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Hey all
Went on accutane for the second time for 2 months from June-August 2015 for my sudden horrific itchy "acne" break out. Turns out it wasn't acne at all (which is why accutane had NO effect), but was actually facial scabies (interlayed with a few adolescent pimples to mask the truth)contracted from a friend who'd been travelling and had been too embarrassed to tell me she had scabies.Anyway! Got permethrin after my GP said "Hang on.. that's not acne!" and my horrific facial lumps and chronic itching disappeared instantly, now I just have a few red mark scars.
However, being on accutane for the second time has really messed me up and (the first time I was put on it I was put on 80mg per day considering I was 5'3 and 110 pounds), even though I was put on 40mg a day this time, seems to have completely overloaded my system. The first time I was very sleepy and had EXTREMELY sore joints, facial bleeding, lips bleeding and hair loss but Islept very very very well.
This time, I've been off it for just over three months and ever since that first week in June, I am UNABLE to get to sleep. It is impossible, I've been on prescribed sleeping pills for two months and I've built up a huge intolerance to them now too. When I lie awake at night I couldn't be more exhausted, but it's like my body just WON'T shut down. My elbows and wrists ache so badly now 24/7 and constantly make painful "cracking" noises. At night this pain is particularly amplified. I've had blood tests done and everything is fine, I just seem to be stuck with this problem.
Can anyone who's been on accutane please shed some light on what I can do to get rid of the sleep issue (it's starting to drive me round the bend) and I don't see it mentioned on many forums, usually people sleep too much like I did first time round! I've got 6 hours sleep in last 72 hours, I look like the walking dead.
Are there any supplements I can take to help my joints? Some say fish oil is great others say avoid at all costs.
Anything I can take to help my sleep that aren't prescription tablets?
Thanks so much
Hi MTS,
I'm sorry to hear you got misdiagnosed on this! I actually got scabies while I was on accutane for actual acne! It was a disaster at the time but I didn't get them on my face, that side effect with scabies is actually a little unusual. While on accutane I too had trouble sleeping at times, more so then getting drowsy like some people report. I found that a glass of wine before bed really helped relax me and depending on where you live, smoking marjuana really does help with all the side effects of this drug. I luckily live in a state where it is legal but if it is accessible to you I would pursue trying it as a sleep aid, it is much better for your body than sleeping pills. Also try a sleep mask. I was very light sensitive on accutane but would also not always sleep through the night and when I use a sleeping mask it helps block out not only light but sort of trick your body into going to sleep sooner since even with your eyes open its still pitch black.
I am sorry to hear of this, but I heard the story so many times before! What labs did they take? Did they test Vit D, B12, Iron, Thyroid etc? As for sleep you can also try some melatonin, or tyrosine I believe it called. Also Vit D, Hyaluronic Acid,glucosamine for the cracking joints. You also need to make sure you are eating a very clean diet, getting some exercise, meditation.
You look at threads or some others posts like Sheefa etc. to see some more suggestions. The long term side effect thread.....
Don't take it ever again!