Acne.org Products
Nick,
Sorry for the delay, but I don't check all that frequently. Looks like Shantelle and Oli Girl answered your questions, but I'll throw in my two cents as well. How long have you had a thyroid condition? That is intriguing to me because that alone can lead to flushing so I'm curious on how if you had that pre accutane. If you're inclined to try Vitamin K cream then I would just recommend doing a test patch for like a week, otherwise you should be fine. In regards to Fish Oil and Flax seed. I would recommend stopping them one at a time for a couple of weeks and just seeing if you notice any difference. But then again I would recommend that you do that for everything that you currently are using as you never know what could be causing/increasing problems. Personally, I was taking a vitamin C sup years ago and realized that it was intensifying my flushing so I cut it out, pretty strange.
Accutane can lead to thyroid problems is what Oli Girl is referencing. I'm also intrigued by your high hormone levels. That could be throwing your body out of whack as well. If your acne is still bad its a tough call. Dealing with both acne and flushing is no picnic and really complicates what you can do for treatments. Personally, I would not waste my time with antibiotics. They don't actually correct/heal your acne problem, but just merely mask it and since you have to ingest it that means that you are treating your entire body for an acne problem while also decreasing the effectiveness of antibiotics overall, if when, you actually need them for medical reasons. Did your skin change pre/post tane? As in did you used to have oily skin and now have dry etc.? That makes a difference as far as treatments go as well. From looking at your pictures it looks like your acne is worse than your flushing from an aesthetic perspective.
I wouldn't let flushing get in the way of working out. If it all possible you should try to work out in the morning because that's when the gym will be coolest, temperature wise, and therefore should limit your flush. I would dump the derm if I were you. It sounds like hes not open minded at all so it has to be frustrating interacting with him/her. The reason I recommend a GP to focus your efforts with is because, quite honestly, they are significantly better doctors than derms (in general) so if there isn't a world class derm in your relative area then I would switch to a good gp. They are more likely willing to spend the time with you in an attempt to figure out your problems and especially in your case as you have thyorid/hormone considerations as well so you really should have one doctor for everything so that no mistakes are made that lead to two different treatments counteracting each other etc.
I wish that I could be more helpful about your acne, but I would like to know more about your specific skin type before offering any advice, and even then I'm no expert as I resorted to using accutane (sigh) as well.
Hey Seattle, thanks for replying.
I have no idea how long ive had the thyroid condition, buts ive been getting it treated for about a year now. I was diagnosed as being hypothyroid well before my course of accutane.
Looking back at pictures of myself, i actually do see a lot of the same redness i have now. I have pics of myself about 3 years ago when my family went to Cancun for vacation, and in most every picture, my cheeks are pretty red.
The only thing that bothers me is that, i dont remember feeling like my face was on fire and i dont remember the sweating. Im not really sure what to think now about my flushing since i have seen those pics. What do you guys think?
I just went to my derm yesterday and he prescribed me antibiotics lolz. He also prescribed me using retin-a and acanya gel, which is like a benzoyl peroxide gel.
The problems with those are that, doesnt retin-a make your skin thinner, which results in more facial flushing? Another thing is that, benzoyl peroxide washes make me flush pretty badly, but do you guys think the gel will have the same effects? The BP washes also lost their effectiveness after about a month as well, so im not sure what to think about this gel.
I know i should have asked him these questions, but i get pretty shy around other people, and there was this really cute nurse in the room while he was talking to me, so i was even more flustered than normal haha.
My derm also says that if these antibiotics dont work, then he wants to put me on another course of accutane. I mentioned my concerns about the flushing, but again, he didnt believe that it was the problem.
This is gonna sound crazy, but would another course be so horrible? I already feel like all hope is lost for my flushing, and my acne is about the worst its ever been. It just doesnt seem fair that accutane didnt help with my acne AND i still have bad acne.
I just dont know what to do....
My skin didnt change at all pre to post accutane. It is as oily as it always has been.
My derm actually recommended going to my GP to talk about the flushing. Im not sure what they will be able to do, but im already on tons of medication as it is.
Im on armour thyroid, Trileptal, and Wellbutrin, and im not sure if adding more meds would be a good idea?
I just feel like there isnt much point in trying anymore.
Feels so horrible
Do Not go back on Accutane if you have flushing, yes the retin-a and Benzo could make your redness and flushing increase and worse. I think it is time for you to maybe find a new derm.
As for a thyroid veteran myself Graves, ( Accutane Related long story) give me a couple days and I will send you some info on retnoids and thyroid. I will send you a link on a good thyroid support group w/ info. I agree w/Seattle regarding your hormones etc... Not to say Accutane wasn't the culprit of your worsening of redness and flushing, however fixing other things can help.
As I and Seattle stated please try and stop the fish oil and flax seed, one must remember that what is good for a normal person is not always good for one who has been damaged by Accutane.
Hope this all made sense - Jen
I know i shouldnt get back on, its just that im so frustrated with this, that i can hardly stand to look at myself.
I mean, if accutane didnt work for me and antibiotics are a waste, WTF am i supposed to do?
It just makes no sense that i still have such bad acne....
Yeah, any help would def be appreciated.
How would i be able to "fix" my hormones?
Are you talking about aromatase inhibitors and the like? Would i have to go see an endocrinologist, because i have already scene one, and he was the one who helped me with the thyroid problem. He said that he didnt really want to screw around with my other hormones too much, and that he wanted them to level out on their own over time.
I just dont understand how fish oil or flax oil would be bad?
I was flushing way worse before i started with the fish oil, which i began about a month ago. There hasnt really been a big improvement, but i havent gotten worse or anything...
