Accutane

[nicholas2505]

I've taken accutane twice, once in junior high and again when I was just out of college. It works wonderfully and the longer you can take the higher dose the better and longlasting the results. I didn't have a problem after the first time until I started getting adult acne, which is the worst by the way. I definitely agree that things like surgery and medicine is much worse when we're older because the second cycle was hell. The side effects seemed to be more noticable and very annoying: dry skin, very thin skin that breaks or nicks easily. My eyes were very sensitive to flourescent light and lights at night, so I had headaches often. I also experienced some hair loss and very dry hair. I never experienced depression but was very irritable at times. Now that could be from the discomfort and side effects.

With that said, there are a lot of side effects but they are all really minor. If you have acne and nothing else has worked, accutane will knock it out. Just be aware as an adult it will start to come back in a lot of cases, but not as bad. I have the unfortunate luck of having adult acne that never goes away for more than a few months. I just have to learn to keep in under control, and after accutane it's much easier to do that with topical products.

 

[TheKiwi]

You just reminded me of one side effect I had forgotten about...

I noticed a difference in my sight as well. I was sensitive to bright lights. It also slightly decreased my eyesight in dark areas. Once I was out driving at night, and nearly hit a median that I couldn't see from the distance I was at because of lack of light (which my friends in the car could see just fine). I blame Accutane. But once I went off of it, no problems with my sight whatsoever.

 

[nicholas2505]

Exactly. I think that's a side effect that's not talked about as much; I had trouble driving at night often. It makes sense though that the eyes could be affected because of the vitamin A.

 

[leyla m.]

after over 7 months of accutane and having stopped few months ago, my skin has had a major outbreak!!
i am gonna go back and complain as the btreatment wasnt that pleasant...

 

[TheKiwi]

after over 7 months of accutane and having stopped few months ago, my skin has had a major outbreak!!
i am gonna go back and complain as the btreatment wasnt that pleasant...

Aww that stinks, I'm sorry. I had to go through 2 treatments before my skin really cleared up.

 

[babypeace]

hi im looking for a dermatologist in new york who prescribes accutane. pleae pm me

 

[cric-croc]

Alexadra, the peel done at the derm was a TCA and pretty expensive, about £250.

i have been now on Accutane for 6 weeks: for the first month I was on 125, now I am on the double dose.
my skin is very dry around my eyes and lips; my skin has improved only slightly, but at the moment I am getting big underskin spots which lay there forever and then eventually disappear - they do not turn white or anything, they just stay there and very red ;-)

also, I red this article about polycystic ovaries and how they cause acne in most women - this is accordingly to 2 very famour UK dermatologists who treat Kate Moss (well, not very sucessful there..) Madonna, Gwyneth and many more....

 

[Whitelinen]

I am thinking of asking for accutane again, but I am also depressed - do you know what are the effects on eating accutane while depressed? I've been on it before, and I know one of the possible side effects is depressive mood. But is this something that would have a big effect?

 

[nicholas2505]

I've been on accutane 3 times and I honestly don't think depression is a side major side effect. First, I was much more depressed when I had lesions and cystic acne, which is why I had to go back on it. Second, many people with acne can be depressed more because of the social factor. Now I do think that accutane causes some irritability other than the obvious, because of the dry skin and such.

The number one cause of my breakouts is weather change, and the worst is actually in the winter. Everytime I took accutane was when it was colder and we all know that wintertime is more depressing; I think that could have something to do with it also, as well as making the dry skin worse. And it's not just dry skin for those of you who haven't experienced it. It is cracking, dry skin that chafes and hurts like paper cuts or worse at times. The creases of my nose were the worst, as well as waistband area. You're going to be irritable with skin like that. BUT, your face will be so clear it will amaze you. Every blackhead you had before is totally gone while on accutane.

 

[chocolatestain]

I'm about to go on my last course of Roaccutane. I'm acne-free. The occasionally break-out have been reduced so just small whiteheads. I'm still dealing with the red marks though.

