Aa
Acutane
My 20 year old son has not been able to get either of the dermatologists he's consulted to prescribe Acutane for his acne. He works under very stressful conditions which includes time in the great outdoors -primitive camping- you might say. When I accessed the site FAQs regarding Acutane, I was at first reassured that the drug must not be too bad- but then- what's this about blood tests? What exactly are the side effects and why might my kid not be able to get a prescription? Thank you for your reply.
How much does this treatment cost anyway?
Are we reading success stories by the upper class rich people?
Are we reading success stories by the upper class rich people?
I am 18, and have finished taking acutane. My face is much clearer and because of that I have more self confidence. Not only do I look better, I feel better too. The dry skin was kind of bad but that has past. I have recently seen some bad publicity of Acutane. In these cases they say that a few teens are getting depressed because of it, but I wonder how many other teens had no problems and now are happier. If you take Acutain and feel depressed then stop, if you don't feel depressed then keep taking it. It's as simple as that. Thanks
I am 18, and have finished taking accutane. My face is much clearer and because of that I have more self confidence. Not only do I look better, I feel better too. The dry skin was kind of bad but that has past. I have recently seen some bad publicity of Accutane. In these cases they say that a few teens are getting depressed because of it, but I wonder how many other teens had no problems and now are happier. If you take Accutain and feel depressed then stop, if you don't feel depressed then keep taking it. It's as simple as that. Thanks
I just finished my Accutane treatments (6 months) and now my face is a lot better than it used to be, but I still get some little pimples. Is this normal? Oh, and for those of you thinking about quiting Accutane, DONT! Yeah, I had the backpain and nose bleeds at awkward times, but it STOPS after treatment.
My concern with accutane is directed at individuals with extreme acne. Or were severe acne runs in the family. Here is some advice; at present the medical community doesn't have much it can do for acne. All the treatments for acne can be related to a basket of eggs if you will. You must also look at it as being a long term goal, in wich every treatment will build upon the previous treatment.
Now, if your kid is getting severe cyctic acne at age 12, if you want to treat it with drugs, don't waste any time, put them on accutane for a 5 month cycle. Antibiotics are **** to them. Antibiotics are just as bad as accutane! Becuase you usually end up using them for more than a few days at a time for acne.
Accutane can CAUSE suicide. read that again. Yes that is why we are only looking at doing 1 5 month cycle in the teen years. If they start at 12, possibly another at age 17, and that is it. Then they can go onto a final all or nothing cycle in thier mid 20s. And who knows maybe more, but you look at the danger of this drug, and it is crazy to go on more than 2 cycles!!!
I have taken the drug, and known so many people who have gotten suidical from the drug that it is mind numbing. I am on anti depressants now. I got extremely depressed about 4 months into the treatment, and was thinking of suicide almost daily, but never to the point were I was actually planning it. I never was anywere near that before. I was bummed out a little from having zits, but not to a clinical degree. I will probably just start drinking a hell of a lot, or maybe other drugs. That makes me feel a lot better, no pun intended!
Get this; acne basically lasts from 12-22 if you get it. Maybe it is just best to let nature take its course? Think of how incredibly unhealthy it is for someone to start out on antibiotics and use them for a couple of years off and on, and do serious damage to your liver and kidneys, and god knows what else, then go on 1-3 cycles of a drug wich is one of the most crude and damaging drugs prescribed legally, only to basically be done with acne (on your own) by age 22? What if this depression lasts the rest of my life??????????????????????? How unhealthy is it to stay on antidepressants? What if the depression escalates? Friends its not worth it!!!
Now, if your kid is getting severe cyctic acne at age 12, if you want to treat it with drugs, don't waste any time, put them on accutane for a 5 month cycle. Antibiotics are **** to them. Antibiotics are just as bad as accutane! Becuase you usually end up using them for more than a few days at a time for acne.