And ive read time and again that flax oil helps with redness A LOT
thanks for the reply and help
Nick,
Sorry for the delay, but I don't check all that frequently. Looks like Shantelle and Oli Girl answered your questions, but I'll throw in my two cents as well. How long have you had a thyroid condition? That is intriguing to me because that alone can lead to flushing so I'm curious on how if you had that pre accutane. If you're inclined to try Vitamin K cream then I would just recommend doing a test patch for like a week, otherwise you should be fine. In regards to Fish Oil and Flax seed. I would recommend stopping them one at a time for a couple of weeks and just seeing if you notice any difference. But then again I would recommend that you do that for everything that you currently are using as you never know what could be causing/increasing problems. Personally, I was taking a vitamin C sup years ago and realized that it was intensifying my flushing so I cut it out, pretty strange.
Accutane can lead to thyroid problems is what Oli Girl is referencing. I'm also intrigued by your high hormone levels. That could be throwing your body out of whack as well. If your acne is still bad its a tough call. Dealing with both acne and flushing is no picnic and really complicates what you can do for treatments. Personally, I would not waste my time with antibiotics. They don't actually correct/heal your acne problem, but just merely mask it and since you have to ingest it that means that you are treating your entire body for an acne problem while also decreasing the effectiveness of antibiotics overall, if when, you actually need them for medical reasons. Did your skin change pre/post tane? As in did you used to have oily skin and now have dry etc.? That makes a difference as far as treatments go as well. From looking at your pictures it looks like your acne is worse than your flushing from an aesthetic perspective.
I wouldn't let flushing get in the way of working out. If it all possible you should try to work out in the morning because that's when the gym will be coolest, temperature wise, and therefore should limit your flush. I would dump the derm if I were you. It sounds like hes not open minded at all so it has to be frustrating interacting with him/her. The reason I recommend a GP to focus your efforts with is because, quite honestly, they are significantly better doctors than derms (in general) so if there isn't a world class derm in your relative area then I would switch to a good gp. They are more likely willing to spend the time with you in an attempt to figure out your problems and especially in your case as you have thyorid/hormone considerations as well so you really should have one doctor for everything so that no mistakes are made that lead to two different treatments counteracting each other etc.
I wish that I could be more helpful about your acne, but I would like to know more about your specific skin type before offering any advice, and even then I'm no expert as I resorted to using accutane (sigh) as well.
Hey Seattle, thanks for replying.
I have no idea how long ive had the thyroid condition, buts ive been getting it treated for about a year now. I was diagnosed as being hypothyroid well before my course of accutane.
Looking back at pictures of myself, i actually do see a lot of the same redness i have now. I have pics of myself about 3 years ago when my family went to Cancun for vacation, and in most every picture, my cheeks are pretty red.
The only thing that bothers me is that, i dont remember feeling like my face was on fire and i dont remember the sweating. Im not really sure what to think now about my flushing since i have seen those pics. What do you guys think?
I just went to my derm yesterday and he prescribed me antibiotics lolz. He also prescribed me using retin-a and acanya gel, which is like a benzoyl peroxide gel.
The problems with those are that, doesnt retin-a make your skin thinner, which results in more facial flushing? Another thing is that, benzoyl peroxide washes make me flush pretty badly, but do you guys think the gel will have the same effects? The BP washes also lost their effectiveness after about a month as well, so im not sure what to think about this gel.
I know i should have asked him these questions, but i get pretty shy around other people, and there was this really cute nurse in the room while he was talking to me, so i was even more flustered than normal haha.
My derm also says that if these antibiotics dont work, then he wants to put me on another course of accutane. I mentioned my concerns about the flushing, but again, he didnt believe that it was the problem.
This is gonna sound crazy, but would another course be so horrible? I already feel like all hope is lost for my flushing, and my acne is about the worst its ever been. It just doesnt seem fair that accutane didnt help with my acne AND i still have bad acne.
I just dont know what to do....
My skin didnt change at all pre to post accutane. It is as oily as it always has been.
My derm actually recommended going to my GP to talk about the flushing. Im not sure what they will be able to do, but im already on tons of medication as it is.
Im on armour thyroid, Trileptal, and Wellbutrin, and im not sure if adding more meds would be a good idea?
I just feel like there isnt much point in trying anymore.
Feels so horrible
Do Not go back on Accutane if you have flushing, yes the retin-a and Benzo could make your redness and flushing increase and worse. I think it is time for you to maybe find a new derm.
As for a thyroid veteran myself Graves, ( Accutane Related long story) give me a couple days and I will send you some info on retnoids and thyroid. I will send you a link on a good thyroid support group w/ info. I agree w/Seattle regarding your hormones etc... Not to say Accutane wasn't the culprit of your worsening of redness and flushing, however fixing other things can help.
As I and Seattle stated please try and stop the fish oil and flax seed, one must remember that what is good for a normal person is not always good for one who has been damaged by Accutane.
Hope this all made sense - Jen
I know i shouldnt get back on, its just that im so frustrated with this, that i can hardly stand to look at myself.
I mean, if accutane didnt work for me and antibiotics are a waste, WTF am i supposed to do?
It just makes no sense that i still have such bad acne....
Yeah, any help would def be appreciated.
How would i be able to "fix" my hormones?
Are you talking about aromatase inhibitors and the like? Would i have to go see an endocrinologist, because i have already scene one, and he was the one who helped me with the thyroid problem. He said that he didnt really want to screw around with my other hormones too much, and that he wanted them to level out on their own over time.
I just dont understand how fish oil or flax oil would be bad?
I was flushing way worse before i started with the fish oil, which i began about a month ago. There hasnt really been a big improvement, but i havent gotten worse or anything...
