Roaccutane/Oratane

RiaX said:
http://www.bioderma.com/en/home.html

Firstly roaccutane is still available. Secondly you should be fine if the dose is half your body weight. Other than the dryness. Just listen to the Dr/derm and let people at the pharmacy know you on isotretinoin when you buying OTC meds its very important. Thirdly do not worry about generic orginal, its not and antibiotic or flagged as a non substitutable drug. There are enough people on the generic and it works just as well.
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As usual the pseudo- doc is talking k@k again.
 
my daughter was on oratane. the pharmacist advised that she only take the tablet once every second day. this was sufficient for her and he skin cleared up wonderfully. she only used it for six months and the scarring also cleared up considerably. she also had an issue with dryness but not as much as you all have experienced. perhaps it's because she used it every second day and not every day. i think using every alternate day will also help. my daughter's skin was very bad. she hasn't used it in a long time now and hasn't had an outbreak since.
 
Celine said:
my daughter was on oratane. the pharmacist advised that she only take the tablet once every second day. this was sufficient for her and he skin cleared up wonderfully. she only used it for six months and the scarring also cleared up considerably. she also had an issue with dryness but not as much as you all have experienced. perhaps it's because she used it every second day and not every day. i think using every alternate day will also help. my daughter's skin was very bad. she hasn't used it in a long time now and hasn't had an outbreak since.
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Not sure what a long time is but it builds up in your body, so if it has been more than 6 months good stuff but less than 6 months and you might find it hitting her hard, you should get her checked for allergies, mostly wheat gluten and dairy. I didn't know it but dairy was the main cause of my acne whether it was the cause of such bad acne initially i am not sure.
 
I was on roaccutane back in 95/96. Dry skin, lips etc, but it also worked wonders. Only side effect I haven't seen mentioned on here that my dermatologist warned me about back then is the possibility of depression. Don't know if that's included in the pamphlet. As people mentioned OP, make sure to get your liver checked regularly.
 
Was on it in 2001 for a few months. Dried up my skin. Used lots of moisturiser, stayed out of the sun, used lip balm. Use all good stuff not the cheap stuff.
 
Okay you guys so I have been on it for a week and a half, and my skin is almost cleared up already. I'm absolutely shocked, gobsmacked!!!!

So Far my symtoms:

1) EXTREMELY dry lips and Hair
2) Sensitivity in my back muscles
3) A little thirsty (Don't know if this has anything to do with it.)

Apart from depression and stuff like that I'm actually feeling more happier and full of energy than before I started my course, haha!

I'm going through lip balm like a mad man, but so far it's really worth it!!! As for the blood tests she said its essential that I go and so she even provided me with 3 lab sheets so that i don't have to go back to her everytime for them, but she urged me to make sure that I do them on the day my oratane finishes each month.
 
I'm currently experimenting with using epsom salt masks.

[video=youtube;Pk53nE5_UKM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk53nE5_UKM[/video]

Another tip I'm trying is mixing aspirin with my cleanser.

My acne isn't serious though.
 
RiaX said:
Except for suicide. Should anyone have suicidal thoughts on this drug they must inform their doctors for appropriate management
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Yes and we all know people thinking suicide are rational enough to do that.

Celine said:
my daughter was on oratane. the pharmacist advised that she only take the tablet once every second day. this was sufficient for her and he skin cleared up wonderfully. she only used it for six months and the scarring also cleared up considerably. she also had an issue with dryness but not as much as you all have experienced. perhaps it's because she used it every second day and not every day. i think using every alternate day will also help. my daughter's skin was very bad. she hasn't used it in a long time now and hasn't had an outbreak since.
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That was precisely the point I was making. If this was the 20mg capsule it would be 10mg/day. If the acne didn't start coming back right after treatment it did the job and she won't have to use it again.

@KevRSA: What dose are you on?
 
removed ... im not getting into arguments anymore.
 
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I was on roacutane when I was in high school. I had terrible acne and it cleared it up completely. I was advised to take it with a glass of full cream milk. I used zambuck om my lips and it worked great. The biggest issue I had was nose bleeds.

@OP: You will have to stick it out for the next few months, its worth it.
 
killadoob said:
well i was also in a similar situation but that is because i feared going out due to my acne. This drug literally saved my life, i don't think i could have carried on with that sort of acne for much longer. Back, chest, neck, face. It was an extremely trying time for me.
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To be honest, I actually attempted suicide while on this medication. This was in around month 8 of the treatment and coincided with a complete mood alteration - I was a miserable person to be around, was downright rude to my parents and friends and was so pessimistic about life and what the future held. Again though, I was a teenager, and while I think this was a teenage episode of sorts it was aggravated by the medication.