Accutane can CAUSE suicide. read that again. Yes that is why we are only looking at doing 1 5 month cycle in the teen years. If they start at 12, possibly another at age 17, and that is it. Then they can go onto a final all or nothing cycle in thier mid 20s. And who knows maybe more, but you look at the danger of this drug, and it is crazy to go on more than 2 cycles!!!
I have taken the drug, and known so many people who have gotten suidical from the drug that it is mind numbing. I am on anti depressants now. I got extremely depressed about 4 months into the treatment, and was thinking of suicide almost daily, but never to the point were I was actually planning it. I never was anywere near that before. I was bummed out a little from having zits, but not to a clinical degree. I will probably just start drinking a hell of a lot, or maybe other drugs. That makes me feel a lot better, no pun intended!
Get this; acne basically lasts from 12-22 if you get it. Maybe it is just best to let nature take its course? Think of how incredibly unhealthy it is for someone to start out on antibiotics and use them for a couple of years off and on, and do serious damage to your liver and kidneys, and god knows what else, then go on 1-3 cycles of a drug wich is one of the most crude and damaging drugs prescribed legally, only to basically be done with acne (on your own) by age 22? What if this depression lasts the rest of my life??????????????????????? How unhealthy is it to stay on antidepressants? What if the depression escalates? Friends its not worth it!!!
I am 21 years old and I took Acutane when I was 15. I only recall being on it for 3 months. At the time I had exhausted all other drugs. So the doctor decided that this would be worth a try. I was told that I had to stay out of the sun because the medication made it easier to burn. I didn't have much problem with that. I do remember having chapped lips and sore joints.
But right now it's the long term effects I've been dealing with. As well as learning more about. I ran track and cross country throughout High School. Two years after being on the medication i became very ill and missed an entire cross country season, after starting out running with the guys. (It should have been a good year.) I became very depressed. Among other things. The last cross country season, and two track seasons for High School went ok. Definitely not where they should have been.
I'm now in my 4th year of college. I ran track for 3 years. But was only able to compete for 1 because of my fatigue and weakened immune system. My mother and I had suspicions that a great deal of this was caused by being on the accutane. We went to many differnt kinds of doctors over the years. I was diagnosed with Candida, which is a yeast overgrowth in your intestines. One cause being on an antibiotic for a prolongued period of time. The only long term antibiotic I have ever used is Acutane.
I'm still fighting with this and it's been a heck of a battle. I've dealt with: extreme fatigue, depression; causing lack of motivation, memory loss, irritability, severe mood swings. And really the Actuane didn't do what i had hoped it would. The odds of being cleared up for good aren't all that great. I think now i'm just starting to grow out of the acne stage a bit. But even right after my treatment was up my face never was like porcelin.
If anyone knows about some of the new information that is being learned about Acutane and it's untold side effects please email me at ***@****. I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you! (By the way the woman who wanted to know about pregnancy, it's only supposed to effect you if you take it while your pregnant. I am not aware of any long term effects, I was told there were none.)
But right now it's the long term effects I've been dealing with. As well as learning more about. I ran track and cross country throughout High School. Two years after being on the medication i became very ill and missed an entire cross country season, after starting out running with the guys. (It should have been a good year.) I became very depressed. Among other things. The last cross country season, and two track seasons for High School went ok. Definitely not where they should have been.
I'm now in my 4th year of college. I ran track for 3 years. But was only able to compete for 1 because of my fatigue and weakened immune system. My mother and I had suspicions that a great deal of this was caused by being on the accutane. We went to many differnt kinds of doctors over the years. I was diagnosed with Candida, which is a yeast overgrowth in your intestines. One cause being on an antibiotic for a prolongued period of time. The only long term antibiotic I have ever used is Acutane.
I'm still fighting with this and it's been a heck of a battle. I've dealt with: extreme fatigue, depression; causing lack of motivation, memory loss, irritability, severe mood swings. And really the Actuane didn't do what i had hoped it would. The odds of being cleared up for good aren't all that great. I think now i'm just starting to grow out of the acne stage a bit. But even right after my treatment was up my face never was like porcelin.
