Does anyone ever wonder if accutane is being unfairly demonized by the pharm and derm industries precisely because it is an effective cure in many if not most cases?
I noticed when reviewing the literature, it isn't until more recently that the extreme damning reports regarding it's dangers began to pour in.
Around the time the patent expired.
Bloomberg report that acne was a $2.8 billion business in 2009.
Yes, I do think it is demonized by *certain* dermatologists. I do think that the side effects of accutane are blown out of proportion. I think in the majority of cases, people experience dry lips & dry skin. I've seen reviews of accutane from people who have experienced other side effects and then other people who read it automatically believe that everyone will get that specific side effect. However, from the dozens of reviews I've seen, I only see around 1-2 negative reviews. People tend to focus on the negative way more than the positive.
I went to two dermatologists before being prescribed accutane. The first time I went, I inquired about accutane and my dermatologist at the time flat out said "no." He said that it will cause birth defects and everytime I asked, he would just shoo me off with another topical gel, which was clearly not doing anything for me. He made it seem like the birth defects would last forever. I probably went through dozens of topical gels and hundreds of dollars on things that did absolutely nothing but dry out my skin.
Fast forward a few months, I got a new dermatologist because the old one wasn't working out. She saw my skin, asked what I've used & offered accutane as the solution. I was over the moon, and am so happy with her. We went through all the FAQs and here I am today (almost clear)
Long story short, I think what people are most scared of is the side effects, particularly the negative ones that may not even impact you. Personally, I have had a very good experience with accutane thus far (4m 2weeks) & look forward to the rest of my treatment!
Everyone is afraid of lawsuits so derms are going for "safer" treatments as their front line. Back in the old days (1980's) when I was prescribed accutane it was the new drug and was the first thing used on cystic acne. I did two rounds of it and it really helped to lower the incidence and severity of my cystic acne. But it did not cure my acne by any means. I still had cystic acne...just less and milder. This allowed me to use topicals and oral antibiotics with greater success. And then in the last couple of years I've been seeing a specialist in adult acne who got me on a treatment regime that wiped out my acne --- I am now clear and have been for a couple of years! If your derm won't give you accutane I recommend this treatment regime because it will kill the acne bacteria and make it so your skin is smooth again. Awesome!
Here is the treatment regime:
Morning: Wash with therapeutic BP cleanser (Panoxyl 10%), apply topical antibiotic (Cleocin-T), moisturize with DML lotion (developed for acne prone skin --- very light and dries quickly --- healing), use only light powder for cover (I like Physician's Formula because it was developed for acne prone skin and has zinc SPF)
Night: Wash with Cetaphil bar (or similar cleanser), apply DML lotion
Monthly: Microdermabrasion with diamond tip (do not do one with loose crystals - too irritating)
Diet: Avoid dairy, sugars, caffeine, all processed oils and foods made from them (chips, fried foods, fast food)
I am totally clear now after suffering with cystic acne forever and trying everything else. Hope this helps!
IDK
I have been dealing with horminal adult acne for the past 4 yrs and have seen 4-5 different derms
I was beging Dr to let me try spiro and was told my acne wasnt bad enough..
I didnt even mention accutane only for the fact that if they wouldnt give me spiro why would they agree to tane
anyway this last derm I saw listened to my history and quickly suggested tane
I had been on antibiotics for a year and had a laundry list of topicals I have tried (rx and OTC)
She said enough is enough....get on tane for a few mnths and be done with this crap
Im on day 47-48
kim
Doctors weren't very well acquainted with all the possible side effects when Accutane first came out, so many of them didn't know in what exactly they were getting in.
After all the lawsuits due to gastrointestinal, mental and other illnesses and the later establishment of the iPledge program, many felt the heavy personal and professional burden of prescribing accutane.
The older solo derms can't keep up with all the work required by iPledge if they don't have another staff member to keep up with all the paperwork. Others just feel guilty/bad for prescribing it. Many feel overlyconfident that they can treat any type of acne as long as you try the different things they prescribe you and stick to them.
I don't believe that there is some kind of conspiracy that the medical industry is trying to get rid of the oral administration of isotretinoin... IF it gets banned in the states in pretty sure the black market sales will soar... Canada has good quality of medicine and its right next to us.
Nobody is going to win from banning accutane... Maybe brands like neutrogena and clear and clear will do well, but it's just too complicated to believe that all the small acne brands and doctors would unite to get rid of accutane to make a profit.