And ive read time and again that flax oil helps with redness A LOT
thanks for the reply and help
If you believe that Accutane caused your flushing/roseca then do not re take it. As for Flax and Fish oil alot of people who have problems from Accutane makes thier problems worse, but it is up to you, we were just suggesting that it may be contributing to the flushing. Also the other meds your one trileptal (do u have sz disorder??) wellbutrin have you read the insert of side effects of thoose they may contribute also to flushing and hormonal upset. I really believe that you should of probably never been given Accutane. I know acne is hard, but your health and well being is more important right????
AS for thyroid, many thyroid pts have acne as it is hormonal, and many suffer from estorgen, testerone problems and other problems. I will pm you a link to a wonderful thyroid support group. One must remember that the thryoid controls many hormones.
Nick,
Like I said I wouldn't touch antis. Your derm sounds useless. From what you are saying it sounds like accutane just exacerbated your flushing. The problem with having bad acne and flushing is that treating your acne is most likely going to exacerbate your flushing. I'm completely opposed to you going back on accutane. If it failed to do anything productive the first round I would be very pessimistic about its changes of being positive the second time around especially if you still have oily skin. Not even considering the fact that your flushing is worse now than pre tane so another round could potentially make it even worse. From those facts alone I would say it should be a no go, but on top of that you have a thyroid condition which is not something that should be combined with accutane at all and even beyond that its just a seriously misunderstood drug that can lead to a whole host of problems outside of flushing.
If I were you I would step back from trying to treat acne/flushing with creams and gels etc. and focus on your hormones. You could very possibly have a hormone imbalance which is leading to your problems or at the very least could be contributing to them.
Your derm finally said something intelligent when they said to talk to a GP about flushing. Its very important that your GP is willing to work with you on this because it is not cut and dry so if they are not then you should find a new one that is. I wouldn't necessarily try to add MORE medications to the mix as much as I would try to figure out if the current blend is increasing your problems and work with your GP to figure it all out. You should try to pinpoint when you started using all of the meds that you currently are on and whether you noticed any differences around the time you started each of them.
In regards to the fish oil and flaxseed again, its not that simple as them being effective against redness. Accutane can be used for rosacea patients, but it caused my flushing. Minocycline can be used to treat flushing as well, but it was intensifying my flushing post tane. So all I'm saying is that just because they are used to treatment redness doesn't mean that they are and doesn't mean that they aren't increasing your problems. Neither could be impacting your flushing in a negative way or even could be helping, but when your dealing with acne/flushing post tane its better to be safe than sorry and that's why I recommend only adding one thing at a time so that you can pinpoint exactly what is causing any noticed changes.
Nick,
Like I said I wouldn't touch antis. Your derm sounds useless. From what you are saying it sounds like accutane just exacerbated your flushing. The problem with having bad acne and flushing is that treating your acne is most likely going to exacerbate your flushing. I'm completely opposed to you going back on accutane. If it failed to do anything productive the first round I would be very pessimistic about its changes of being positive the second time around especially if you still have oily skin. Not even considering the fact that your flushing is worse now than pre tane so another round could potentially make it even worse. From those facts alone I would say it should be a no go, but on top of that you have a thyroid condition which is not something that should be combined with accutane at all and even beyond that its just a seriously misunderstood drug that can lead to a whole host of problems outside of flushing.
If I were you I would step back from trying to treat acne/flushing with creams and gels etc. and focus on your hormones. You could very possibly have a hormone imbalance which is leading to your problems or at the very least could be contributing to them.
Your derm finally said something intelligent when they said to talk to a GP about flushing. Its very important that your GP is willing to work with you on this because it is not cut and dry so if they are not then you should find a new one that is. I wouldn't necessarily try to add MORE medications to the mix as much as I would try to figure out if the current blend is increasing your problems and work with your GP to figure it all out. You should try to pinpoint when you started using all of the meds that you currently are on and whether you noticed any differences around the time you started each of them.
In regards to the fish oil and flaxseed again, its not that simple as them being effective against redness. Accutane can be used for rosacea patients, but it caused my flushing. Minocycline can be used to treat flushing as well, but it was intensifying my flushing post tane. So all I'm saying is that just because they are used to treatment redness doesn't mean that they are and doesn't mean that they aren't increasing your problems. Neither could be impacting your flushing in a negative way or even could be helping, but when your dealing with acne/flushing post tane its better to be safe than sorry and that's why I recommend only adding one thing at a time so that you can pinpoint exactly what is causing any noticed changes.
Okay, i know thinking of using accutane was crazy lol. I dunno what i was thinking, i was/am just upset about my worsening acne.
As far as "fixing" my hormones; how in the world can i do that? Im gonna go to my GP soon, but im not sure what to say to him? Should i just go straight to an endocrinologist?
I dont really know what to say or ask.
Im just screwed here because i dont know what to do....
Thanks for all your help dude.
Would just like to inform you all that I am in complete remission of flushing!
I began taking Prozac (fluoxetine) 20 mg/day about two weeks ago, and after around day 5 my flushing suddenly halted. Every single night without fail I flushed quite badly for hours on end for months. The amount of relief and joy I feel is unbelievable due to this flushing being stopped. I know everyone's first assumption is "oh he must of just had complete anxiety flushing/blushing" but this is not the case. I would flush in completely stress free situations over common triggers such as food, hot baths, etc. Also, I took propanalol daily for the past few months which would presumably stop the flushing if it was caused completely by anxiety. So I believe prozac must alter something at a vascular level.
Now since I've stopped the flushing I just need to laser the bloody broken caps/weakened blood vessals caused by all this past flushing and I should be healed!