If anyone knows about some of the new information that is being learned about Acutane and it's untold side effects please email me at ***@****. I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you! (By the way the woman who wanted to know about pregnancy, it's only supposed to effect you if you take it while your pregnant. I am not aware of any long term effects, I was told there were none.)
I am 21 years old and I took Acutane when I was 15. I only recall being on it for 3 months. At the time I had exhausted all other drugs. So the doctor decided that this would be worth a try. I was told that I had to stay out of the sun because the medication made it easier to burn. I didn't have much problem with that. I do remember having chapped lips and sore joints.
But right now it's the long term effects I've been dealing with. As well as learning more about. I ran track and cross country throughout High School. Two years after being on the medication i became very ill and missed an entire cross country season, after starting out running with the guys. (It should have been a good year.) I became very depressed. Among other things. The last cross country season, and two track seasons for High School went ok. Definitely not where they should have been.
I'm now in my 4th year of college. I ran track for 3 years. But was only able to compete for 1 because of my fatigue and weakened immune system. My mother and I had suspicions that a great deal of this was caused by being on the accutane. We went to many differnt kinds of doctors over the years. I was diagnosed with Candida, which is a yeast overgrowth in your intestines. One cause being on an antibiotic for a prolongued period of time. The only long term antibiotic I have ever used is Acutane.
I'm still fighting with this and it's been a heck of a battle. I've dealt with: extreme fatigue, depression; causing lack of motivation, memory loss, irritability, severe mood swings. And really the Actuane didn't do what i had hoped it would. The odds of being cleared up for good aren't all that great. I think now i'm just starting to grow out of the acne stage a bit. But even right after my treatment was up my face never was like porcelin.
If anyone knows about some of the new information that is being learned about Acutane and it's untold side effects please email me at ***@****. I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you! (By the way the woman who wanted to know about pregnancy, it's only supposed to effect you if you take it while your pregnant. I am not aware of any long term effects, I was told there were none.)
But right now it's the long term effects I've been dealing with. As well as learning more about. I ran track and cross country throughout High School. Two years after being on the medication i became very ill and missed an entire cross country season, after starting out running with the guys. (It should have been a good year.) I became very depressed. Among other things. The last cross country season, and two track seasons for High School went ok. Definitely not where they should have been.
I'm now in my 4th year of college. I ran track for 3 years. But was only able to compete for 1 because of my fatigue and weakened immune system. My mother and I had suspicions that a great deal of this was caused by being on the accutane. We went to many differnt kinds of doctors over the years. I was diagnosed with Candida, which is a yeast overgrowth in your intestines. One cause being on an antibiotic for a prolongued period of time. The only long term antibiotic I have ever used is Acutane.
I'm still fighting with this and it's been a heck of a battle. I've dealt with: extreme fatigue, depression; causing lack of motivation, memory loss, irritability, severe mood swings. And really the Actuane didn't do what i had hoped it would. The odds of being cleared up for good aren't all that great. I think now i'm just starting to grow out of the acne stage a bit. But even right after my treatment was up my face never was like porcelin.
If anyone knows about some of the new information that is being learned about Acutane and it's untold side effects please email me at ***@****. I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you! (By the way the woman who wanted to know about pregnancy, it's only supposed to effect you if you take it while your pregnant. I am not aware of any long term effects, I was told there were none.)
I took it two years ago and it worked great. My acne was gone. Before, it was so bad my face was just a big red bumpy mess. It wasn't just my face that was bad, my self-esteme was pretty crappy too. I remember having suicidal tendencies and always feeling bad about myself and I was only 15yrs old. During the process it wasn't much better, in fact it was a lot worse. I remember going to class and having people look at me funny and trying to get a girl friend was dam near impossible. My doctor never told me to use lotions for my face so it looked like my face was flaking off. After the 6 month process I was all better and my self esteeme sky rocketed. That summer I had girls on me like flys on ****. It was great! BUUUUUUT 6 MONTHS later I broke out again and I had to go back on it. It was like going through hell all over again but this time it has worked, so far. It has only left me with some scares on my face. But that I can deal with. Once again the girls are at it again and I'm loven it. I'M GETTIN MAD BOONDA BOOOOOOOYEEE!!!!!!
