Acutane Question

[Michael]

Hello,
  I have been on Acutane for 3 months now and I have consumed no alcohol.  Every weekend my friends and I go out and become intoxicated to celebrate the weekend.  I have held back from these drinking activities for 3 months.  I just like to celebrate with my friends this weekend.  Would that be all right, or could alcohol hurt me right now.  Thanks for your input, it is very appreciated.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Michael:

The reason they tell you to avoid alcohol while taking Accutane is that this drug can affect the liver.  In my experience, however, it rarely does so.  I assume your doctor is checking your liver regularly.  If everything is OK, then I don't see why a little weekend tipple would be a problem.  Check with your doctor, though, would be my advice.

TGIF.

Dr. Rockoff

[Julie]

I just wanted to reply about accutane.I suffer from cystic acne. I considered using accutane but,as many others,i read the brochures and said "no way". I've heard that the side effects are merely "dry lips". I talked to a woman at my church who has taken this drug and she basically begged me not to take it. Accutane dried up the fluid in her spinal cord and doctors cant do anything at all about it. She now suffers from back pain and will for the rest of her life. I also know a woman in her early 20's who is also taking accutane and she is having many complications due to its use.
Just thought everyone should know about this bit of information.and to say,do more research before taking it. I want more than anything to be rid of this very painful and embarring problem of cystic acne but.not if it means suffering from extreme back pain for the rest of my life!!!

[Adamn]

Julie, what medication do you take for your acne?  I had acne for 6 years before i wised up and consulted with a lovely women named Brenda who has literally helped clear about 70 percent of my acne.  Im on a program of glycolic acids plus skinmedica peels.  (have only had one but the results were very impressive)
Adam

[danny]

Hey Adam,
How can I find out about this ladies remedy! I would love to give it a shot..

[wildflower]

After reading what was just said about about Accutane I just had to comment...when I was 19 I had cystic acne. I believe this was when Accutane first came out. I heard about it from a friend of mine who was on it. I couldn't believe that she had ever had a problem and needless to say I hightailed it straight to my dr. and asked him to put me on it. I took it for 8 months, and the only side effect I EVER had was dry lips. Spinal fluid drainage sounds like nonsense to me. I've heard the same thing about the drug Ectasy,which I've never taken, but that's not true either. (How can your spinal fluid drain inside your body??? Your spinal column would have to be puntured, and I just don't see how a drug like this could do something like that.)  If I were you I WOULD NOT take the advice of someone who says they have had back problems from it. I never heard anything like that. And besides my friend that I mentioned earlier I know at least one other person personally who has taken it. We all had dry lips. :)  I do know that it can cause extreme birth defects IF you take it while pregnant, but obviously we know how to avoid that.
I honestly have to say that Accutane saved my face. I recommend it to anyone who has this type of problem, it really does work. I think your friend either had a different problem and blamed it on that or she had some kind of freak reaction that must be very rare. If you still have doubts do more research. But if you really want to get rid of your problem I'd seriously consider using it. I'm sorry for your friend's problems but that all sounds very strange and crazy to me.

[cutetexan]

   DO NOT TAKE ACCUTANE. Really. A friend of mine took it and now 2 years later her face is ALWAYS dry and flaky and no mosturizer can help it. IT IS HORRIBLE. She is also experiencing hair thinning, even though 2 YEARS PASSED SINCE SHE STOPPED THE DRUG. TRue she has no acne, but her face now looks clear and lifeless. Also, consider taking large doses of Vitamin B-5 , I heard it can work as good as Accutane without its high cost and horrible side effects!