Google prozac and hot flashes and some studies come up about it's effectiveness (and I believe hot flashes and flushing work in a similar manner). The biggest positive about prozac versus remeron, clonidine, etc. is that it is the most commonly prescribed anti-depressant in North America so it will be most doctors first line of treatment if you say you are feeling down or w.e. I know how hard it is to get a doctor to help you out because you "flush because of accutane" which most doctors will say doesn't merit treatment. Also, I know how difficult it is to get a doctor to prescribe you an oral treatment (remeron, etc.) for flushing because they mostly say "just avoid triggers" or something.
Anyways just lettin' you guys know what has cured my post accutane flushing.
Would just like to inform you all that I am in complete remission of flushing!I began taking Prozac (fluoxetine) 20 mg/day about two weeks ago, and after around day 5 my flushing suddenly halted. Every single night without fail I flushed quite badly for hours on end for months. The amount of relief and joy I feel is unbelievable due to this flushing being stopped. I know everyone's first assumption is "oh he must of just had complete anxiety flushing/blushing" but this is not the case. I would flush in completely stress free situations over common triggers such as food, hot baths, etc. Also, I took propanalol daily for the past few months which would presumably stop the flushing if it was caused completely by anxiety. So I believe prozac must alter something at a vascular level.
Now since I've stopped the flushing I just need to laser the bloody broken caps/weakened blood vessals caused by all this past flushing and I should be healed!
Google prozac and hot flashes and some studies come up about it's effectiveness (and I believe hot flashes and flushing work in a similar manner). The biggest positive about prozac versus remeron, clonidine, etc. is that it is the most commonly prescribed anti-depressant in North America so it will be most doctors first line of treatment if you say you are feeling down or w.e. I know how hard it is to get a doctor to help you out because you "flush because of accutane" which most doctors will say doesn't merit treatment. Also, I know how difficult it is to get a doctor to prescribe you an oral treatment (remeron, etc.) for flushing because they mostly say "just avoid triggers" or something.
Anyways just lettin' you guys know what has cured my post accutane flushing.
1. Congratulations!!!
2. I envy the hell out of you.
3. Do you believe that Prozac would be more effective than clonidine? Why or why not?
Would just like to inform you all that I am in complete remission of flushing!I began taking Prozac (fluoxetine) 20 mg/day about two weeks ago, and after around day 5 my flushing suddenly halted. Every single night without fail I flushed quite badly for hours on end for months. The amount of relief and joy I feel is unbelievable due to this flushing being stopped. I know everyone's first assumption is "oh he must of just had complete anxiety flushing/blushing" but this is not the case. I would flush in completely stress free situations over common triggers such as food, hot baths, etc. Also, I took propanalol daily for the past few months which would presumably stop the flushing if it was caused completely by anxiety. So I believe prozac must alter something at a vascular level.
Now since I've stopped the flushing I just need to laser the bloody broken caps/weakened blood vessals caused by all this past flushing and I should be healed!
Google prozac and hot flashes and some studies come up about it's effectiveness (and I believe hot flashes and flushing work in a similar manner). The biggest positive about prozac versus remeron, clonidine, etc. is that it is the most commonly prescribed anti-depressant in North America so it will be most doctors first line of treatment if you say you are feeling down or w.e. I know how hard it is to get a doctor to help you out because you "flush because of accutane" which most doctors will say doesn't merit treatment. Also, I know how difficult it is to get a doctor to prescribe you an oral treatment (remeron, etc.) for flushing because they mostly say "just avoid triggers" or something.
Anyways just lettin' you guys know what has cured my post accutane flushing.
1. Congratulations!!!
2. I envy the hell out of you.
3. Do you believe that Prozac would be more effective than clonidine? Why or why not?
I've never been able to get a script for clonidine myself but I have yet to read a success story with it's use that involves COMPLETE remission of flushing. Most users just state that it signifigantly lowers their flushing threshold and intensity. Also, clonidine creates a rebound flush (as in if you take it in the morning, you will have a big flush after the effects wear off that evening if you don't take another dose) so you need to take a couple of pills a day for it to be consistantly in your system. Prozac on the other hand slowly dissipates from your system for the 3 weeks following your last pill, making rebound flushing very unlikely. So, I'd attest to prozac being more effective than clonidine.
Would just like to inform you all that I am in complete remission of flushing!I began taking Prozac (fluoxetine) 20 mg/day about two weeks ago, and after around day 5 my flushing suddenly halted. Every single night without fail I flushed quite badly for hours on end for months. The amount of relief and joy I feel is unbelievable due to this flushing being stopped. I know everyone's first assumption is "oh he must of just had complete anxiety flushing/blushing" but this is not the case. I would flush in completely stress free situations over common triggers such as food, hot baths, etc. Also, I took propanalol daily for the past few months which would presumably stop the flushing if it was caused completely by anxiety. So I believe prozac must alter something at a vascular level.
Now since I've stopped the flushing I just need to laser the bloody broken caps/weakened blood vessals caused by all this past flushing and I should be healed!
Google prozac and hot flashes and some studies come up about it's effectiveness (and I believe hot flashes and flushing work in a similar manner). The biggest positive about prozac versus remeron, clonidine, etc. is that it is the most commonly prescribed anti-depressant in North America so it will be most doctors first line of treatment if you say you are feeling down or w.e. I know how hard it is to get a doctor to help you out because you "flush because of accutane" which most doctors will say doesn't merit treatment. Also, I know how difficult it is to get a doctor to prescribe you an oral treatment (remeron, etc.) for flushing because they mostly say "just avoid triggers" or something.
Anyways just lettin' you guys know what has cured my post accutane flushing.
