Acutane or not?

[Janete]

I am 25 yrs old and have had acne for 5 yrs. I think it's pretty bad but others say it is mild. I have been on several anti-biotics over the last year that have not been very helpful. I am currentyl on erythromicin and I am not enjoying the side effects. I'm sure the side effects of Acutane are far worse and my doctor wants to put me on Acutane if the current treatment does not work. Is there anything else I can do besides Acutane? I'm scared of the side effects it will bring. At the same time, my acne makes me very insecure and I want to find a remedy very soon!!!!!! HELP!!!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Janete:

Do yourself a favor and stay open to the use of Accutane.  Accutane is a wonderful drug which has been in wide use for almost 17 years.  In most people it causes dry lips and not much else.  Of course, there are precautions to be taken: blood tests, contraception, etc, as you doctor will no doubt elaborate.  But the actual day-to-day taking is rather easy for most everyone.

If antibiotics are making you unhappy and not better, consider Accutane seriously. and at any rate don't rule it out because of side-effects you may be worrying about more than needed.

Best.

Dr. R

[anna vu]

my friend play outdoor sports all year round, would acutane be an option for her to treat her acne problem?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Anna:

Put it this way: physical activity like sports is no reason not to take Accutane, if it is otherwise appropriate.

Best.

Dr. R

[Trish Taylor]

I took Acutane for almost five months last year and am very pleased with the results.  While I did not have a serious case of acne, I would regularly have one or two pimples that would take ages to clear up.  Not to mention  that occurs with acne.

Nonetheless, I have noticed that when I am exposed to sunlight, what seems to be a pimple on my cheek flares up and then goes away again within about  good reasons, I tend not to spend much time in the sun.  

Is it true that the skin is still much more sensitive to ultraviolet rays, as a result of taking Acutane?

Thank you for your reply.  My e-mail address is ***@****

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Nope--once you finish taking it, Accutane leaves and is gone.

Best.

Dr. R

[Meghan]

I am 20yrs old and I took acutane when I was 18yrs old. for about 5 1/2 months. I had excellent results as far as my acne was concerned (I don't even have scars!) The side effects I experienced included: peeling lips, dry eyes, dry skin, face flushed(very rosy areas) easily(usually when I exercised) and lethargy, etc. All in all my experience was good and the side effects were tolerable. I do have a question about something that took place 5 months AFTER I stopped taking acutane. I had septoplasty/rhinoplasty sx 5 months after ending acutane and 6 days after my sx I hemmoraged (from my nose) and had to be hospitalized because the bleeding would not stop. I don't have a bleeding disorder and my doctor doesn't think it was a result of taking acutane. My question is, Do you think it could have been a result of the acutane? I remember reading that a possible side effect was bleeding problems. Is it?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

No,I really don't think so.  There is no connection I can think up.

Dr. R

[lacy]

I have had two courses of Accutane and it worked great but not for long periods of time. Didn't care to start third course cause of side affects, dryness, more acne for about 3 months and depression. Am now trying erythromicin/cetaphil compound and although just started recently, I am seeing improvememt already with no side effects. Give it a try, may work for you to.

[Emily]

Janete,
   Wow! I'm really shocked to come across your letter. I am currently searching for any info. on law suits pertaining to the side effects of acutane.. I'll tell you a little about my experience with acutane. I've had acne since I was 12. I know the frustration you are experiencing with antibiotics, the acne itself, the insecurities, all of it! At the age of 16 I was thrilled when my doctor told me about acutane. After 9 months my skin did clear up. During that 9 months I experienced horrible side effects probably similar to the ones your doctor has told you about. But at the same time my skin got better, my life started falling apart. To make a long story short, 9 months after I began aacutane, I was diagnosed with clinical depression, at the age of 17. A year ago, I came across an article that included some shocking statistics about patients suffering from depression after several months of acutane. I also recomend going to a pharmacy and finding a medical book about prescriptions. The one I found listed depression as a common side effect. To top it all off, a year later tha acne returned and worse. However, if you haven't tried an antibiotic called Cleocin T , ask your doctor about it. I've recently tried it again, after a friend of mine had luck with it, and have noticed a huge change after only 1 month. My dermotoligist thinks I'm crazy, but I also stopped drinking milk 2 weeks ago after my mother reminded me that I was allergic to it as a child and that has seemed to improve my skin even more.you might want to look into any food allergies you might have. I think if you continue researching these antibiotics, you'll find the answers your looking for and I wish you the best of luck.

[tracy]

I AM 34 YEARS OLD, AND HAVE HAD ACHE FOR YEARS.I `VE BEEN ON ACCUTAINE BEFORE, BUT ONLY FOR 1 MONTH.THE SIDE AFFECTS WERE DRYED MY EYES AND NOSE OUT TERRIABLY. MY DOCTOR SAYS I SHOULD GO BACK ON IT FOR A LONGER TIME, AND MAYBE NOT TAKE IT IN THE WINTER.WHAT`S YOUR OPION?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Sounds reasonable to me, Tracy.  Most everyone can take it if they do it slowly and under supervision.