OH, and does anybody know a good lip balm to use? My lips are dry, sore, peeling and red. EA's 8 hour cream doesn't work on my lips. Neither does Chaptick when I'm on accutane.

 

[TheKiwi]

^ Try Caudalie's Lip Conditioner! It's kind of expensive (in the US it averages about $12), but it worked WONDERS on me when I was on Accutane! It was seriously the only thing that worked, and I tried all kinds of chapsticks, even ones sold by dermatologists and this stuff worked the best. I don't think you can find it in drugstores, but you should be able to buy some online in Australia.

 

[Alexandra8715]

Hey just to say I finished Roaccutane about a week ago. I'll let you know if my spots come back. I have to say that I have noticed tiny bumps coming up around my face since I've finished the treatment but you can't see them. Hopefully they don't get any worse!!!

 

[angeldreamz]

Okay...So i'm bringing this thread back to life. I tried accutane and actually posted about it. It's been about a year and a half, and acne is slowly starting to come back. It is not severe as before though. I get a bit of very small white heads, and small pimples that are red. but they're enough to annoy me, and they kinda hurt too. I'm debating if I should ask my derm about going back on accutane. I'm usuing Retinol A cream right now, and its pretty good at getting rid of the pimples in a couple days, but my skin gets rather red and it burns and peels like crazy. Accutane was the only thing that actually really worked. I only went on it for 4 months, and maybe thats why my acne came back so soon. I'm really annoyed now, esp since I had very clear skin for the last year. Is it safe to go at an another round of accutane after one year? or do i have to wait for another couple years? I made an appointment with my derm, but she's so high in demand that the soonest i could see her is in November!!!

 

[tilloox45]

^^it's safe. if i were you i would definitely go back on it becuase my derm told me that most peple need a second round. i'm on my second round right now. i was on it for 6 months and my acne came back after about 10 months. i like this thread. it's nice to know i am not the only one with severe acne. now i have to worry about my ugly scars... anyway, good luck with it (and don't forget that unfortunately the accutane may make it worse before it gets betterflower:

 

[Alexandra8715]

I stopped Roaccutane last Christmas and since then my acne has been steadily getting worse and now my skin is a mess! During the treatment my skin was dry and oil free, i loved it! But literally, the effects didnt last even 3 months after I stopped taking it. My doctor has given me some skin cream to use but Im thinking that a 2nd round of Roaccutane might be more effective.

 

[ChristionCouture]

I was on Accutane for 7 or 8 months. It finally started working right at the very end. The only side effect I had was severe outbreaks when I started the medication. But that wasn't visible once the doctor prescribed me an oral steroid. You would never know that I once had acne. Accutane is THE best!

 

[Bel]

I am thinking of asking for accutane again, but I am also depressed - do you know what are the effects on eating accutane while depressed? I've been on it before, and I know one of the possible side effects is depressive mood. But is this something that would have a big effect?

I could be completely wrong, but my doctor seemed to think it was crap. As in, studies have been done that found there was zero link between Accutane and depression, and the drug companies are just screwed into writing the warnings anyway because somehow they got that reputation. It won't hurt to ask a dermatologist about taking it, and tell them about your depression.

 

[tilloox45]

^^ my doctor thinks that the depression side effect is stupid too. they got the reputation becuase some people on accutane became depressed and even committed suicide but it happens to people who aren't on accutane all the time so there is no way they can prove that it was the accutane.

 

[Miss_A]

I was on Roaccutane when I was 17 and then again when I was 22/23 (as my out break was just too much to handle for me). Both times I was on it for about 7 months and I pretty much felt great - perfect skin, perfect hair now it's more than a year later and I don't get anything on my face anymore

 

[laurette]

I'll be on Accutane in a week and I am very afraid that it won't work and of the side effects, esp. after reading this thread
I have to take a blood test every month and get checked whether I'm pregnant or not.

Dubuc, could you share your experience with us?