Accutane

[Tinetush]

^I was on Accutane for 6 month. I stopped about in May i think... After about a month, I could see improvements, and after about 5 and a half month my skin was completely acne free I was pleasantly surprised by it. I had to take a blood test each month as well.
I don't think the side effects was that bad. Of course my lips got very dry, and so did my skin, it looked like I had got a sunburn and my skin was peeling. But I got a great lotion at the pharmacy called 'Neribase creme' that made it all normal looking, I think I used it about once or twice a day...

I would definitely do it again though. ! To me it was definitely worth it...

 

[Suburban Snob]

I just got re-prescribed Accutane because I have mild acne that will not go away. I've been on Accutane twice but last time I had to get off because my triglyceride levels got way too high.

My skin is really clear right now mostly because I started to drink a ton of water and re-introducted Tazorac through Short Contact Therapy which is helping me completely. Hopefully I will be able to go on a shorter course or something.

The iPledge stuff is SO annoying though. Grr. I hate the few people who screw things up so the rest of us have to 'pay' for their recklessness.

 

[laurette]

I'm on my 5th day now and haven't suffered from any side effects so far

 

[Nyx]

I've been on Accutane for a bit over a month now. I'm kind of wondering what's going on.

I took antibiotics right before starting Accutane, so my skin was clear to start with. I should note that I've taken antibiotics several times before, and every time the acne came back within three months, which is why decided to get Accutane.

Anyway, the weird thing is this: I expected at least some breakout or worsening of my acne, or alternatively, insufferable dryness. Nine weeks in I've had neither.

My skin is clear and no longer oily. It's a bit on the dry side but rather pleasantly so. Where are the terrible side effects everyone scared me with? If the whole course of the medication runs this smoothly, I'll definitely be kicking myself for not getting Accutane earlier.

 

[Suburban Snob]

^^^^

On my first round of Accutane (the brand Accutane, before there were generics) I had no side effects what so ever, not even dry lips or anything.

My second round (which was a generic, I believe it was Amensteem) my tri-glyceride levels got so high they had to pull me off of it.

I'm now on my third round (I don't even have bad acne, it's just stubborn!) I'm using a generic that starts with an S. No side effects so far but I have to get blood tests to make sure my triglycerides don't get high!

 

[contiguous]

I took Accutane (about 3 months of Accutane and 3 of generic) back when I was in middle-school. I had terrible acne that I'd tried everything for- facial products, antibiotics, a series of procedures called Clearlight. Accutane cleared up my face, and besides the occasional spot, my face has been clear.
The only side effects that I remember were dry skin and elevated triglycerides (which was annoying because I did a lot of sports/excercise yet the Accutane raised my cholesterol). I had to start birthcontrol pills and get monthly blood tests even though I was 12 and not planning to get pregnant anytime soon.

 

[laurette]

You three encourage me , I hope everything goes as well for me
I was searching in German forums and almost all of them had many side effects

 

[laurette]

"Finally" my lips started to spring, they look terrible
The lower lip is flaky and extremly dry and the upper ressembles one of a dead person (no blood at all in it).
My skin looks very dull and I'd love to get a peeling but my doctor told me to do nothing.
Any tips?

 

[leyla m.]

moisturize
moisturize
moisturize

 

[Tinetush]

^I second that.
Also you could go to the pharmacy, ask them for a good lipbalm.
I ended up using this cold creme lipbalm from Avéne..
Though it doesn't last for very long...

[eau-thermale-avene.com]

 

[leyla m.]

agreed.
avene is good but i swear by 8 hour cream for the lips!!!

 

[Tinetush]

^oh I never tried that one. I'll keep i in my mind if I'll have to go on Accutane again.. knock on wood

 

[laurette]

Avène sounds good, I've already used their cream as a little child.
Thanks guys

 

[songbirdsel]

To be honest I am Accutane right now for mild acne and that Avene lip balm is terrible for me. My dermatologist gave me a whole bunch of Avene stuff to use during the treatment but i found nothing worked. THe lip balm didnt mousturise just kind of sat on the skin, I highle recommend Kiehls lip balm its about the same price range but amazing and has some spf which is really important during the treatment. I highly recommend trying Accutane for anyone who has tried everything and nothing has worked for a long time. I am yet to see what happens after but looking back at pics and stuff i cant believe i put up with the anxiety and stress of having bad skin. Goodluck!

 

[laurette]

I am now on my 32nd day and my face is clear except for 2 scars that are fading atm, I'm so happy ! It's such a relief and the best thing is that I only need 5 min in the morning to get ready because I don't have to pile on tons of make up on my face anymore, I only use a bronzed powder because I look even duller than usual,
anyone knows what to put on the skin to make it look more radiant?

My side effects so far:
- dry lips (best treatment for me: olive oil, put on over night)
- dry skin of course
- my back sometimes hurts a lot, esp. when moving

 

[songbirdsel]

yeah i agree with the back thing, its so wierd when i jump into bed i have to do it very slowly. Same as any yoga when i lie down it kills - i look like a freak during my class!

 

[kmccormi]

I have been on Accutane three times in my life so far. I think I have the most stubborn acne in the world. I think something like less than 1% of people ever go on it three times. After completing each treatment, my skin would be perfectly clear, but a few months later, pimples would start popping up again. However, each time they would be slightly less prolific.

However, my skin right now is as bad as it was in high school with big, red, angry pimples popping up every day. It makes me really upset to have to deal with this when I am a professional adult in the working world.

I would really like to go on Accutane a 4th (and what I would hope to be a final) time, but nobody seems willing to let me. Accutane has been accused of being linked to depression. In the 4- or 5-year gap since I last took Accutane, I was clinically depressed for about a year and my parents are wary that Accutane may have caused it since I can't pinpoint a reason for it. However, it had been at least two years since I was on Accutane when the depression set in, so I'm not as apt to believe it.

My skin is horrible. I feel terrible about myself and can't stand to look at my face in the mirror anymore. It makes me want to cry.

 

[laurette]

I have read about the depression/suicide link too and talked about it with my doctor.
He said that there is a very small percentage of ppl which are effected by accutane to such an extent.
If I were you I would be very persistent about getting accutane, imo very bad skin takes so much fun out of life! Many ppl don't understand but it takes/took away a lot my of self confidence and life quality.
Maybe you could go to your psychologist and talk to him about the way your acne affects you and he could talk to another doctor?
I wish you all the best

 

[leyla m.]

i have heard about all this talk on depression. i have too been depressed but i am not blaming the accutane... i certainly had lots of other issues goin on in my life.
i asked 2 more doctors about the side effects and they said that this side effect is VERY VERY RARE othrwise doctors wouldnt prescribe it so easily. also is the fact that you are risking to get pregant with a deformed baby too high for them just to describe it. as the doctor would get sued if that happens....
either way, it IS a strong medication but i am hearin way too many stories about side effect rather than the effect of the medication itself.
i still need it so i will take it for another couple months

 

[Suburban Snob]

SIGH!

I'm not on Accutane anymore! I took exactly 7 days worth of pills, so I had no clearing (but my skin isn't that bad to begin with, just hard to treat).

I was hospitalized with pancreatitis and had to have my gallbladder removed. They aren't entirely sure if it was CAUSED by Accutane but they think it's what 'pushed me over the edge'. Acctuane raised my blood fats in the past and that's probably what triggered what happened. Either way it was super scary and I was in the hospital awhile!

Just be careful girls!