Accutane?

[Kipper is King]

I've had acne to a moderate degree for a decade (I'm now 24) and I've tried every topical medication, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory known to man, with mixed results.

My dermatologist wants to put me on Accutane, but I'm worried about the possible side effects. Apparently, it can really mess with your mind, not to mention your liver and heart!

Have any of you tried Accutane? How'd it go?

[nickerjones]

I had accutane in grade 10. It worked great. Cleared up the acne... only side effects i had was sensitive to sunling ( got burned) and my lips got severely chapped.

[OldDutch]

WTF, They still sell this? I thought they took it off the market due to all the lawsuits.

I would strongly advise against taking it. I have numerous friends with unexplained long term illness that were all on that med.

- Wheat Allergy
- Chronic dry eye
- Crohn's Desease

I have seen way too much anecdotal evidence that I would strongly suggest you get at least 2 more opinions before you remotely consider taking that stuff.

[IgnitedSoul]

I was put on it about 7 or 8 years ago. At the time it was unpleasant (mostly with how dry it left my skin) but, it cleared up my face quite a bit. That said, to this day I do still have some acne, so it's not all gone.

Also (to slightly rehash what OldDutch said), about 4 years ago I started showing some IBS type symptoms, and I've heard a lot of rumours about accutane being linked to screwing with people's colon and such. My cousin who was on it way before I was recently had a huge chunk of his colon removed, and we suspect it's all linked to the accutane.

So, while I can't say it won't help or be worth it depending on how bad your acne is, I definitely wish I hadn't taken it.

[Jing]

I don't think it would be a good idea. While it does work, the possible side effects are not worth it. I know people who have taken it and ended up being depressed afterwards.

[Badabing]

I've been on it the past two months, the only negative effects I've noticed are extremely dry skin/chapped lips. Works like a charm in terms of getting rid of acne, but I would recommend drinking a lot of water and using facial moisturiser and lip balm.

EDIT: Seems like most of the negative effects people are noticing were long term, so maybe mine's not the best opinion.

[nik-]

I used it when I was younger too and it worked like a charm. However, I think they pulled it from the market ... because of all the liver damage and cancer or something

edit: I guess not ... yikes

[SHOGUN]

..

Everyone I've known that had acne swears by ProActiv. I guess you've tried that?

[ignite09]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

Everyone I've known that had acne swears by ProActiv. I guess you've tried that?

Yeah, I was on accutane about 15 years ago and there was nothing on the market that matched its effectiveness. Things have changed now, and there are other products that can be nearly as effective with little side effects.

Also, when I was finally put on it I had already been given 7 or 8 different treatments that saw no success. My family doctor still wouldn't put me on it because of the risks, and I actually had to shop around to find a doctor that would prescribe it for me. I'd maybe be questioning your doctors knowledge of this if I were you.

[RogerWilco]

I used it 20 years ago and it worked great when nothing else did. I do remember my nose was sensitive while I was on it but no problems after I was off. Never had any acne since.

[ben voyonsdonc]

When I was a teenager, I was prescribed Minocin (Minocycline) for acne. It is more mild than Accutane and did a fantastic job. I really didn't have any side effects.

[Minnie]

I have heard nothing good about it. No personal experience with it. My friends with kids that have bad acne all seem to swear by acne.org and Neutrogena. YMMV.

[flylock shox]

I used it over 15 years ago and it worked a charm. To this day I almost never geta pimple let alone acne. No long term side effects that I know of, bbut that drug ain't messing around. l now know that the space behind your eyebrows is hollow. How do I know that, you ask? You don't want to know. But it was thanks to Accutane's side effects in the short term. And it was a bloody mess.

That said, I don't regret using it. Not yet anyways.

[malcolmk14]

I took it in 2002-2003 - no serious health issues yet that I'm aware of. My face got super dry and I still need to carry lip balm with me everywhere I go.

[surferguy]

Double post

[surferguy]

15 posts and nobody has mentioned the line:

"Some people zay I eat to many zhoc-o-late barrrs"

Leaving disappointed. You are slipping CP!

[ignite09]

There was always odd reasons and cures for acne over the years. My favorite was being desperate enough at one point to give my grandmas advice a try and spent two months eating three tablespoons of nutmeg every morning.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

I took it in 2002-2003 - no serious health issues yet that I'm aware of. My face got super dry and I still need to carry lip balm with me everywhere I go.

Would you not consider chronic dry lips a side effect? Maybe I am missing the green text.

The medication is designed to dry out your skin so acne will not form. The part they don't tell you is it drys out your whole body down to the cell level. It causes your body to change chemistry and sometimes the body doesn't bounce back. This leads to long term issues.

I am no doctor, but I am really shocked any doctor with any scruples would push that crap on people knowing what we know today.

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

Would you not consider chronic dry lips a side effect? Maybe I am missing the green text.

The medication is designed to dry out your skin so acne will not form. The part they don't tell you is it drys out your whole body down to the cell level. It causes your body to change chemistry and sometimes the body doesn't bounce back. This leads to long term issues.

I am no doctor, but I am really shocked any doctor with any scruples would push that crap on people knowing what we know today.

Well it could or could not be related - I'm not necessarily convinced it is. I don't usually need it when I'm not in Calgary - the air here tends to leave my skin more dry.

And there was a few years in between taking the Accutane and needing lip balm - the dry lip problem resurfaced probably 2 1/2 years ago - nearly a decade after taking the medication.