I am thinking about using acutane and I would like to know if anyone experienced stunted growth. Please email me at ***@****
I am thinking about using acutane and I would like to know if anyone experienced stunted growth. Please email me at ***@****
all i got to say is that this better fricken work becuz it seems like evrything i try never does. it pisses me off when all of my friends have perfect skin and are like well just try this and that and it works. YA OK MAYBE BECUZ THEY HAVE NO FRICKIN PIMPLES
mine arent that bad but bad enough to take acutane i could care less if it makes me depressed!
mine arent that bad but bad enough to take acutane i could care less if it makes me depressed!
Thank you!
While having the convenience of working for a derm., in 1994 at the age of 24 / female, having mild to major acne (major run on sentence), anyway....I begged my doc. to be put on Accutane.
While on Accutane, I had similar symptoms as mentioned above; severely chapped lips, a bloody nose or two, dry chapped skin on face, bruised and chaffed easily and joint / back / muscle pain, easily sunburned (no doubt). I took blood tests as prescribed and had no significant problems. When I first completed the med's, I had pure milky skin with slight rosey cheeks, got a few compliments on the nice skin. As I am beginning into my 30's, I feel the oily skin coming back. Actually, just last year. I do not have the acne that I once had...:^)...yipee. Hopefully, it will remain this way.
Working in a derm. Office gave me a great learning experience. As a medical assistant, I would room the patient, obtain the patients current medical situation, regarding current medications, side effects, blood test results, etc.
When the patients on Accutane came in, we would get very excited to see the results. Their files were 3" wide (including mine, due to all of the blood tests), there were blood tests that had to be obtained prior to the Doc. seeing the patient. The most exciting thing is this...no other way to explain except by example .....
Say Bobbie comes in with his / her mother....Mom says to the doc. Bobby and I are interested in getting him started on Accutane. The doc. looks the chart over and sees that we have tried all other meds on Bobby, to no avail. (And only if we have tried all other med.
While on Accutane, I had similar symptoms as mentioned above; severely chapped lips, a bloody nose or two, dry chapped skin on face, bruised and chaffed easily and joint / back / muscle pain, easily sunburned (no doubt). I took blood tests as prescribed and had no significant problems. When I first completed the med's, I had pure milky skin with slight rosey cheeks, got a few compliments on the nice skin. As I am beginning into my 30's, I feel the oily skin coming back. Actually, just last year. I do not have the acne that I once had...:^)...yipee. Hopefully, it will remain this way.
Working in a derm. Office gave me a great learning experience. As a medical assistant, I would room the patient, obtain the patients current medical situation, regarding current medications, side effects, blood test results, etc.
When the patients on Accutane came in, we would get very excited to see the results. Their files were 3" wide (including mine, due to all of the blood tests), there were blood tests that had to be obtained prior to the Doc. seeing the patient. The most exciting thing is this...no other way to explain except by example .....
Say Bobbie comes in with his / her mother....Mom says to the doc. Bobby and I are interested in getting him started on Accutane. The doc. looks the chart over and sees that we have tried all other meds on Bobby, to no avail. (And only if we have tried all other med.
Yoa all will one day regret this drug. My exbofriend is taking it and we are now broken up. He has noticed all of these symptoms and I finally discovered what caused them. His attitude towards life has changed. I noticed our love crumbling almost the day he started on accutane. This man worshipped me one day and now I doubt he thinks of me much. I left him and begged for him back but this damn pill has wrecked my life. I've been doing research for about 3 hours to get to the bottom of accutane and I'd like to thank the only two people that mentioned the results I was looking for. I'm truly hoping that your comments will heal this broken heart.
Thanx...goodluck to everyone and I would recommend another alternative for acne.
Thanx...goodluck to everyone and I would recommend another alternative for acne.
