I'm starting my fourth month on Myorisan and its been working really well. I started on 40mg and have been taking 80mg with a couple days just taking 40mg when the side effects get too bad. I didn't have severe acne to begin with (though in my mind it was) but it was very deep cystic acne. I haven't had a cyst in about a month I'd say, just smaller breakouts which ironically is more now that before but I guess its still purging all the junk out. I'm acutally more paranoid about the scars than I was before I started. I guess since all the inflammation went down they are much more visble which is discouraging as we all hope everything would go away!

My anxiety is starting to get bad but I had anxiety to begin with, and before starting Accutane I pretty much cut myself off from the world as much as possible due to the embarrassment of my face. I just keep telling myself it will be worth it! At $480 a month then $100 for drs visits and labs it better be haha. Theres no price I wouldn't pay to get my life back though. Guess we gotta keep trucking on! Good luck to you.

I'm starting my fourth month on Myorisan and its been working really well. I started on 40mg and have been taking 80mg with a couple days just taking 40mg when the side effects get too bad. I didn't have severe acne to begin with (though in my mind it was) but it was very deep cystic acne. I haven't had a cyst in about a month I'd say, just smaller breakouts which ironically is more now that before but I guess its still purging all the junk out. I'm acutally more paranoid about the scars than I was before I started. I guess since all the inflammation went down they are much more visble which is discouraging as we all hope everything would go away!

My anxiety is starting to get bad but I had anxiety to begin with, and before starting Accutane I pretty much cut myself off from the world as much as possible due to the embarrassment of my face. I just keep telling myself it will be worth it! At $480 a month then $100 for drs visits and labs it better be haha. Theres no price I wouldn't pay to get my life back though. Guess we gotta keep trucking on! Good luck to you.

Thanks so much! Good luck to you, as well.

Your info was really helpful, and I hope you continue to follow my thread. 🙂

Week 19 Update-

Dosage: 80 mg (40 mg/2 x daily)

Very brief update this week, since I already posted a "mini-update" on the 17th. I've been taking 80 mg a day of the Myorisan brand of isotretinoin for a little over a week now. I've noticed absolutely no difference from the symptoms I experienced with 60 mg a day, which is great. I'll continue to keep those following this thread posted if I experience any changes.

A classmate of mine who took isotretinoin told me she began to get blurry vision once she had been on 80 mgs awhile. Hopefully, that won't happen to me, but I'll include it in my updates if it does.

Have a great rest of the weekend, you guys.

I classmate of mine who took isotretinoin told me she began to get blurry vision once she had been on 80 mgs awhile. Hopefully, that won't happen to me, but I'll include it in my updates if it does.

I had a bit of that for a while. It was due to lowering of quality of the tear film associated with a bit of blepharatis. It was managed very well with an OTC topical (called blephasol in UK), and only recurred once. Bit of a surprise when it first happened though!

Not hilarious, but can be dealt with.

Steve.

I classmate of mine who took isotretinoin told me she began to get blurry vision once she had been on 80 mgs awhile. Hopefully, that won't happen to me, but I'll include it in my updates if it does.

I had a bit of that for a while. It was due to lowering of quality of the tear film associated with a bit of blepharatis. It was managed very well with an OTC topical (called blephasol in UK), and only recurred once. Bit of a surprise when it first happened though!

Not hilarious, but can be dealt with.

Steve.

Thanks so much for the info, Steve. 🙂

Sorry it's been such a while since I've updated my thread, to those of you still reading it. New updates are coming soon, including a rather disturbing one taking place in my left cheek. I'll take pictures of it for my next update. I believe it's a newly-healing crater scar as a result of the cyst that can be see forming in my photo albums documenting my Accutane journey. But I'm not completely sure.

If those reading my thread could offer me words of wisdom on how to treat my new wound that I'll show in the next update, and even give me some suggestions as to why it looks the way it does, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks so much.

Week 24 Update (6 MONTHS, BABY!!!)-

Dosage: 80 mg (40 mg/ 2 x daily)

(Well, in truth I finished my isotretinoin course 11 days ago. YAY!)

To those of you still following this thread, and those who are reading it for the first time---thank you for your time, attention, and contributions. They are so very appreciated.

My last two months on Accutane were really rough, since I was taking 40 mg of Myorisan brand isotretinoin capsules twice daily. That would be 80 mgs a day. My P.A. told me at the beginning of Month 5 that women in my weight category are technically outside the limits of being able to take the dosage she prescribed. However, because my blood work was excellent throughout the course up until that point, she felt comfortable prescribing the high dosage.