[Kathy Mcg]

My doctor will not prescribe Acutane.
He says that it may cause cancer several years from now, and that is not worth the risk, so I am looking for other acne cures. The antibiotics and creams are not working.

[Jim Mototomo]

I like to drink pee.  Should I still take acutane?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Kathy Mcg:

I don't know whether you should be on Accutane or not, but your doctor's statement is completely without merit or justification.  In fact, the class of drugs of which Accutane is a part has been shown to PREVENT cancer, and Accutane is used that way in patients who have a rare, hereditary predisposition to skin cancer.

Find yourself another doctor.

Dr. R

[Spencer]

accutane is the drug from hell....can cuase internal organ problems ....increase probability of skin cancer...excessive drying of lips, face body...i took it for several months and had horrible side effects....one morning i made the mistake of laughing and got a huge cut across my face from where the skin was so dry...it just ripped apart...plus while i was on the
hell-drug my cuts didnt clear up..so i was left with a cut on my face for over a month....that was just as bad as the acne itself....i would never consider taking it again....it did however clear up my acne....but i dont know if it was worth the cost of 6 months of daily pain and torture....my best advise for anyone considering it is do as much researcha s you can and talk to your doctor(often times multiple opinions are great as well!)....also for women considering accutane....you should also look into orthotricycline....its a birth control drug...that also works in a similar was to accutane in that it helps clear up acne...i know a few women who have used this instead of accutane and had just the same results( makes sense too considering that oftan times you are required to go on birth control with accutane)....hope this helps some....


-spencer

[Spencer]

accutane is the drug from hell....can cuase internal organ problems ....increase probability of skin cancer...excessive drying of lips, face body...i took it for several months and had horrible side effects....one morning i made the mistake of laughing and got a huge cut across my face from where the skin was so dry...it just ripped apart...plus while i was on the
hell-drug my cuts didnt clear up..so i was left with a cut on my face for over a month....that was just as bad as the acne itself....i would never consider taking it again....it did however clear up my acne....but i dont know if it was worth the cost of 6 months of daily pain and torture....my best advise for anyone considering it is do as much researcha s you can and talk to your doctor(often times multiple opinions are great as well!)....also for women considering accutane....you should also look into orthotricycline....its a birth control drug...that also works in a similar was to accutane in that it helps clear up acne...i know a few women who have used this instead of accutane and had just the same results( makes sense too considering that oftan times you are required to go on birth control with accutane)....hope this helps some....


-spencer

[Nichol Schumacher]

I am an Esthetican and have had acne to some degree all my life. It seems as though as soon as it starts to get better, it all of a sudden gets worse. Currently I am getting large pustules, papules and blackheads on my cheeks mainly. I am taking tetracycline and have been using beta hydroxy creme and it's not helping. In my industry, no one is going to listen to someone about skin care if their own skin is broken out. Is there anything besides acutane that could help or is acutane my best bet? My other concern is that if acutane is my only option that my MD will not prescribe it since my case of acne is not grade 3 or 4!!?? Please help!

[gina r.]

I have taken accutane before (about 5-6 years ago-I was 25/26) and I was wondering if there were any serious concerns about retaking this drug again. Also, is there any minimum as to how many times can a person take this treatment.

Thanks

[Christy]

I have been taking accutane for 3 months and have noticed a lot of pain in my knees and hips as well as my neck.  Are these pains related to accutane?  My acne has cleared up and the only definite side effects I have experienced have been dry skin.

[[email protected]]

is there aey known or suspected interaction between acutane and depression during treatment. thanks

[Peter Moon]

Please give me a complete breakdown of the individual components of Acutane.
I am a Natural Hygienist and need this information immediately.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Peter Moon
***@****

[pete]

Is occasional alcohol consumption okay when on Acutane.  Maybe having 8 beers in one night, once a month.  Is it okay for a little alcohol and will there be any side effects for it.  Also, this may seem like an extreme question, but has anyone ever become very ill from taking acutane?  What is the worst case scenerio from taking acutane?  Will drinking a lot of water help to avoid some of the acutane side-effects and can you still work out(lifting weights about 8 hours a week)? Will acutane clear up all acne on the face, back and arms for the rest of your life basically?  Thanks.

[lynda]

Dear Dr. R,
My son has now been on accutane 40 mg. for his first month.  He is now entering his 2nd month taking 80 mg. which will now be the treatment for the next 5 months.  So far so good.  I have been very concerned because of all of the scare stories people tell, however, we are praying that this works for him as the acne itself can be very depressing in itself and we feel that we have to give this a try.  My question to you, is about a calcium supplement for bones and joints.  Dr. Art Ulene had a radio talk show on yesterday regarding Accutane and he highly suggested taking a calcium supplement while on this treatment program.  Please advise and also when should it be taken?  At the same time or a different time?  Thank you for your information and time via this forum as we do appreciate your knowledge.
Lynda

[Jacqueline]

What are the real side effects of acutane? Other than dry lips. What happens if someone does get pregnent while using the drug? Has it proven to cause cancer, tumors, ect? How harmful is it in your bloodstream?