1. Congratulations!!!
2. I envy the hell out of you.
3. Do you believe that Prozac would be more effective than clonidine? Why or why not?
I've never been able to get a script for clonidine myself but I have yet to read a success story with it's use that involves COMPLETE remission of flushing. Most users just state that it signifigantly lowers their flushing threshold and intensity. Also, clonidine creates a rebound flush (as in if you take it in the morning, you will have a big flush after the effects wear off that evening if you don't take another dose) so you need to take a couple of pills a day for it to be consistantly in your system. Prozac on the other hand slowly dissipates from your system for the 3 weeks following your last pill, making rebound flushing very unlikely. So, I'd attest to prozac being more effective than clonidine.
hmmmm, that is very interesting. My doc just prescribed me clonidine, so now you got me thinking about prozac.
See, im already on an anti convulsant (trileptal) as well an antidepressant (wellbutrin), so i dont think prozac would be good to throw into that mix, but i dont know if it would be a suitable substitute for either one.
How has the prozac affected you?
Does it really turn you into a "zombie", as so many people say it does?
Id like to see if it works because my flushing is intolerable, as im sure you know, but i dont think my psych would agree to it....
Would just like to inform you all that I am in complete remission of flushing!I began taking Prozac (fluoxetine) 20 mg/day about two weeks ago, and after around day 5 my flushing suddenly halted. Every single night without fail I flushed quite badly for hours on end for months. The amount of relief and joy I feel is unbelievable due to this flushing being stopped. I know everyone's first assumption is "oh he must of just had complete anxiety flushing/blushing" but this is not the case. I would flush in completely stress free situations over common triggers such as food, hot baths, etc. Also, I took propanalol daily for the past few months which would presumably stop the flushing if it was caused completely by anxiety. So I believe prozac must alter something at a vascular level.
Now since I've stopped the flushing I just need to laser the bloody broken caps/weakened blood vessals caused by all this past flushing and I should be healed!
Google prozac and hot flashes and some studies come up about it's effectiveness (and I believe hot flashes and flushing work in a similar manner). The biggest positive about prozac versus remeron, clonidine, etc. is that it is the most commonly prescribed anti-depressant in North America so it will be most doctors first line of treatment if you say you are feeling down or w.e. I know how hard it is to get a doctor to help you out because you "flush because of accutane" which most doctors will say doesn't merit treatment. Also, I know how difficult it is to get a doctor to prescribe you an oral treatment (remeron, etc.) for flushing because they mostly say "just avoid triggers" or something.
Anyways just lettin' you guys know what has cured my post accutane flushing.
1. Congratulations!!!
2. I envy the hell out of you.
3. Do you believe that Prozac would be more effective than clonidine? Why or why not?
I've never been able to get a script for clonidine myself but I have yet to read a success story with it's use that involves COMPLETE remission of flushing. Most users just state that it signifigantly lowers their flushing threshold and intensity. Also, clonidine creates a rebound flush (as in if you take it in the morning, you will have a big flush after the effects wear off that evening if you don't take another dose) so you need to take a couple of pills a day for it to be consistantly in your system. Prozac on the other hand slowly dissipates from your system for the 3 weeks following your last pill, making rebound flushing very unlikely. So, I'd attest to prozac being more effective than clonidine.
hmmmm, that is very interesting. My doc just prescribed me clonidine, so now you got me thinking about prozac.
See, im already on an anti convulsant (trileptal) as well an antidepressant (wellbutrin), so i dont think prozac would be good to throw into that mix, but i dont know if it would be a suitable substitute for either one.
How has the prozac affected you?
Does it really turn you into a "zombie", as so many people say it does?
Id like to see if it works because my flushing is intolerable, as im sure you know, but i dont think my psych would agree to it....
I don't think you can take it with wellbutrin but it has the ability to take care of what wellbutrin is doing (anxiety, depression etc.). The effects of it haven't kicked in as it takes 3-4 weeks to work and I've only been on it for two. This is further evidence that it is not the anti anxiety effects of the medication seizing my flushing but rather something vascular. I'd assume trileptal would be more likely to make you a zombie than prozac.
Also, I've read a few stories about wellbutrin causing/increasing flushing - so maybe that's something to look into?
wtffffffffffff??!?!
are u serious?
Ive never heard anything about that.
Hmmmm, well my doc told me that wellbutrin was sort of like an anti anxiety/anti depression med.
He said it was different than other anti depressants and that it wouldnt make me a "zombie"
EDIT: Do you flush from the heat or cold? Has the prozac helped with that?
That is my biggest problem. I flush when it gets too hot no matter what, and i dont know how to fight it
The type of flushing prozac has helped the MOST with is heat intolerant flushing. Even my friend who doesn't flush but gets hot and sweaty extremely easily has been cured by prozac. Guys I can't stress enough how much 20mg per day of prozac has given me my life back...I can workout, I can eat whatever I want, I can drink, I can be in hot rooms, I can do anything without flushing ITS AMAZING!!!!!
The type of flushing prozac has helped the MOST with is heat intolerant flushing. Even my friend who doesn't flush but gets hot and sweaty extremely easily has been cured by prozac. Guys I can't stress enough how much 20mg per day of prozac has given me my life back...I can workout, I can eat whatever I want, I can drink, I can be in hot rooms, I can do anything without flushing ITS AMAZING!!!!!
jesus....
i gotta get on this
How do you think i should word this to my psych?
Should i just tell him i think i might have more success with prozac than with Trileptal?
Should i mention the prevention of flushing to him?
He was the one who prescribed the clonidine btw, so maybe he'll be more sympathetic?
Has your complexion gotten any better? Your skin blotchy at all?
Did you have acne before that is getting better?
Has it helped with oiliness at all?