Month 5 was a little easier than my last month on the 'Tane, which included countless aches and pains, Advil liquigels and tissues to clean out the infinite amount of boogers dried inside my nostrils (gross, I know). I almost didn't realize that my prescription had increased until that last month---Month 6---rolled around. During a family trip, I felt such pain while touring the city I was visiting that I ended up hanging out in my hotel room as much as taking in the sights. It was depressing, to say the least.

While on Accutane during these last couple months, I took a vitamin cocktail of biotin, fish oil, VitaCraves Gummies and milk thistle. I noticed during this time that the biotin seemed to make my nails grow longer and stronger than they ever have before, except when I once used a topical nail strengthener. Not exactly a side-effect I was looking out for, but a welcome one nonetheless.

(WARNING: Those reading these next few sentences might find them a little unsettling and disgusting.) Starting Month 3, and especially into Months 4-6, I began using Phillips' Stool softener to help with the intense pain and disturbing (but thankfully light) bleeding I had begun to notice when going to the bathroom. My gynecologist recommended that I pick up a bottle when I talked to him about noticing these things, and at times it helped. Other times, it didn't. This could have been due in part to bad eating on some days, but there is no way to be sure. I probably could have used mild laxatives on the days in which the stool softener wasn't working that well. My advice for those starting Accutane or thinking about starting it is to take one of these two types of medication (or both) if you begin to notice pain and bleeding down there. Your body will thank you.

My advice to any ladies reading who are in their first weeks of an Accutane course is DON'T TAKE BATHS. Seriously. No baths while on Accutane. I don't care how clean your tub is, because I learned this one the hard way. While taking isotretinoin, I got a bacterial vaginosis infection 3 times, and at least one yeast infection. Not fun.

The no-bath thing sucked, because before Accutane I used to take a hot bath every night to help me relax. Going to the pharmacy at least 4 different times to treat my infection sucked even more, though. Please follow my example.

Here is a link to more photos in the album I created for my acne scarring at the 6 month mark. These should give y'all a better idea of what my skin looks like at this point;

Personally, I like looking at lots of photos in order to gauge people's progress while getting treatment for their acne and/or scarring.

The "disturbing" change I mentioned taking place on my left cheek can be seen clearly in my photo album. It's a crusty scab surrounded by a red ring that was once a pus-filled cyst, which appeared while taking this medication. I have no idea if it's going to cause a large, pitted scar, but I'm kind of afraid that it will. Any opinions on this matter?

Finally, I will continue to post updates in the next 6 months detailing my skin's post-Accutane development. I have now begun the waiting period in which my body will decide whether or not I'll have to take another course of iso beginning in October, 2014 or if one was enough. Fingers crossed guys. In the meantime, I will be using Differin 0.3 topical gel in order to even out tone, and zap the redness leftover from the cysts acquired during my course.

Once again, I offer my sincerest gratitude to those reading my thread. I will try my best to post in a month or so.

Have a great weekend!

Hey CherrySoda08

Been following your post for a while! I too am on Roaccutane (Accutane) finished month 3 ..waiting for month 4 in the next appointment! Your skin looks amazing! Hope it stays like that!Hopefully, I can have similar outcome as you.. my acne has considerably gone better since December/Feb time! So happy.

Onward and upwards eyy!

Hey CherrySoda08

Been following your post for a while! I too am on Roaccutane (Accutane) finished month 3 ..waiting for month 4 in the next appointment! Your skin looks amazing! Hope it stays like that!Hopefully, I can have similar outcome as you.. my acne has considerably gone better since December/Feb time! So happy.

Onward and upwards eyy!

=]

So happy for you!

And thanks for the compliment. You have no idea how much it means to hear something like that.

Best of luck on your next appointment. 🙂

(Almost) 1 Month Post-Accutane Mini-Update-

Hey guys. Just a quick update here. It's been almost a month since I stopped taking Accutane, and I wanted to ask those who read the Accutane logs if they've noticed hot flash-like body temperature changes in the first weeks after getting off the medication.

Maybe it's because I've experienced quite a bit of stress lately, but I've felt crazy-overheated at times. Especially in my face and cheeks. Sometimes, this accompanies a big headache, shortness of breath (panting) and light sweating. Again, these symptoms could be related to stress only. Nonetheless, I wanted to throw this question out there for those who read the forums in hopes that somebody can help shed some light on what this might mean.

