Has anyone found a way to cure lethargy/chronic fatigue, etc. caused by the drug?

 

Sorry, I don't know but I just finished a consultation with a specialist who told me that I should not be avoiding vitamin A in food like i've been doing for years. He said that isotretinoin actually makes people deficient in vitamin A. This probably explains why taking vitamin D makes me feel so much worse, specifically creating chronic inflammation. Has anyone here tried taking vitamin A in the form of retinyl palmitate at a dose of 25,000iu per day? This is the dose that he recommended i take. I'm still a little cautious, but i'm willing to give it a try if someone here has taken it before and felt better.

 

 

Did he mention how he came to this conclusion? It is my understanding, that some Isotretionoin side effects resemble the side effects of Vitamin A deficiency e.g. night blindness. But that does not necessarily mean, that you are deficient in Vitamin A. In the case of night blindness for example It has been postulated, that isotretinoin likely binds to the same rod photoreceptors as retinol but does not metabolize to physiologically active rhodopsin.

 

I tried myself to supplement with Vitamin A but I stopped after some days because I felt terrible. I still think, this is an interesting hypothesis and I would like to understand better what your specialist thinks about it. Can you give some more background information about your conversation with the specialist?

 

 

 

 

 

 

The specialist I saw was a Neuro-endocrine Psychiatrist. He is very good and I travelled 15 hours on a plane to see him. He has treated many people who have had long term side effects from accutane. He explained that accutane only works as vitamin A in the skin, but everywhere else, it deprives the body of vitamin A, hence we become deficient in it. In my case, hormone levels, in particular testosterone are low. Vitamin A in adequate levels is very important for us to manufacture testosterone and for thyroid hormone to work properly. I also have a lot of inflammation in my muscles and joints. I thought that taking vitamin D might help this, but it actually made me feel worse. I had so much pain in my body when I took vitamin D. He suggested that it's very important to take vitamin A as well as D. Taking beta carotene is not good enough because it does not convert very well to retinol in those who have taken accutane. He suggested I take 25,000iu of vitamin A in the form of retinol or retinyl palmitate as well as 2000iu - 5000iu of vitamin D3. He also said it was a good idea for me to eat liver and offal on a regular basis and to increase my saturated fat intake from grass fed meats as well as omega 3 and 6 fats. The fats are very important to enable me to produce more hormones.

I tried vitamin A and it made me feel very sick ... head aches, insomnia worse and mood low. I stopped that and now avoid all vitamin A. I did note however my sex drive came back on it.

What form of vitamin A did you take and what was your dose? How did your muscles and joints feel while you were taking it? It does not surprise me that it increased your sex drive, because vitamin A deficiency which accutane causes, affects libido.

Thanks for the further explanation. This is very interesting. 25,000 IU of Vitamin A seems quite high. I took 800 g of Retinylacetat. This is equivalent of 2,300 IU (if I did the maths right). My main problem was a migraine like headache, that started only some hours after I took the Vitamin A. I get those headaches from many supps. Not only Vit A. And I think it is also some long term side effect, that I am very prone to headaches now.

I also took Vit D for more than one year. 3,000 IU per day. I did tolerate Vit D quite well but it had no positive effects either. So I stopped it.

 

 

 

>I tried vitamin A and it made me feel very sick ... head aches, insomnia worse and mood low. I stopped that and now avoid all vitamin A. I did note however my sex drive came back on it.

 

What form of vitamin A did you take and what was your dose? How did your muscles and joints feel while you were taking it? It does not surprise me that it increased your sex drive, because vitamin A deficiency which accutane causes, affects libido.

The retinol variety, and then also tried beta carotene...both failures for me. I did notice more hair growth as well. I believe I took 5000 IU capsules. I also had a blood test which showed normal levels of vitamin A. That said, everyone is different and you should give the trial a shot. Like Roland, I'm more prone to headaches now.

I ate some beef liver and heart several years ago which I am sure was very high in Vitamin A. My sleep disturbances and nightmares returned that very night. So I have been weary of vitamin A in high doses since then. I have been night blind since stopping accutane (8 years). Don't know if that will ever change regardless of Vit A supplementation. Don't think it's a good vitamin for us anymore. At least in higher doses.

Sorry, I don't know but I just finished a consultation with a specialist who told me that I should not be avoiding vitamin A in food like i've been doing for years. He said that isotretinoin actually makes people deficient in vitamin A. This probably explains why taking vitamin D makes me feel so much worse, specifically creating chronic inflammation. Has anyone here tried taking vitamin A in the form of retinyl palmitate at a dose of 25,000iu per day? This is the dose that he recommended i take. I'm still a little cautious, but i'm willing to give it a try if someone here has taken it before and felt better.

