne on my one cheek it's like a still have acne. anyone else know when these marks will subside?
also for side effects I've noticed that I'm generally pretty tired throughout the day still despite all the exercise that I do. Also more importantly, I've noticed my left eye is perfect but my right is is slightly blurry and I wonder if it's a side effect from the accutane or if i actually may just need glasses now considering my whole family wears glasses.
Are you using any lubricating drops in your eyes? Not the Visine-type stuff that deals with redness, but something like Systane or Refresh that just lubricate. I had some trouble with my eyes at first getting blurry and once I started lubricating, things evened out a bit.
Seems you're headed into the 3-month clearing stage. But I hear you on the marks. They can take forever, especially on Accutane, when skin is super sensitive.
Hope all continues to go well!
thanks dawgdaze.
So i have a few questions guys and gals. To be perfectly honest, I barely moisturize my skin, only like if i'm going to have a long shift at work do i dab my finger in the cetaphil and put on a little bit. I haven't really needed it somehow? don't get me wrong my skin will dry out but it won't like be flaky that often only sometimes. is this a bad thing?
also I have my next Derm appt coming up in a week. I think he intends on upping my dose from 40mg to 60mg but i'm afraid of a breakout, my skin is just finally starting to turn a corner in the past 2-3 weeks. is it likely to break out? should I just stay on 40mg for longer? I'm afraid of side effects.
last question. My eyesight, not night vision, general eyesight is going a bit bad. my left eye is more or less still fine, but my right eye is noticeably blurry, to the point that I know I need glasses. does this happen? also keep in mind though, my entire family wears glasses like literally everyone except me, perhaps it's just coincidence?
thoughts???
thanks dawgdaze.
So i have a few questions guys and gals. To be perfectly honest, I barely moisturize my skin, only like if i'm going to have a long shift at work do i dab my finger in the cetaphil and put on a little bit. I haven't really needed it somehow? don't get me wrong my skin will dry out but it won't like be flaky that often only sometimes. is this a bad thing?
also I have my next Derm appt coming up in a week. I think he intends on upping my dose from 40mg to 60mg but i'm afraid of a breakout, my skin is just finally starting to turn a corner in the past 2-3 weeks. is it likely to break out? should I just stay on 40mg for longer? I'm afraid of side effects.
last question. My eyesight, not night vision, general eyesight is going a bit bad. my left eye is more or less still fine, but my right eye is noticeably blurry, to the point that I know I need glasses. does this happen? also keep in mind though, my entire family wears glasses like literally everyone except me, perhaps it's just coincidence?
thoughts???
I think how much you moisturize is completely up to you. If you're not uncomfortable, then no need to go overboard. But my skin is so tight and delicate, the moisture feels good.
I'm in the same position with the 40mg/60mg. My skin has been doing so well for the past 10 days, that I kind of dread the boost to 60mg. But maybe, if we're responding well to 40mg, there won't be a need to up our doses? If my skin remains this good on 40mg, I'd rather stay at this dose and go longer, than up it and deal with an IB, even though there is no solid evidence that an up in dose will cause one.
As for eyesight, I think your eye doc is going to be the best person to touch base with on this issue.
I do think it's safe to say, though, that most of the Accutane side effects go away once you get off the drug.
Hey All, I think it's time for an update
My skin continues to improve. In the past week I have popped one teeny weeny pimple on my forehead and I have popped a cystic pimple that had been taking forever to go away on my cheek but was finally poppable (small)
I now have litrerally no active acne and besides those 2 marks haven't had any in a few weeks. I'm patiently waiting for marks to fade, they seem to make very little progress per day.
I have my derm appt on thursday, still debating whether or not to have my dosage upped or not. on one head i want to get off this freaking medicine, on the other hand I do not want increased side affects.
experience a lot of lower back pain after post work out days now, nothing unbearable though. still tired throughout the day. and my skin is fragile to the point when I scratch it i accidentally rip open my skin so now i have these 'cuts' all over my body, especially my ankles and thighs.
Good luck to you guys! over and out.
Update!!
sup all.
had my appt today. Derm was very pleased compared to last month he said my skin is 90% clear! woooo. he left it up to me if I wanted to up my dosage to 60mg. I said i would give it a try since the more accutane i get the less chance of relapse I have. he also said that this 5th month can by my final month if I want it to be. so it's up to me to have a 6th month or not. I currently have one tiny active on my jawline but other than that my skin is completely clear, just waiting for marks to fade away.
so here's to my potential final month! wish me luck. hopefully i won't break out at all going to 60mg
just a quick update.
Skins looking soooo good. I have like 2 marks that I'm patiently waiting to fade and once they do my skin will literally be perfect. it's been a hell of a ride but so worth it. so anyone keeping up with my posts, remember accutanes a bitch but it will be worth it in the end. I still have a few weeks to go. this higher dose definitely sucks. but I can deal for a few weeks.
hey guys,
its been a while since i've posted. mainly stopped cause i stopped getting replies for the most part. On saturday I will be done accutane completely. it's been a journey but I am so glad it's over. Would i do it again? yes. it has absolutely been worth it. were there some pretty bad side effects? yes, but no pain, no gain as they say.
my skin is completely clear of pimples. I'm hoping my overall skin tone will be evened out when I come off the medication and I am excited to see how my skin progresses in the months to come. I am definitely more confidant and feel that I look way different with clear skin. I don't believe i have any scarring, maybe a tad but nothing serious plus I'm a guy so if I do it could work for me. I can't wait to have normal lips back, not have back pain, and not be tired all day long. I can't believe it's been 6 months already, time truly flies.
to anyone on the fence about accutane , do it if you worry about your acne everyday like I used to. Getting a pimple isn't even something that crosses my mind anymore. I will be celebrating by having a few well earned drinks with friends since I haven't been able to drink this whole time!
for those curious I was on a 5 month course that turned into 6 months. 20mg first, 40mg 2nd 3rd 4th, 60mg 5th and 6th.
Goodluck to all still on their journey!
Wonderful! It's great to see that there are several folks on this board who are coming into the home stretch of their treatment. I wish you luck post Accutane. Everything will go right back to normal except for the breakouts 
Check back in to let us know how things are going.
hey guys,
its been a while since i've posted. mainly stopped cause i stopped getting replies for the most part. On saturday I will be done accutane completely. it's been a journey but I am so glad it's over. Would i do it again? yes. it has absolutely been worth it. were there some pretty bad side effects? yes, but no pain, no gain as they say.
my skin is completely clear of pimples. I'm hoping my overall skin tone will be evened out when I come off the medication and I am excited to see how my skin progresses in the months to come. I am definitely more confidant and feel that I look way different with clear skin. I don't believe i have any scarring, maybe a tad but nothing serious plus I'm a guy so if I do it could work for me. I can't wait to have normal lips back, not have back pain, and not be tired all day long. I can't believe it's been 6 months already, time truly flies.
to anyone on the fence about accutane , do it if you worry about your acne everyday like I used to. Getting a pimple isn't even something that crosses my mind anymore. I will be celebrating by having a few well earned drinks with friends since I haven't been able to drink this whole time!
for those curious I was on a 5 month course that turned into 6 months. 20mg first, 40mg 2nd 3rd 4th, 60mg 5th and 6th.
Goodluck to all still on their journey!
Wonderfully said! Good luck to you!!