Accutane side effects or something else?!

[jess4412]

Hi, I had been on accutane for almost two months (60 mg a day).  In the first month I had some headaches and dizziness but it wasn't a big deal.  But, a couple weeks into the second month I started having really, really awful pounding pressuring headaches with really bad eye pain and dizziness.  It hurt to move my eyes around and I had some difficulty focusing and changing my focus.  My dermatologist was very concerned (worried about the possibility of pseudotumor cerebri) and sent me immediately to a neurologist.  The neurologist did a basic neurological exam and said it didn't seem that anything was off, but gave me a perscription for a CT scan and those steroid pills for the headaches.  I never got the CT scan because he didn't seem to think it was all that necessary, and I don't feel any better after completing the steroid pills.  I got my eyes checked out and she didn't see anything wrong with my eyes and said my vision wasn't even that bad.  This morning I woke up with the most awful pouding pressure headache (my pillow was hurting my head) and my ears feel clogged and pressured and my eyes feel puffy and hurt and I have some tightness in my chest.  Everytime I get up and walk around I feel so dizzy and get extremely nauseous.  This is like the worst headache I've had in a very long time and its still painful to focus my eyes.  Could this be an accutane side effect or maybe a really bad sinus infection?! I don't know what to do or think! (I have been off accutane for two weeks now).  I just want to know what this is! has anyone ever experienced this on accutane?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
These can be primary headaches like cluster headaches but it is better to get a CT head done to rule out any neurological causes as well. Cluster headaches are sharp, extremely painful headaches that tend to occur several times a day for months and may cause severe behind the eye pain. Other possibility is of migraine headaches. You should get these headaches investigated from a neurologist.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[jess4412]

(sorry i reposted the exact same question again, I just thought it might be more effective in this forum).  

Please if anyone has experienced something similar please respond to this!