He is the specialist, so you should give it a try. If it has bad effects, you can just stop and everything will be like before, it won't damage your body or anything since you wont take it for months/years.

I read somewhere about a guy who feels better while supplimenting with vit.A.

I will try that as well, after my exams.

I did try vitamin D in high doses, like 10.000 iu per day and it made me feel worse.

Keep us updated! God bless!

 

foxo hyper activation, this i think can make the body create more and more retinoic acid. i think this can deplete other forms of vitamin A,like retinol.

i posted this on page 341:

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/25627686

''Insulin regulates retinol dehydrogenase expression and all-trans-retinoic acid biosynthesis through FoxO1.

Abstract

All-trans-retinoic acid (atRA), an autacoid derived from retinol (vitamin A), regulates energy balance and reduces adiposity. We show that energy status regulates atRA biosynthesis at the rate-limiting step, catalyzed by retinol dehydrogenases (RDH). Six h after re-feeding, Rdh1 expression decreased 80-90% in liver and brown adipose tissue and Rdh10 expression was decreased 45-63% in liver, pancreas, and kidney, all relative to mice fasted 16 h. atRA in the liver was decreased 44% 3 h after reduced Rdh expression. Oral gavage with glucose or injection with insulin decreased Rdh1 and Rdh10 mRNA 50% or greater in mouse liver. Removing serum from the medium of the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 increased Rdh10 and Rdh16 (human Rdh1 ortholog) mRNA expression 2-3-fold by 4 h, by increasing transcription and stabilizing mRNA. Insulin decreased Rdh10 and Rdh16 mRNA in HepG2 cells incubated in serum-free medium by inhibiting transcription and destabilizing mRNA. Insulin action required PI3K and Akt, which suppress FoxO1. Serum removal increased atRA biosynthesis 4-fold from retinol in HepG2 cells, whereas dominant-negative FoxO1 prevented the increase. Thus, energy status via insulin and FoxO1 regulate Rdh expression and atRA biosynthesis. These results reveal mechanisms for regulating atRA biosynthesis and the opposing effects of atRA and insulin on gluconeogenesis, and also suggest an interaction between atRA and insulin signaling related diseases, such as type II diabetes and cancer.''

I also posted(somwhere from page 343) about the scd enzyme and that downregulation of it can create an elevation in retinoic acids and retinoic acids induced genes. and that foxo co-activation with scd downregulation can create a ''self sustained cycle with deletrious cellular effects''

so reading between this lines- if this mechanisem is occuring post accutane,the body might get deficent in some forms of vitamin A like retinol which are used for retinoic acids production, and if this production is hapening to much that is why those other forms get depleted.

 

 

yesterday i took 1 pill of sea buckthorn oil for the first time , it gave me energy which last still today. it is not a suprise to me that it gives energy cause manny mentioned energy boosting on amazon reviews. the intresting part for me is that it conntain substences which stops foxo(and foxo stop energy production), and this might be the reason why this oil gives energy and maybe it fix a hyper of foxo in which the body remained post accutane.

Docosahexaenoic acid suppresses the expression of FoxO and its target genes.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22444500.

DHA also down-regulated FoxO target genes, such as microsomal triacylglycerol transfer protein (MTP), glucose-6-phosphatase, apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) and insulin-like growth factor binding-protein 1 in the liver, as well as reduced total plasma levels of cholesterol and triacylglycerol in the pig. Transcriptional suppression of FoxO1, FoxO3, apoC-III and MTP by DHA was further confirmed by reporter assays with each promoter construct. Taken together, our study indicates that DHA modulates lipid and glucose homeostasis in part by down-regulating FoxO function. The down-regulation of genes associated with triacylglycerol metabolism and very low density lipoprotein assembly is likely to contribute to the beneficial effects of DHA on the metabolic syndrome.

Has anyone tried taking straight DHA?

Sea Buckthorn fruit oil also contains flavonoids, omega 3 and 6, DHA and numerous trace elements.

A response by an expert in GNMT/ glycine:

Hey guys,

So I came across this post about accutane hair loss in baldtruthtalk and this seems to be a probable reason for our hair loss.

What's your input on this?

https://www.baldtruthtalk.com/threads/20988-Accutane-isotretinoin-CCC-Alopecia-!!!

pathtorecovery91 : I read it and it seems really interesting. I saw someone there saying that a kind of treatment for this type of hair loss would be doxicycline. Has anyone tried that for hair loss?