Thanks.

Hi! I went on Roaccutane (I am from the UK) in November last year as well. I am on 10mg a day. For me it was the constant 1 to 2 cysts (that scarred) that I got every month that tipped me over the edge to accutane! I am 40 and damn well sick of it! Its working fab for me. How is it going for you? I scared myself silly reading the horror stories but I am glad to report that I am not bald or crippled or depressed.. yet! Note to self.. do NOT google medications! I have the dry lips though! I love only having to wash my usual oil slick of a hairdo twice a week instead of daily. Lets go for it hon and be clear skinned beauts!

If you need any support or want to swap accutane stories I am happy to lend an ear

p.s have all your blackheads popped up and dropped out yet.. that was interesting! x

 

I forgot to mention.. I read the article you posted. I was scared of accutane too but I have seen 2 docs and both told me the only way to knock cystic acne on the head is accutane. No topical can get deep enough and antibiotics will work for a bit but then the skin learns immunity.. Its the way forward. I told my doctor my fears and he said he referred his own daughter to a colleague to be put on it on ten years ago and he was happy to report she was clear skinned and happy and he would do it again in a heartbeat for his kids.That's what convinced me. Also there was no financial incentive for him to say this because this is the UK and on the NHS..x

Thank you for this! I'm 38, been dealing with acne for 23 years. I used every prescription and OTC medication known. I've had mild cystic acne on my jaw, back, and occasionally on my cheeks with dark spot scarring. 4 years ago, my GP suggested accutane, but I was afraid to take it. My derm prescribed a low dose to me today and now I'm reading stories on here to calm my fear and kick this acne goodbye once and for all! She also prescribed it for my daughter to take. She's 18 and if this really is a cure, I would love her not to have to go through the expense of treating persistent acne for the next 20+ yrs

Post-Accutane Update, 1 Month-

Hey all,

Just a super-fast update, since I am so ready to go to bed here on this very unremarkable Friday night. I'll mainly let the pictures of my one month post-Accutane acne scarring speak for themselves. I think they look exactly the same as my scars did earlier this month, which is not at all surprising. After all, I just took those pictures 20 days ago.

Here is the full album for those who are interested;

The only difference I've noticed in my skin is maybe a little less redness thanks to my (almost) nightly use of Differin 0.3% topical gel. Also, that crusty scab on my left cheek finally came loose and left a barely indented dark pinkish-purple spot in its place. SO much better than the hole-like crater I feared it would leave behind. It should not be difficult at all to treat this area cosmetically in a year or so, if it even needs treatment by then.

Finally, I thought I would close this update by mentioning that coming off Accutane can lead to weight gain in the 6-8 weeks after taking the drug. I am apparently one of those people that gets to experience this fun little side-effect. I was talking to an MD friend of mine earlier this week who explained that this is more than likely the reason I've noticed a little more fluffiness in my bust, waist, and hips in recent weeks (I was complaining to him about these changes on the phone).

Here I thought it was solely because I hadn't had a decent workout in the last couple of months! I am sure that this is also a big part of it, though.

My friend told me that my derm should have advised me about the weight gain. If she did, I definitely don't remember her saying anything about it. That seems like something I would surely remember, however. The upside to the weight gain is that it is supposed to be temporary. My MD friend told me I should notice my weight going back to normal in a couple more weeks. Whew.

That concludes my updates for my first month off isotretinoin. I will update again in another month, and include more pictures around the time of Month 3.

Thanks for reading.

Hi! I went on Roaccutane (I am from the UK) in November last year as well. I am on 10mg a day. For me it was the constant 1 to 2 cysts (that scarred) that I got every month that tipped me over the edge to accutane! I am 40 and damn well sick of it! Its working fab for me. How is it going for you? I scared myself silly reading the horror stories but I am glad to report that I am not bald or crippled or depressed.. yet! Note to self.. do NOT google medications! I have the dry lips though! I love only having to wash my usual oil slick of a hairdo twice a week instead of daily. Lets go for it hon and be clear skinned beauts!