Thanks dude
The type of flushing prozac has helped the MOST with is heat intolerant flushing. Even my friend who doesn't flush but gets hot and sweaty extremely easily has been cured by prozac. Guys I can't stress enough how much 20mg per day of prozac has given me my life back...I can workout, I can eat whatever I want, I can drink, I can be in hot rooms, I can do anything without flushing ITS AMAZING!!!!!jesus....
i gotta get on this
How do you think i should word this to my psych?
Should i just tell him i think i might have more success with prozac than with Trileptal?
Should i mention the prevention of flushing to him?
He was the one who prescribed the clonidine btw, so maybe he'll be more sympathetic?
Has your complexion gotten any better? Your skin blotchy at all?
Did you have acne before that is getting better?
Has it helped with oiliness at all?
Thanks dude
No I wouldn't use it as a replacement for Trileptal but rather as a replacement for Wellbutrin.
You shouldn't have a hard time getting a script for prozac as it is the first line of treatment for any depression/anxiety issues (atleast here in Canada) and has a very low side effect/withdrawel profile compared to other anti depressants. I wouldn't mention using it for the prevention of flushing as he will have no knowledge of its use for that condition because no studies or anything have been done pertaining to flushing + prozac. Maybe try to get it prescribed along side clonidine for an ultimate anti flushing regimen.
Day by day the blotchy persistent redness is calming down because I am no longer flushing each night and therefore no longer aggravating the capillaries in my face. I believe post accutane flushers can all be cured by: finding a way to stop the flushing (breaking the cycle) and then keeping the flushing at bay for at least 6-12 months to allow the facial capillaries to heal. The reason some post accutane flushers evolve into full blown life long rosacea is likely because the accutane has starting a vicious cycle of flushing. You start flushing because of accutane, which in turn weakens the capillaries in your face making them open and respond to stimuli easier, and the process repeats itself. Once a post accutane flusher has flushed enough it will slowly get worse and worse until the point of irreversible vascular damage which leads to life long rosacea. So the trick is to STOP the flushing, no matter what medication you need to go on, for 6-12 months!
I don't really get acne anymore since taking accutane 9 months ago.
No improvement in oily skin to note.
The type of flushing prozac has helped the MOST with is heat intolerant flushing. Even my friend who doesn't flush but gets hot and sweaty extremely easily has been cured by prozac. Guys I can't stress enough how much 20mg per day of prozac has given me my life back...I can workout, I can eat whatever I want, I can drink, I can be in hot rooms, I can do anything without flushing ITS AMAZING!!!!!jesus....
i gotta get on this
How do you think i should word this to my psych?
Should i just tell him i think i might have more success with prozac than with Trileptal?
Should i mention the prevention of flushing to him?
He was the one who prescribed the clonidine btw, so maybe he'll be more sympathetic?
Has your complexion gotten any better? Your skin blotchy at all?
Did you have acne before that is getting better?
Has it helped with oiliness at all?
Thanks dude
No I wouldn't use it as a replacement for Trileptal but rather as a replacement for Wellbutrin.
You shouldn't have a hard time getting a script for prozac as it is the first line of treatment for any depression/anxiety issues (atleast here in Canada) and has a very low side effect/withdrawel profile compared to other anti depressants. I wouldn't mention using it for the prevention of flushing as he will have no knowledge of its use for that condition because no studies or anything have been done pertaining to flushing + prozac. Maybe try to get it prescribed along side clonidine for an ultimate anti flushing regimen.
Day by day the blotchy persistent redness is calming down because I am no longer flushing each night and therefore no longer aggravating the capillaries in my face. I believe post accutane flushers can all be cured by: finding a way to stop the flushing (breaking the cycle) and then keeping the flushing at bay for at least 6-12 months to allow the facial capillaries to heal. The reason some post accutane flushers evolve into full blown life long rosacea is likely because the accutane has starting a vicious cycle of flushing. You start flushing because of accutane, which in turn weakens the capillaries in your face making them open and respond to stimuli easier, and the process repeats itself. Once a post accutane flusher has flushed enough it will slowly get worse and worse until the point of irreversible vascular damage which leads to life long rosacea. So the trick is to STOP the flushing, no matter what medication you need to go on, for 6-12 months!
I don't really get acne anymore since taking accutane 9 months ago.
No improvement in oily skin to note.
Man, i dunno if i would wanna get off Wellbutrin.
The trileptal has helped stabalize my moods very well (i am bipolar 1), but the wellbutrin has REALLY helped with my anxiety and has made me much, MUCH more outgoing.
Because of the wellbutrin, i asked out like 8 girls last month and this month (7 said yes!).
You wanna know how many ive asked before these last two months? ZERO. In my whole life, i had never had the courage to do so, and now wellbutrin has really made me turn around.
I truly wanna stop the flushing, but unless prozac can mimic the results of wellbutrin, i would rather flush my whole life than go back to the way i was.
Do you think there would be any way to get the prozac alongside my other two medications?
Isnt 20mg a very low dose?
Im feeling pretty good right now, so i dunno how much i should screw around with things...
I dont understand why i still have such bad acne.
Other members here think its because of my very high testosterone and estradiol levels, but i just have no clue.
What do you think?
Thanks for all your help dude, really appreciate it
Shantelle- How are you doing????
Hi Oli Girl
Thanks for asking. I'm still in a very good phase sp pleased about that. No flushing issues, healed fine over the weeks post-vbeam non-purpuric laser... no negative repercussions so off to get treatment no2 this comming Thurs then that'll be it for at least a while. It should really help keep the Rosacea in remission hopefully for a long, long time. The treatment has been excellent at getting rid of broken capillaries and base redness. I think this laser has been so successful because the laser aims to protect the epidermis/skin and focuses only on absorbing the blood vessels just under the skin.