I really dont know where to begin

I feel like im just pissing off everyone i complain too

And its shook off as all mental or well cant go back and reverse whats done...

Basically ive posted here before my main concern use to be flushing and rosacea and dry skin and few other

Well it was 2009 since last time i took poison twice in life time

Had to stop cause triglyceryides and pre diabetic and liver damage

Well all healed

And fast forward to now

Aftwr one speckled ana

That now is negative one time was speckled

Lip biopsy negative

Alllllll blood twst

Schrimers test shows no tears

Restasis they said improved tears at the time buy i didnt feel a difference

I wake up everyday with eyes stuck together dry blepharitis and mucus discharge

Dry nose crusty inside

Dry flaky skin rashy acne u name it

Dark bags

I wKe up every 4 hours thats with 2mg xanax

If i dont tAke meds prob wont sleep

Told i had sleep apnea yet i keep losing weight again

also im 5 10 135 small adnoids tonsiles

I wake up and i have to either piss or just wake up

Im getting frustrated all these symptoms seemed better now worse again

Im back on this site

Again

Im losing my fiancee cant leave house again

Like this drug ruined so much

I let anxiety get best of me 19-23 housebound after drug

Cause of the red cheeks and dark eyes on my irish complexion

Which looks paler cause i have no ounce of oil on me

I just got off neorutin that drug made me numb and facial flushing again

Im so fed up

I eat healthy

Idk if its the fish oil that is making me flair up

Idk how

All this keeps making me so frustrated

Forgot to mention

I did have a tsh at 5.75 and was told my thyroid was dying this was years and years of being told thyroid 2.5 normal

And then thEy gave me levothyroxine

I went from 150-119

And took off meds told i was fine and thyroid was healthy lmao fuckin doctors

Anyways

Yea to let u know i had hair thinning out and constipation that all got better

However now i go a lot since new meds

But once i drank more water and ate more fiber

My constipation and hair issues got better

I feel so sorry for all of us on here to ones who lost their lives over this bs and the families having to put up with this

Im 26 and i asked the love of my lifie to marry me was so happy the beginning of yhe summer

With her and her daughter

Now anxiety and depression back

Cause i cant get a job with these cruddy dry blepharitis dark baggy eyes and not sleeping good and just itching and so many issues

I still get acne too which is so annoying two courses and smooth beam

V beam

And diet changes

And life style

And still i get acne

But kids my age shoot heroin nd look better

Go figure

Tried to take accupain

To blend in like everyone who had clear skin

Now i stand out

nd not the good way u wanna

Im so angry i take out my issues on my mom and loved ones

I dont mean to but im so frustrated

And im pretty sure my back pains coming back and joints are now aching

Which i never had post accutane just lower back pain which also went away for awhile

Hello guys,

I'm another victim of Accutane , after 3 cycles (last in 2012) , this shit ruined my life , head and body , mad me sexually like a 90-years- old

I tried supplements , Good Food , Physical Activity, healthy life ...

I went to urologists , endocrinologists , urolog , 5-6 in total , and is a lost war

Performance anxiety , psychological problems , the only thing they want to prescribe is cialis....

<span>I lost , who can help me

why no specialist makes studies on victims of accutane ? why the sexual side effects are not officially accepted from doctors ?

If anyone is interested in a very good medical specialist in California who knows about the side effects on Accutane, drop me a message and I'll forward you his details.

I travelled all the way from Australia to consult with him!

How many guys here have had their testosterone, leutinizing hormone and cortisol levels checked?

I've been off Accutane for 19 years, yet still have very low testosterone and LH and high cortisol.

Anyone else in the same boat?

How many guys here have had their testosterone, leutinizing hormone and cortisol levels checked?

I've been off Accutane for 19 years, yet still have very low testosterone and LH and high cortisol.

Anyone else in the same boat?

I had my hormone levels checked several times. everything is fine. testosterone and DHT were both in the upper range compared to my age group.

My cortisol is high too....anyone knows why?

How many guys here have had their testosterone, leutinizing hormone and cortisol levels checked?

I've been off Accutane for 19 years, yet still have very low testosterone and LH and high cortisol.

Anyone else in the same boat?

19 years.. Omg.

And have you tried testo injections or hcg or anything? Did you have MRI brain scan?

Yes I tried HCG for 3 weeks 10 years ago at a dose of 500iu eod and I felt a lot better, but the doc refused to keep me on it.