If you need any support or want to swap accutane stories I am happy to lend an ear

p.s have all your blackheads popped up and dropped out yet.. that was interesting! x

 

I forgot to mention.. I read the article you posted. I was scared of accutane too but I have seen 2 docs and both told me the only way to knock cystic acne on the head is accutane. No topical can get deep enough and antibiotics will work for a bit but then the skin learns immunity.. Its the way forward. I told my doctor my fears and he said he referred his own daughter to a colleague to be put on it on ten years ago and he was happy to report she was clear skinned and happy and he would do it again in a heartbeat for his kids.That's what convinced me. Also there was no financial incentive for him to say this because this is the UK and on the NHS..x

Thank you for this! I'm 38, been dealing with acne for 23 years. I used every prescription and OTC medication known. I've had mild cystic acne on my jaw, back, and occasionally on my cheeks with dark spot scarring. 4 years ago, my GP suggested accutane, but I was afraid to take it. My derm prescribed a low dose to me today and now I'm reading stories on here to calm my fear and kick this acne goodbye once and for all! She also prescribed it for my daughter to take. She's 18 and if this really is a cure, I would love her not to have to go through the expense of treating persistent acne for the next 20+ yrs

Best of luck to you and your daughter!

Quick question for those who read this thread (or are being a night-owl like I am and perusing the forums ); how long has it taken for some of you former Accutane users to get oil-production back in your skin?

My dermatologist told me sebum production would return after one month of being off the drug, but I have yet to see any actual oil.

I don't miss the oil spill that I used to have coming out of my pores, but a little bit more than what I currently have would be nice.

Any input would be appreciated.

Cool thread. Thank you.

It is my first month on Raccutane. Seeing some results already, But I still get breakouts.

My cholestrol levels went really high though :"(

Cool thread. Thank you.

It is my first month on Raccutane. Seeing some results already, But I still get breakouts.

My cholestrol levels went really high though :"(

Sorry to hear about your labs.

What are you doing to deal with your newly-high cholesterol levels?

Cool thread. Thank you.

It is my first month on Raccutane. Seeing some results already, But I still get breakouts.

My cholestrol levels went really high though :"(

Sorry to hear about your labs.

What are you doing to deal with your newly-high cholesterol levels?

Thank you.

Just saw my doctor and she gave me Lipitor. But I'm really hesitatnt about taking it. I read it has a lot of side effects.

I wrote a posy yesterday about my story:

http://www.acne.org/messageboard/topic/343006-cholesterol-skyrockted-in-less-that-1-month-on-roaccutane/?view=findpost&p=3440169

Regards.

Cool thread. Thank you.

It is my first month on Raccutane. Seeing some results already, But I still get breakouts.

My cholestrol levels went really high though :"(

Sorry to hear about your labs.

What are you doing to deal with your newly-high cholesterol levels?

Thank you.

Just saw my doctor and she gave me Lipitor. But I'm really hesitatnt about taking it. I read it has a lot of side effects.

I wrote a posy yesterday about my story:

http://www.acne.org/messageboard/topic/343006-cholesterol-skyrockted-in-less-that-1-month-on-roaccutane/?view=findpost&p=3440169

Regards.

I will have to take a look at your story when I get a little more free time. In the meantime, take care of yourself while on Accutane. It's very hard on the body, but I can tell you that I'm recovering well after being off of it for about 6 weeks now. I have no doubt that you will, too, as long as you are careful. 🙂

Cool thread. Thank you.

It is my first month on Raccutane. Seeing some results already, But I still get breakouts.

My cholestrol levels went really high though :"(

Sorry to hear about your labs.

What are you doing to deal with your newly-high cholesterol levels?

Thank you.

Just saw my doctor and she gave me Lipitor. But I'm really hesitatnt about taking it. I read it has a lot of side effects.

I wrote a posy yesterday about my story:

http://www.acne.org/messageboard/topic/343006-cholesterol-skyrockted-in-less-that-1-month-on-roaccutane/?view=findpost&p=3440169

Regards.

I will have to take a look at your story when I get a little more free time. In the meantime, take care of yourself while on Accutane. It's very hard on the body, but I can tell you that I'm recovering well after being off of it for about 6 weeks now. I have no doubt that you will, too, as long as you are careful.

Thanks. Wish you all the best. 🙂

Post-Accutane Update, 2 Months-

Hey all.

Not too many new things to share about this second month that I've been off Accutane, so I will make it short.

I've noticed that I no longer have to apply as much chap stick and Vaseline to my lips as I used to. I still use my tube of Lip Smackers more than I did before I ever took Accutane. However, it seems that I'm applying it maybe a few times a day versus once every 30 minutes at the end of my isotretintoin course when I was taking 80 mgs a day.