I had some good results back from recent blood tests: ANA down from 1:640+ to 1:320+. Other lupus antibodies negative so that is also good news though i will still be monitored for lupus antibodies. ESR indicative of bodywide inflammation down from 23 to 8! (normal range 0-15), so very pleased with that. Can largely accredit Plaquenil to that change in ESR result, i'm sure. ALT liver result down from 80 to 53 as well- so think this is due to getting off Doxy. Coping fine this summer; cannot believe the difference compared with how I was feeling last Summer 2010. Rheum appnt next month so will see what he says since he & team were monitoring me for SLE since Sept, though Derm confirmed cutaneous lupus last year due to physical symptoms/blood results.
How are things going with you?? any improvements seen from tests? Still having follow-ups with your Rheum?
Shantelle
Shantelle- How are you doing????
Hi Oli Girl
Thanks for asking. I'm still in a very good phase sp pleased about that. No flushing issues, healed fine over the weeks post-vbeam non-purpuric laser... no negative repercussions so off to get treatment no2 this comming Thurs then that'll be it for at least a while. It should really help keep the Rosacea in remission hopefully for a long, long time. The treatment has been excellent at getting rid of broken capillaries and base redness. I think this laser has been so successful because the laser aims to protect the epidermis/skin and focuses only on absorbing the blood vessels just under the skin.
I had some good results back from recent blood tests: ANA down from 1:640+ to 1:320+. Other lupus antibodies negative so that is also good news though i will still be monitored for lupus antibodies. ESR indicative of bodywide inflammation down from 23 to 8! (normal range 0-15), so very pleased with that. Can largely accredit Plaquenil to that change in ESR result, i'm sure. ALT liver result down from 80 to 53 as well- so think this is due to getting off Doxy. Coping fine this summer; cannot believe the difference compared with how I was feeling last Summer 2010. Rheum appnt next month so will see what he says since he & team were monitoring me for SLE since Sept, though Derm confirmed cutaneous lupus last year due to physical symptoms/blood results.
How are things going with you?? any improvements seen from tests? Still having follow-ups with your Rheum?
Shantelle
I am glad to hear things are looking up! Interesting that you speak of laser, as I just had my hands done, I got a lot of age spots since accutane. I was thinking of having it done on my face for the broken vessels etc.... My hands seem to do real good, so you think since I am flush free that I would be okay?????
Still seeing the Rheum and on Plaquenil. Can't say it has helped too much with joints, but other things it has 100%. I am sure I have the beginnings of R.A. and well I have all clinicals of Sjrogens (which improved since plaquenil).
Hi Oli Girl
So glad to hear that some things have been relieved with Plaquenil, that is great news 
. To this day I'm still convinced Accutane induces autoimmune diseases in some people, maybe especially if people are predisposed to autoimmune issues (i.e. if autoimmune diseases maybe run in the family). For example my mum's side has thyroid issues, so i'm not suprised i've got lupus since Accutane induced lupus-like symptoms. What does the Rheum say about the possibility of Sjrogens and R.A? or are they just monitoring things with you for now??, like they are monitoring me for Systemic Lupus on top of me Derm saying I have cutaneous lupus. We are so lucky we have found the right Rheums to help us... I hope with time we will just keep improving whilst on Plaq, slowely by slowely.
What laser did you have to treat the age spots?? Was it the vbeam?? IPL? I had my second non-purpuric/non-bruising vbeam today and the sunburnt look is fading quickly like last time in just a matter of hours. By night time i'll be back to normal looking. I guess this is the part where the blood vessels have been heated up, and then over the next 8-12 weeks the blood vessels are coagulated and being absorbed by the body during the natrual healing process. I would recommend you find a specialist laser derm who has a good rep, someone who uses new vbeam laser technology which doesn't induse brusing. 'Candela Perfecta' is an awesome vbeam laser. Seeing you have stopped flushing and been off Accutane longer than me, I'd say you would be a good candidate for the treatment. To be safe, you could always get a small patch test done and see how you react. It's a great laser for reducing redness and getting rid of broken blood vessels, but it takes up to 3 months to see full results (for some reason most people expect results to be instant lol). As well, seeing vbeam is used on lupus patients, it has an excellent safety profile. Let me know what you do, either or...
Best, Shantelle
So I just got back from the appointment with my derm. She said that the blushing might have come from accutane, but she also that it could just be a coincident. She denied that there were any medicine that could help me, or at least she wouldn't give me any... Her advise to me was to contact a psychologist, and find a way to live with it. It might fade with time, or it might not.
She would also check if there were any other people that had been registered with blushing as a side-effects from accutane, and come back to me.
WHAT should I DO? Contact a psychologist?
Damn you accutane 
Edit: After a bit of thinking I have come to the conclusion that this is bullshit. I don't need a psychologist, I need a way to get ride of this sh!t. I'm so enormously frustrated and mad right now. I'm just gonna have to live with it? Well thank you. Guess my only hope right now is that its gonna fade away with time.
I also mentioned clonidine for her, and she had heard about it, but it isn't used in Norway. She wouldn't have put me on beta-blockers anyway, as she put it, but I thought clonidine was something else?
Hi A New Start
Goodness, sounds like your Derm is pretty unfhelpful and isn't at all knowledgeable in isotretinoin side effects. Perhaps you'd have better luck with your GP. In my experience, GPs are more open minded to letting people try things.