I was on Accutane for about 6 months. If you take it, count on being a wreck physically and emotionally because
1. you will look like hell - everyone kept coming up to me and asking me if I was ok and/or telling me I looked terrible
2. you will feel like hell - little things will set you off. You might want to prepare friends and family for the rollercoaster. If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse, they may wish to go on vacation for 6 months while you go through it. Also, they will annoy you by telling you that you look like hell constantly. If that isn't bad enough, your lips will crack and bleed because they get so dry. Drink LOTS AND LOTS of water. I can certainly understand why some people get depressed while on Accutane, it drains you.
It does work as advertised but I wonder what the long term effects of that drug are... I took it long ago when I was 18 and didn't really evaluate anything very sufficiently. I wonder if I'd have made the same decision today.
1. you will look like hell - everyone kept coming up to me and asking me if I was ok and/or telling me I looked terrible
2. you will feel like hell - little things will set you off. You might want to prepare friends and family for the rollercoaster. If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse, they may wish to go on vacation for 6 months while you go through it. Also, they will annoy you by telling you that you look like hell constantly. If that isn't bad enough, your lips will crack and bleed because they get so dry. Drink LOTS AND LOTS of water. I can certainly understand why some people get depressed while on Accutane, it drains you.
It does work as advertised but I wonder what the long term effects of that drug are... I took it long ago when I was 18 and didn't really evaluate anything very sufficiently. I wonder if I'd have made the same decision today.
I was on Accutane for about 6 months. If you take it, count on being a wreck physically and emotionally because
1. you will look like hell - everyone kept coming up to me and asking me if I was ok and/or telling me I looked terrible
2. you will feel like hell - little things will set you off. You might want to prepare friends and family for the rollercoaster. If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse, they may wish to go on vacation for 6 months while you go through it. Also, they will annoy you by telling you that you look like hell constantly. If that isn't bad enough, your lips will crack and bleed because they get so dry. Drink LOTS AND LOTS of water. I can certainly understand why some people get depressed while on Accutane, it drains you.
It does work as advertised but I wonder what the long term effects of that drug are... I took it long ago when I was 18 and didn't really evaluate anything very sufficiently. I wonder if I'd have made the same decision today.
1. you will look like hell - everyone kept coming up to me and asking me if I was ok and/or telling me I looked terrible
2. you will feel like hell - little things will set you off. You might want to prepare friends and family for the rollercoaster. If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse, they may wish to go on vacation for 6 months while you go through it. Also, they will annoy you by telling you that you look like hell constantly. If that isn't bad enough, your lips will crack and bleed because they get so dry. Drink LOTS AND LOTS of water. I can certainly understand why some people get depressed while on Accutane, it drains you.
It does work as advertised but I wonder what the long term effects of that drug are... I took it long ago when I was 18 and didn't really evaluate anything very sufficiently. I wonder if I'd have made the same decision today.
Nancy, I am also a 42 year old female. I started severe cystic acne between age 18-20. All of my 20's was miserable because of the sight and pain of the acne on my face. In the beginning stages they did not come out with Acutane. I simply had to be on Vitamin A and often get shots of cortisone into my cysts to make them smaller. I have been fighting this battle for over 20 years and have been on Acutane therapy twice. The dermatologists had even thought of putting me on it a Third time. My face is far from porcelain or peaches and cream and I don't know what the two therapies has done to my internal organs or bones (I don't believe they know enough about it to let you know the damages it may have caused - but I am sure I'll find out 20 more years up the road)!!! I believe my next step would be to try the "pill" you suggested Ortho-Tri-Cyclin as after all this time in and out of dermatologists offices - one did suggest that it could be hormonal (and oh yes, I have been to Endocrinologists too!) So I as many of you, will try anything to make it go away for good! If there is a doctor out there that likes a challenge I AM IT!
Good luck to everyone!
Debbie
Good luck to everyone!
Debbie
I have been on acutane for 4 months & my face has cleared up i dont think that ill get off of acutane for another couple months or so but i really love the results that i have received. The only side effect i got was dry lips.