My weight seems to have stabilized, and I believe I'm finally back to what I normally weigh. I haven't checked the scale in a few days, but the aforementioned fluffiness I experienced last month is gone.

Speaking of weight, I have slowly but surely begun a new excercise routine. I'm very excited about this since exercise was a pretty big part of my life at this time last year. I am able to use my elliptical about twice a week, and then wakeboard on the weekends. I try to take it easy on the wakeboard, though. Only 2-3 runs each time I go out on the boat, and I stop once I start feeling tired. So happy to have much of my strength, agility and synovial fluid back! I can tell that my body's gotten much stronger since I got off the drug.

Finally, it seems that my time off Accutane plus my usage of Differin has really helped even my skin tone out. We'll see when I take pics of my scarring for Month 3 on this thread.

Thanks so much for reading.

Hi CherrySoda08 - hope you are well

I was off Accutane for about 1 month or a little over as I had to wait ages for an appointment with my derm and I saw oil production after 1 month. Hated it! Also, quick question whilst you were on Accutane did you still have quite red marks/hyperpigmentation from previous acne/scarring? Or, did it gradually go down as your treatment progressed?

Thank you.

Hi CherrySoda08 - hope you are well

I was off Accutane for about 1 month or a little over as I had to wait ages for an appointment with my derm and I saw oil production after 1 month. Hated it! Also, quick question whilst you were on Accutane did you still have quite red marks/hyperpigmentation from previous acne/scarring? Or, did it gradually go down as your treatment progressed?

Thank you.

Hey there. Thank you.

"...whilst you were on Accutane did you still have quite red marks/hyperpigmentation from previous acne/scarring?"

How "previous"/recent was the acne you are referring to? "Previous", as in "very new"?

I think what you're wanting to know is if the hyperpigmentation from my previous acne continued to be red/pigmented while I was on Accutane. The answer to that question is that the red marks seemed to fade normally over time just as they did when I wasn't on Accutane.

However, while I was on Accutane, I acquired at least 5-6 new, large cysts. Three of those cysts have left red marks on my face that have still not faded away completely.

Post-Accutane Update, 3 Months-

Hey all (to those still reading this thread ),

My 3 month post-Accutane update is a little late, and I am sorry about that. I am super-busy trying to balance work, school, boyfriend and life these days and things get a little hectic sometimes. In not too long, I'll update this Accutane update again at the 4-month mark. Hopefully I will write that on time. However, it won't be as exciting as this particular update since this one features PICTURES!

Unfortunately (and my apologies for being even more disappointing) right now all I have taken are pics of my scarring with indoor lighting in my bathroom. I am going to try to snap some of my 3-month, post-Accutane scarring in natural daylight fairly soon. I promise I will try my best. Right now, my life is just so busy. Technically, I am supposed to be studying for an anatomy and physiology exam right now, but I felt like it was important to take a break to update this thread.

It's important for me, because documenting my scarring helps me look back and keep track of the changes that have taken place in my skin since being on the medication. Also, I feel it's important for those reading Accutane threads on Acne.org to look at pictures of people who've been on Accutane and are in the process of healing in order to get an idea of what they might experience. I know looking at a thread like this would have definitely helped me at 23 when I was first told to get on Accutane by a P.A. and didn't.

The only real change I've been able to notice besides my joints making a full recovery since being off Accutane (Yay! I can work out without finding myself in excruciating pain, now!) is that I see a little bit of oil production in my cheeks when I get stressed. My job is fast-paced and stressful. Other than that, there aren't too many new physical changes to report.

Also, I have been very down lately about my acne scarring. Especially since I now have a new one located next to my biggest scar on my left cheek. The only crappy scar I ended up getting while on Accutane.

However, for some reason, looking at the new pics I've just taken has given me some hope. Something about these pics makes me feel like I am looking at them from an outsider's perspective, and in a way, I realize that there's still hope for my skin. It needs a lot of work, but I think that I've just gotten impatient these past couple months and am forgetting about the fact that my skin is still undergoing a healing process. It'll improve eventually, but it just takes time.

For those who are interested; here's a link to the album I created here on Acne.org with more photos of my acne scarring, 3 months after Accutane;

Post-Accutane Update, 4 Months-

Super-short update for this month, since I wrote my 3 month post-Accutane update a little late. I haven't noticed many changes at all since I made my last post 2 weeks ago. I have discovered that when I get stressed at work, I get a little oilier. About three tiny pustules appeared right before my period, which started this past week.

Other than that, my skin seems to be doing great.