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Accutane and joint pain

I have been on 40mg/day of Accutane for six weeks. Of course, I've had the usual side effects (dryness, depression, lethargy.) My main problem now is severe joint pain. I lift weights 5x per week. I don't want to stop working out, but my right elbow and both shoulders are killing me! Has anyone had experience with this and can you recommend medicine or treatment for the joint pain? I employ high intensity training (low reps, hight weight) but can change my lifting to lighter weight, with higher weights. But I can not stop lifting. Any advice will be appreciated.
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Avatar universal
I have taken Glucosamine Condroitin and Krill Oil daily for the last 6 months and cannot tell a difference.  I took Accutane when I was in my 30's (I am now 59) ... so around 1990 when it first came out.  I noticed joint pain right away, but at the time thought it was worth it.  My pain is mainly in my hips.  At first, I could no longer go on long hikes or bike rides, etc., but it has progressed to where sometimes I cannot walk up stairs or even lift one leg to cross the other.  Otherwise I am a healthy, thin person with a good diet. Xrays show very little arthritis and all the docs are stumped when I show up in so much pain.  A little voice in the back of my head always told me it was the Accutane, and now after reading all the sufferers out there, I agree.  
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Avatar universal
Hello, just to give you all my support with your illness. I have experienced the same problem since 2008 and I feel worse everyday. Have you improved since you published this post? Have you tried glucosamine? Best regards!
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Avatar universal
Worst decision ever!
I had never had acne problems growing up, im 26 years old young female. I went on birth control pill the doctor suggested (Levlen ED) for contraceptive reasons. After being on it for a few months I decided to stop it since I didn't need it any more. A month after I had break outs everywhere!!! started on my chin then my forehead then slowly on the side of my cheeks...just terrible. not being so used to this I was horrified and did everything I could to get rid off it. All over counter products that did nothing but burn and irritate my skin and damage my skin further by causing hyper pigmentation. Then I tried minocycle which kinda helped but it side effect was terrible vaginal thrush I didn't like.  Then i thought it was time to go consult with derm... after giving her a brief story of  my struggle it didn't take her long to suggest accutane to me. I was pretty shocked but not knowing much about the drug like I do now I was kinda passive and didnt really question her reasoning. Also since I really just wanted the oil productive caused by my hormonal imbalance to go away the only way to get rid of it was to start on accutane that grantees permanent result. i weight 54kg so she started me on 40mg dose a day!!! yesss! that's for a white head acne!!!  my acne is not even cystic at all.. long story short.. I ended up trying to give it ago and completed 10 days of 40mg.. on the 9th day I did a minor weigh and 15min cardio workout at the gym. I usually do this just fine with nil problems.. post workout about 7 hours later I started to feel pain in my mid section back. This back pain worsen the next day...and on the scale to 1 to 10.. it was 10/10!!! I couldnt sleep, couldnt walk straight, or sit... for two days I was stuck in my bed with heat back on my back. and this was all in just 10 days! just gose to show how powerful this drug was. my skin cleared up yeah but my face was soo pale and dry at the same time. I immediately stopped the drug even though it said to not stop taking the drug without consulting the derm...if you ask why, I dont know?.. I wasnt going to damage myself further till i have the next appointment booked.. I'm looking into flashing out my system of this toxic drug first before I go on to trying natural way of clearing out my white head acne. if sharing this could help someone other there im more than happy. STAYYYY AWAY FROM ACCUTANE!!!!
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Avatar universal
Supplementing with vitamin D is a must as vitamin a from accutane knocks out the vit d receptor so you need excess vitamin d to balance. 10,000 d3 iu a day atleast...GUARANTEED to work in a week
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Avatar universal
FOR EVERYBODY READING THIS I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU BUU BLACK SEED OIL AND START TAKING ONE SPOON IN WATER AND LEMON. THIS WILL BE LIFE SAVIOUR FOR YOU AND IS GUARANTEED TO WORK. THIS IS TOUTED AS THE CURE OF ALL DISEASES BUT DEATH BY OUR BELOVED PROPHET MOHAMED. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HEALTHY THIS MIRACLE OIL IS. EVERYDAY SCIENTISTS ARE DISCOVERING NEW SHOCKING BENEFITS FROM IT. I ONLY DID THIS ACCOUNT TO WRITE THIS COMMENT AND TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS MIRACLE OIL FOR HELPING YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER LIFE. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
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Avatar universal
Hi Aramre,

I was wondering if your joint pain ever went away.  If it did, how long it took you to be pain free.  I took accutane for about 2 months and stopped it after getting severe joints pain. Knees and back of the heels of my leg are the worst. I can't even walk propery and limping all the time.  Its been about 3 weeks already since I stopped taking accutane and the pain has not gone away.  I wonder how long it will take before th pain goes away. Would appreciate your response or anybody else who has been on the same boat. Thanks.
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