Then last year I tried 3 months of testosterone 40mg twice a week and felt great in the first month, but not much better in the following 2 months so quit and returned to my previous T & LH levels. I may consider trying a different protocol again, but first I want to see if I can raise my testosterone naturally by changing my diet to high saturated fats, monounsaturated fats and omega 3 acids. Supplementing with vitamin A in the form of retinol, which I've been religiously avoiding for more than 10 years may also help to boost my T levels.

westonprice.org has an excellent article on the importance of vitamin A for testosterone production. I suspect that the reason I have low testosterone is because I've been avoiding foods high in retinol for more than a decade. My diet has also been high in protein and low in fat,, which both deplete vitamin A.

How many guys here have had their testosterone, leutinizing hormone and cortisol levels checked?

I've been off Accutane for 19 years, yet still have very low testosterone and LH and high cortisol.

Anyone else in the same boat?

Yeah I had my levels checked not long ago:

testosterone high, bio-available testosterone high, LH normal, FSH low.

^ Same with me. Over-the-top high testosterone, high-in-range DHT, and have limp dick. I felt and "functioned" better with low T for the first several years after Accutane. Hormones alone must not cause our problem.

On 8/24/2015 at 6:25 PM, Robert1000 said:

My cortisol is high too....anyone knows why?

[Edited link out]

You must use multiple types/kinds of Magnesium. If you use large amount of one type of magnesium you might experience loose stools. Magnesium taurate is bound to the amino acid taurine. Taurine facilitates the production of Gabba. Gabba helps us relax. Magnesium taurate reduces anxiety and lowers cortisol levels. When you are stressed out that takes a toll on your arteries, magnesium oratate has an affinity with arteries and helps in reversing the damage of the stress on the arteries. Magnesium glycinate is bound to the amino acid glycine. Glycine is a detoxifier and also lowers cortisol in the body. Magnesium fumerate is involved in the stabilization of the ATP (Adenosine Tri-phospahte), which is involved in the energetic of the cell.

...

its also interesting that Glycine increases creatine formation. Creatine levels are known to be depleted with accutane

creatine is manufactured in the human body from L-arginine, glycine, and L-methionine.

The potential for retinoid treatment to compromise SAM-dependent transmethylation is also supported by the observation that rats treated with ATRA exhibited a significant reduction in creatinine synthesis (McMullen et al., unpublished observations). Because creatinine synthesis is one of the major depots for methyl groups from SAM, this further stresses the physiologic importance of retinoid-mediated alterations in GNMT.

[Edited link out]

Taurine and Glycine

Taurine and Glycine (amino acids) play important roles in the removal of toxins by supporting Phase II detoxification and enhancing bile flow.* In order for bile to flow properly it must be bound to taurine or glycine, thus enabling cholesterol transport in bile.* Taurine helps clear aldehyde chemicals, chlorine, and carbon tetrachloride.* Glycine binds to certain types of toxins such as toluene (a common industrial solvent), aspirin (salicylates) and benzoate (a preservative).*

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bile_acid

Prior to secreting any of the bile acids (primary or secondary, see below), liver cells conjugate them with one of two amino acids, glycine or taurine, to form a total of 8 possible conjugated bile acids. These conjugated bile acids are often referred to as bile salts because of their physiologically-important acid-base properties.

Accutane upregulates GNMT ----> depletes Glycine causing a bile acid/salt/high bilirubin/ cholestasis problem ----> metabolite gets recirculated.

The main question i have is... why is our body upregulating GNMT so much in response to taking 13-cis retnoic acid?? what is it trying to do?

Maybe your estradiol is too high? Did you ever get that checked?

My results were Estradiol, Sensitive 32.8 8.0-35.0

So a bit on the high end. The doctor I was seeing recommended trying to lower this, but I haven't given it a shot yet.

Has anyone here tried taking Wellbutrin (Bupropion) at a low dose of 37.5mg - 75mg per day? It is supposed to increase libido by raising dopamine levels in the brain.

Has anyone here tried taking Wellbutrin (Bupropion) at a low dose of 37.5mg - 75mg per day? It is supposed to increase libido by raising dopamine levels in the brain.

I tried Wellbutrin some years ago but at a higher dosage. If I remember right it was 150mg / day. It did not help me with my accutane induced sides. It made me very nervous and some weird feeling of slowness in my head. I never had libido problems though.

Hi guys.

Just looking to see if anyone has had severe joint problems post accutane and what they are doing to manage this?

Let's just say my GP is unhelpful at best and would like to go see her with at least an idea of what I want.

Basically had 2 courses of accutane over my life and after each course my joints have gotten worse. My knees, elbows and wrists are in agony after, say, a long day at work and I fear it's 100% accutane related as joint pain/athiritis etc. have NEVER ran in my family as far back as I could find.

Thanks in advance for reading.