Accutane

[azbob]

I also had this and I would NOT recommend it to anybody. 15 years later I have severe IBS that started about 5 years ago. They are now settling IBS cases lawsuits in the States. The dryness is permanent and some days it literally covers parts of my face in what I can only call dandruff. It shuts down sebum production permanently, which explains how it clears acne but sebum is also required to protect skin.

I believe it is the IBS that caused my attack of major depression last year and the doctors have been either incapable or unwilling to diagnose me and just keep saying I am normal because my tests come back normal. I also find out after taking B12 that I was severely deficient in this. B12 is stored mainly in the liver so I might have sustained some liver damage as well.

This is quite literally poison. It IS chemo therapy. Yes, it was developed and is still used for cancer and clearing up acne was discovered to be one of its many side effects. I will never recommend that anyone take it and doctors should certainly never prescribe it for pimples only but unfortunately they do because the drug companies still don't emphasize its bad effects.

I would rather recommend high dose Vitamin A. Some people have reported even low dose Vitamin A to be just as effective which suggest the possibility that acne is just an effect of Vitamin A deficiency/resistance. Researchers have also found that mega dose Vitamin A NEVER fails to clear up acne but don't recommend it because it has the same side effects as Isotretinoin. Why would they then recommend something else? Answer: they can patent and market it.

I was expecting a spanner in the works sooner or later. I've read that lower dosages have less risk/side effects. Do you recall what yours was?

 

[b_crazy]

I spoke to a friend about it and he said his brother was on it in his teens and he says he was very irritable (amongst other things). After reading about the side effects (some permanent) on Wikipedia I've opted out. I thinks it's too risky for me.

 

[killadoob]

I spoke to a friend about it and he said his brother was on it in his teens and he says he was very irritable (amongst other things). After reading about the side effects (some permanent) on Wikipedia I've opted out. I thinks it's too risky for me.

Yea for some though the side effects of acne are worse than the drug .

 

[b_crazy]

Yea for some though the side effects of acne are worse than the drug .

Well I can't argue with that!

 

[Wise_Intelligence]

....

 

[HavocXphere]

I wouldn't hey. Read way to many horror stories about it. Not touching something that can lead to IBS & alters mood unless I absolutely have to.

The suggestion of Mega dose Vit A isn't all that great either. Its fat-soluble & you can overdose on VitA. Much much easier than say VitC.

On a side note I fixed my acne by cutting out all dairy. No idea why it works though.

 

[killadoob]

I wouldn't hey. Read way to many horror stories about it. Not touching something that can lead to IBS & alters mood unless I absolutely have to.

The suggestion of Mega dose Vit A isn't all that great either. Its fat-soluble & you can overdose on VitA. Much much easier than say VitC.

On a side note I fixed my acne by cutting out all dairy. No idea why it works though.

Yup for some people dairy is a big issue, i think it's mostly because cows milk is actually for cows and not humans so with some people their body thinks it's a foreign object.

Wheat can also cause acne. Allergies are a big cause of acne.

 

[Brawler]

I went on Oratane as a teen - it worked like magic. Still today clear and no scaring besides the odd shaving rash or ingrown hair. No depression or kak like that, actually felt 100x better afterwards as I was more confident etc.

The negatives:
Skin and lips SUPER DRY - every morning had to put moisturizer on entire body. If I didn't skin would flake all over and burn like mad during exercise.
Weakened skin - I still remember falling on a tar road and my skin just fell apart, even playing rugby would cut easier etc.

All disappeared a month or two after the last tablet. All good now.

 

[azbob]

About to pop my first pill.

Edit: just popped my first pill with Milo.

 

[Ockie]

About to pop my first pill.

Edit: just popped my first pill with Milo.

/Shhhhhhhh...

Listen....do you hear that? That is the sound of your liver crying and the moisture being sucked out of your epidermis!

Seriously though. Good luck....and if you feel something is not right...go to the doctor soon as possible. Otherwise...follow the advice that was given here and soon you will see a remarkable improvement.

 

[killadoob]

About to pop my first pill.

Edit: just popped my first pill with Milo.

Water water and more water and stay out the sun.

GL let us know how it progresses.