No, Clonidine is not a Beta Blocker, it is a antihypertensive drug. Propranolol for example, is a Beta Blocker used in the treatment of hypertension. So essentially they do the same thing by lowering blood pressure and taking away some blood supply from extremities... hence it is helpful medication for Rosacea flushers because there is less blood supply to the blood vessels in the face etc. I have no idea why your Derm would be so against BetaBlockers or Clonidine when they are widely known as best treatment for flushers if laser treatment is not an option. See:
* http://www.dermnetnz.org/vascular/blushing.html
* http://www.dermnetnz.org/acne/rosacea.html
* http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0801/p435.html
* http://www.rosacea-research.org/wiki/index...title=Main_Page
* http://rosacea-support.org/rosacea-flushin...ropranolol.html
* http://dermatology.about.com/od/facialflus...a/ffrosacea.htm
No you don't have to 'live with it'; obviously it is really bothersome otherwise you wouldn't be seeking advice on how to find relief. I hope you find someone who is actually willing to help.
Keep us updated,
Best, Shantelle
Hi A New Start
Goodness, sounds like your Derm is pretty unfhelpful and isn't at all knowledgeable in isotretinoin side effects. Perhaps you'd have better luck with your GP. In my experience, GPs are more open minded to letting people try things.
No, Clonidine is not a Beta Blocker, it is a antihypertensive drug. Propranolol for example, is a Beta Blocker used in the treatment of hypertension. So essentially they do the same thing by lowering blood pressure and taking away some blood supply from extremities... hence it is helpful medication for Rosacea flushers because there is less blood supply to the blood vessels in the face etc. I have no idea why your Derm would be so against BetaBlockers or Clonidine when they are widely known as best treatment for flushers if laser treatment is not an option. See:
* http://www.dermnetnz.org/vascular/blushing.html
* http://www.dermnetnz.org/acne/rosacea.html
* http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0801/p435.html
* http://www.rosacea-research.org/wiki/index...title=Main_Page
* http://rosacea-support.org/rosacea-flushin...ropranolol.html
* http://dermatology.about.com/od/facialflus...a/ffrosacea.htm
No you don't have to 'live with it'; obviously it is really bothersome otherwise you wouldn't be seeking advice on how to find relief. I hope you find someone who is actually willing to help.
Keep us updated,
Best, Shantelle
Thanks for all the help Shantelle.
Nick:
The prozac is doing its job - flushing down 90%; most notable is my new found tolerance to heat as I just returned from a week long stay at a resort in mexico and was not bothered by flushing even in the heat.
a new start:
I know how it feels to get a referred to a psychologist...the whole "i'm not crazy so I don't need one" feeling arises but please listen:
your best chance at controlling the flushing comes from the medications most commonly prescribed by a psychologist. Propanalol, remeron (especially helpful due to its anti histamine effect), prozac, and paxil are all going to be easier to obtain from a psych than from your g.p. You could bring in studies, explain your situation, etc. to your general practitioner but believe me they will likely not prescribe any of the above listed medications for your flushing as they will have no knowledge of the benefits the pose to your condition. Psychs are also much more lenient when it comes to prescribing meds and are more likely to listen to you if you tell them you want to try a particular med. I would go to the psych and state you have general anxiety which causes facial blushing instead of going on about accutane causing it because they will likely not fall for it.
Hey guys, I been following these posts for awhile now...i too have been dealing with some issues post accutane!!!
It all started when i was on the drug 2nd time my liver enzymes were high my cholesterol my triglycorides blood pressure...derm said we need to stop u before more damage is done
i also at the time had red cheeks an flushing-classic rosacea although "im told its not that to this day still", also i suffered from dry skin like usual accutane people do on treatment low back pain left side kidney area and that was about it.....then a year post accutane i got severe dry skin no oil production whats so ever, hands and feet cold an pale white purple all the time-"told could be raynauds"..constipation issues which seems to be relieved if i eat whole grains an healthier....all in all ive had a list full of symptoms that dont seem to go away an i have no answer as to why im suffering....but i find it hard to believe it aint accutane considerin all these people with similar issues
ive had 24 hour urine test...pheocromocytoma test, carcinoid tumor test, echo cardiograhms, ekg heart, chest xray, back x ray, cbc, thyroid test- "even though i have every symptom of thyroid"
ANA TEST all come back fine...only thing high is liver which they said could be accutane still...LOL FUNNY THEY TOLD ME ITS OUT OF MY SYSTEM ITS NOT CAUSING YOUR HEALTH ISSUES YET MY LIVER ENZYMES COULD BE THE ACCUTANE....anyways sorry for complainin just fed up im always depressed now stressed out anxious because i have no many issues an i take it out on my loved ones...they dont understand they say its depression it could be i guess....just dont know how it could cause all these
1.dandruff now hair thinning out.....no history of hair loss in family
2.intense flushing from chest up-definitly think anxiety causing this....also heat? also red cheeks throughout day
3.severe dry skin...which is causing dermatitis like rashes?
4.dark under eyes- due to insomnia stress???
5.my tounge is white an has teeth marks on sides
6.dry mouth nasal membranes and eyes
7.cold hands and feet
8.constipation
9.weight loss-due to healthier diet??
10.heart beats heavy for no reason
11.sleep disturbances
and im pale due to not leaving house...now i have full blown anxiety becuz im looking sick all the time
i dont get it i have classic thyroid/autoimmune sjorgens lupus symptoms yet nothin showing up
i know alot of u have the flushing do any of u have similar issues????? or ideas on who to see cuz ive seen atleast 15 doctors past 2 years now nothing helping...they want me on lexapro i guess ill take it i just dont want worse symptoms.....AGAIN SORRY just very stressed out due to all this
HOPE YOUR ALL DOIN WELL AN HOPE WE ALL GET ANSWERS
Thanks