I am 44 years old, and have made an appointment to see a dermatologist. I have been researching acne medications, so I will know the side effects ahead of time. My acne is not severe, bet I have had very oily skin and clogged pores which result in blackheads and whiteheads since I was in my 20's. This past summer, my son got married, and due to the stress, my skin broke out in terrible little red bumps. I have been using 10% benzol perozide solution, but it isn't helping. After reading all the things that I have about acutane, I have decided I will not resort to using it. It is amazing to me how dangerous this drug is, and people are still using it. Especially since, from what I understand, a 6 month treatment does not cure, only postpones the acne. Thank you to all of you for you experience. This is one person who is listening
Maybe we should just have an island for all the people with zits, and then it would become uncool to not have them there. Everyone with acne can fall in love with eachother and spawn pimply children.
I am 15 yrs. old and have been on Actuane for 3 months now. I am experiencing servere joint pain. It is causing me to limp. Interested in knowing if this is common with anyone else using the drug.
I THINK YOU'RE ALL INSANE
I'm a 47 year old female. I had a slight case of perioral dermatitis over the years for which I took antibiotics at times. Then, during the summer of 1998, my face erupted--some on my forehead and even cheecks, as well as the usual areas I'd had milder breakouts--jaw area and chin.
My dermatologist had given me a brochure on Accutane about 5 years before, and I had tossed it because the side effects seemed so severe and frightening in relation to my distress.
But when I turned 45 and had this major reaction I decided to try it, as I had a friend who it had really worked for.
I finished my 6-month course in February of 1999 and until now, October of 2000 have had skin which has been flawless. In the last few months I've seen a little more oiliness than I have since the treatment, and once in a while a very small blackhead or pimple but still my skin is generally almost perfect.
During the course, I always carried water and had chapstick or lipstick on my lips at all times, as well as a moisturizer at night. I moisturized my face with Cetaphil cream and still do.
I know people's bodies and reactions vary, but my experience was positive. The only thing I regret at this point is not using it sooner--I probably would have avoided the few slight scars I got from the experience at age 45.
My dermatologist had given me a brochure on Accutane about 5 years before, and I had tossed it because the side effects seemed so severe and frightening in relation to my distress.
But when I turned 45 and had this major reaction I decided to try it, as I had a friend who it had really worked for.
I finished my 6-month course in February of 1999 and until now, October of 2000 have had skin which has been flawless. In the last few months I've seen a little more oiliness than I have since the treatment, and once in a while a very small blackhead or pimple but still my skin is generally almost perfect.
During the course, I always carried water and had chapstick or lipstick on my lips at all times, as well as a moisturizer at night. I moisturized my face with Cetaphil cream and still do.
I know people's bodies and reactions vary, but my experience was positive. The only thing I regret at this point is not using it sooner--I probably would have avoided the few slight scars I got from the experience at age 45.
i don't know exacly what the blood tests are for or any of that jargon, but i do know i just finished 5 months on acutane and i am cured!!! i am mid 20's male, and the 3 doctors i saw while i was on it all seemed to be pretty mellow about a male taking it. not to big of a deal if you are a guy. hte dremologist that i saw along with the two regular Dr.s did made sure i got my first blood test, but after that one came back fine, they said that the rest are usually always fine as well. (i got them anyway). few sideffects that are tolorable. i recommend it to anyone.
today alone i flurted with 4 women (all on the tennis team mind you.) confidence is flying high.
good luck
star wars part IV should have been called acutane
today alone i flurted with 4 women (all on the tennis team mind you.) confidence is flying high.
good luck
star wars part IV should have been called acutane
You are reading content posted in the Dermatology Forum
Learn to identify and prevent bites from summer’s most common pests.
Doctors argue for legislation to curb this dangerous teen trend in the latest Missouri Medicine report.
10 ways to keep your skin healthy all winter long
How to get rid of lumpy fat on your arms, hips, thighs and bottom
Diet “do’s” and “don’ts” for healthy, radiant skin.
Images of rashes caused by common skin conditions