While I'm on side affects: lower back pain was excruciating, I developed joint pain in my hands and knees, my eyes were dry constantly (when I wasn't emotional), lips were like the Sahara. All that being said, when the first cycle didn't finish the job Roche paid for the second treatment and that sorted out my problems. Now, almost 15 years later I am considering going on a maintenance dose as I continue to get pretty bad cysts but I'll consult with my doctor before making that decision.
 
hambone said:
To be honest, I actually attempted suicide while on this medication. This was in around month 8 of the treatment and coincided with a complete mood alteration - I was a miserable person to be around, was downright rude to my parents and friends and was so pessimistic about life and what the future held. Again though, I was a teenager, and while I think this was a teenage episode of sorts it was aggravated by the medication.

While I'm on side affects: lower back pain was excruciating, I developed joint pain in my hands and knees, my eyes were dry constantly (when I wasn't emotional), lips were like the Sahara. All that being said, when the first cycle didn't finish the job Roche paid for the second treatment and that sorted out my problems. Now, almost 15 years later I am considering going on a maintenance dose as I continue to get pretty bad cysts but I'll consult with my doctor before making that decision.
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I must be honest, i have never heard of treatment for longer than 6 months, i think your doctor was being very stupid. Mostly it's a 3 months, because the drug builds up in your system it should be in your system for a further 3 months, after that you should then proceed to check your liver before going on another course.

8 months is extremely long and very uncommon with this drug due to the harsh side effects. In general the best time to go on the drug is summer because winter makes everything dry but then you have to stay out of the sun so winter is also an ideal time. 8 months though, that is way too long.
 
killadoob said:
I must be honest, i have never heard of treatment for longer than 6 months, i think your doctor was being very stupid. Mostly it's a 3 months, because the drug builds up in your system it should be in your system for a further 3 months, after that you should then proceed to check your liver before going on another course.

8 months is extremely long and very uncommon with this drug due to the harsh side effects. In general the best time to go on the drug is summer because winter makes everything dry but then you have to stay out of the sun so winter is also an ideal time. 8 months though, that is way too long.
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Knowing what I know know now, my ex-doctor was very, very stupid I agree. At the time my parents were involved in the process and were made to decide between low dose for extended period or high dose for a shorter period. The former was the ultimate decision and I've no doubt this is why I was required to have repeat treatments.

I was also made to go for liver function tests every three months. In total I was on 20mg/d (if I recall correctly).
 
hambone said:
Knowing what I know know now, my ex-doctor was very, very stupid I agree. At the time my parents were involved in the process and were made to decide between low dose for extended period or high dose for a shorter period. The former was the ultimate decision and I've no doubt this is why I was required to have repeat treatments.

I was also made to go for liver function tests every three months. In total I was on 20mg/d (if I recall correctly).
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Yea pity back in the day google wasn't as big as it is today. These days you can go a doctor and dose yourself LOL.

I can imagine the drug made you messed up, 8 months is way too long. 3 months then you wait 3 months and access whether you need another treatment. With me and bare in mind i had boil acne not cystic acne on my back neck and chest i was only on it for 3 months. Sadly by the time my parents could afford the drugs scarring was always going to be the outcome but wow i went from boil acne to no pimples in 3 months and then discovered my body can't handle dairy from there i still get the odd pimples and break outs because i eat chocolate :D. If i stay totally dairy free i don't get a single pimple anywhere.
 
Am I the only person who drank alcohol while on it :erm: stupid decision but as a teenager you don't really care about what the consequences could be
 
killadoob said:
I must be honest, i have never heard of treatment for longer than 6 months, i think your doctor was being very stupid. Mostly it's a 3 months, because the drug builds up in your system it should be in your system for a further 3 months, after that you should then proceed to check your liver before going on another course.

8 months is extremely long and very uncommon with this drug due to the harsh side effects. In general the best time to go on the drug is summer because winter makes everything dry but then you have to stay out of the sun so winter is also an ideal time. 8 months though, that is way too long.
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Hmmm... this was 15 years ago. I was also on an extended period. 3 consecutive treatments that lasted about a year.
 
Swa said:
Hmmm... this was 15 years ago. I was also on an extended period. 3 consecutive treatments that lasted about a year.
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Yea but a high dose should not taken over an extended period, very dangerous. Some people who mild acne use a lower dose but i needed a high dose.
 
killadoob said:
Yea but a high dose should not taken over an extended period, very dangerous. Some people who mild acne use a lower dose but i needed a high dose.
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I don't think doctors back then knew that. I do believe Roche did though.
 
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