If you are able to understand that you anxiety and depression are linked to your acne, I would suggest you to go for the accutane. If during your treatment you start to feel worse, please talk to your doctor and stop taking it.

Also, be aware that the first two months your acne can be worse. I experienced that, and by that time I was feeling really sad and irritable.

Do not take Accutane. It is not worth it.

I had experienced some depression and anxiety from dealing with ACNE and Accutane changed my LIFE!!

I was so happy to have HOPE and the chance at good skin, that I didn't even mind that it got worse before it got better! And, the IB (intial breakout) was annoying, I was finding myself more positive and happy because I wasn't dealing with all those topicals and the effects of those on my skin. My makeup always looked uneven and orange on the dry patches etc.

So you may actually feel BETTER on Accutane!

Many of the case studies I've read, of Accutane - related depression, were of patients who actually NEVER had depression before the treatment. THAT'S how they managed to correlate the depression to the Accutane.

I think you need to keep an eye on your emotional state just as everyone should, while on Accutane. I don't know if you need to mention it to your doc, since you're not a doctor and you've never been formally diagnosed by a doctor.

Depression is a specific and complex diagnosis. I'm not sure your description is actual depression but I'm not a doctor either.

Melancholy, hormone fluctuations and imbalaces, stressful situations and trauma, can mimic OR contribute to, or CAUSE depression. It just depends on the person.

So, to answer your question, no, I don't think you have reason to think you are a bad candidate for Accutane.

Actually, the opposite may be true: BECAUSE, like me, you have had great despair regarding your acne, you must take care of yourself and seek the best treatment possible for stubborn and persistent acne. That, would be Accutane.

Now, there are online depression and anxiety tests you can give yourself weekly, that will help you gauge the levels of depression.

It has you rate/score from 1-10, a series of statements, like: "I have lost interest in things that I used to love to do."

Then you compare from week to week, and if you notice a severe difference, THEN you notify your doctor.

I hope you try Accutane as soon as possible and have great results like 90% or so of people who try it.

I got 15 years of remission from acne, and never even had to THINK about it.

A year ago, I got very oily, and started breaking out, (at 46???? Are you kidding me?!?)

so I went to a dermatologist and am back for another round. Thank goodness I didn't have to suffer and try all the topicals and go thru the BS......my dermatologist agreed right away that my remission was over and we needed to go again!

Life is GOOD!!

Please let us know what you decide and keep us posted on any progress! Good luck!

Dana

thank you everyone for your help! I have my dermatologist appointment tomorrow and I have made the decision to go on roaccutane and not mention any of this to my doctor, I am actually really excited to try it now because I feel like I finally have something to aim for rather than just trying pill after pill that didn't work! I will update you all when I have been on it a few weeks in regards to my mood again thank you for your help!

That's exactly what I mean! I realize now, that I was actually just very discouraged and I had social avoidance due to acne.

Once I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, I felt great!!

If you feel down again during the initial breakout, it would be very understandable and justifiable.

The depression they want you to look out for is UNJUSTIFIABLE. Or, for no reason, you might even look better, but you sink into a deep depression and despair. THAT would be very worrisome and I would suggest you stop the Accutane and see your Doctor. Make sense?

You can always vent here! Consider doing a journal on this board and updating when you feel like it. I like the fact that some even post photos so it gives other people hope and reasonable expectations.

Accutane is a long process so try not to measure your acne day-to-day. Don't obsess, just let go and let the process work.

Good luck!

Dana

I really don't think you should do it. I was in the exact same position as you, and accutane created an entire new list of health problems for me. I wish I could go back in time and not take it.