 

[semaj]

I went on a low dosage course of Accutane, 20mg 3 times a week if I can recall for about 8months. It completely cleared up my acne which was probably between mild and severe. The only negative side effect was slightly drier lips and that's about it. In fact I've always felt that my skin produces way too much oil and on Accutane I actually felt normal, no shiny face by 4PM.

I don't know why doctors don't prescribe a lower dose first and then move up instead of waiting for side effects and then recommending it, often after the damage has already been done.

 

[azbob]

My derm prescribed a dosage of 40mg/day (I weigh 56kg so that's a dose of 0.7mg/kg. A high dose is considered anything from 0.5-1mg/kg) . After doing much research and reading plenty of medical journals especially regarding the benefits of low accutane dosage (0.2-0.5mg/kg) I've decided to start of with a lower dose of 20mg/day (0.36mg/kg) . Especially since I don't have any outbreaks at the moment. Lower doses have been shown to be just as effective (albeit with a higher chance of relapse) and with fewer side effects.

 

[The_Unnamed]

Personally i would not recommend it. A friend of mine pretty much had their eye sight ruined by it. From perfect vision to a year later needing glasses 24/7.

 

[Positively Negative]

I have done two doses of Oratane. I had VERY mild acne honestly but I was just fcking tired of these zits on a weekly basis!

First went on Mynocylcin (sp?) and that cleared me up brilliantly.It was only a few weeks to a month till the little bastards returned and I was breaking out again. Finally took the plunge and went on the generic Oratane. I think I did a 4/5 month course. 40mg a day.

Now I did experience joint pain but the worst thing by far is the dry EVERYTHING! lol. Be sure to stock up on Blistex and it will make it much easier. I also had some pretty hectic nose bleeds But yeah it is way worth it. All this OTC nonsense doesn't even help. It is all for temporary fixing. Go big and be strong ... get on the Tane! It will change your life!

I do still get the occassional zit that bothers me but maybe say once a month which I can handle. I remember all those nights picking away at my face ...every morning popping zits.... how depressing

 

[Positively Negative]

My derm prescribed a dosage of 40mg/day (I weigh 56kg so that's a dose of 0.7mg/kg. A high dose is considered anything from 0.5-1mg/kg) . After doing much research and reading plenty of medical journals especially regarding the benefits of low accutane dosage (0.2-0.5mg/kg) I've decided to start of with a lower dose of 20mg/day (0.36mg/kg) . Especially since I don't have any outbreaks at the moment. Lower doses have been shown to be just as effective (albeit with a higher chance of relapse) and with fewer side effects.

On my second course of Oratane I mentioned this to my doc. He was not a derm and kinda just handed the stuff out like candy He insisted that a second course of 40 mg a day should do the trick. About 6 months after the dose was done I had some annoying periods of breakouts . If they do return some day I am definetely doing a longer 20mg a day course.

Good Luck bro.

 

[azbob]

Been taking 20mg for a week now. Only started noticing dry skin on the nose and dry lips from yesterday. Had a headache for the first two days but I don't know if that was related or not.

 

[mar4ela]

Believe it or not I had it since I was 9 years old. Kids would pick on me and it would make me cry and as an teenager I cried because every product was promising me that they can get rid of it. It hurt because nothing worked.I was tired of little kids asking me how I got the ouches on my face, and people looking at my face, not my eyes. I even had it on my back chest and arms. Accutane works and I like buy accutane online!

 

[Humberto]

I also have mild adult acne. I'm just so tired of it. I control it 85 % with benzoyl peroxide but the benzoyl peroxide isn't 100 % effective and it's a nuisance. So I'm considering asking my GP to put me on a lowest therapeutic dose for a shortest possible period.

Do you think this is wise?

How do you think my GP will respond?

 

[karnuffel]

I also have mild adult acne. I'm just so tired of it. I control it 85 % with benzoyl peroxide but the benzoyl peroxide isn't 100 % effective and it's a nuisance. So I'm considering asking my GP to put me on a lowest therapeutic dose for a shortest possible period.

Do you think this is wise?

How do you think my GP will respond?

Some GPs are quite reluctant to give it, others will give it quite easily (in my experience). I would suggest that you go to a dermatologist and ask him/her for advice. The GP or dermatologist should send you for some blood tests before they decide.

Kinda OT: I just battled not to laugh when the dermatologist put on his goggles and stared at my face for what felt like ages, his eyes here HUGE.