What do you know about Accutane?

[chiwawa626]

What do you know about Accutane?
Any experiances or things i should know?
I am having a bloodtest for it, then if its ok, i will be on it for the next 5 months.
Please gimme some info on what u know

Edit:
Im a guy, please leave out all the girly side effects

 

[CattyKathy]

One of my friend's friend was on it, dunno if he was still on it the first time I met him, but I heard that it can really damage ur liver or something in ur body, forgot what it is... If u don't really have a HUGE problem with acne, don't use that... My brother used Proactive and his face looked so much better jsut after a few months... have u considered/tried other products?

 

[chiwawa626]

I've used just about everything the doctor had, even Retin A and Diffren Gel, my doctor said it this is probably the last resort. As for liver damage, when taking it you get a blood test every month just to be sure, and she said if ur liver starts getting bad ur pee will turn black and you'll know :disgust:

 

[tontod]

I'm taking accutane right now and its done wonders for my acne. Though I have had to endure a couple of blood tests to monitor cholesterol/triglyceride levels to make sure they're normal, also liver tests. There are some annoying side effects I'm having to deal with like extremely dry/chapped lips, nosebleeds once in a while - though its gotten better with more humidity recently.

 

[CattyKathy]

just drink a lot of water, it'll be better... hope the result turns out welll

 

[Urinal Mint]

Accutane works wonders, but I too had to deal with a finnicky liver for a while. cholesterol was also a problem, but now that I'm off everything is back to normal... I took it for 6 months, and have been off since June 1998. Nary an ugly pimple to this day.

Also, stay away from Retin A if at all possible... from what I've read it helps cause depression, and from personal experience with Retin A I can say this is probably true.

Just keep chapstick on your lips and you'll be fine. And don't drink much booze.

 

[eakers]

watchout for drastic mood swings. my boyfriend tried proactive it didnt help. he uses anti-biotics which does help but not to the extent that ive seen accutane do to some.

be careful with it.

*kat. <-- sleepy already.

 

[tontod]

Yeah, i have to have a lot of water to keep from getting dehydrated. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels have changed, but not to alarming levels. I have 6 weeks to go then I should be done with the 6 month regimen.

 

[ElFenix]

my dog was on it. to combat skin cancer. didn't work

 

[Carbo]

Don't get pregnant.

 

[johnjohn320]

<< It can cause liver damage >>


VERY RARELY in VERY FEW PEOPLE. And, as he said, you get blood tests every few weeks, so....

I was on accutane for a few years, get ready for some dry-ass skin. I'm sure you've been warned, but trust me, it's hell. I was on two 40 mg's a day, my hands cracked and bled at random times, three times I scratched my forehead in school and got blood all over my hands, then I finally learned to stop. Nosebleeds will also be a common occurence. For the love of god, carry lip balm and lotion with you. You'll need it. My lips bled more than anything.

That said, I still go on accutane every now and then for a few days, just to kick a blemish or two. It's not bad for that short amount of time, but when it builds up over several months, it's absolutely miserable.

 

[hans007]

i took it for 5 months. two 40s a day. Never had any peeling or cracking. All my acne went away. It was the greatest invention ever. Some of my acne came back after, but no where near as much. You cant wear contacts when you have it though. I think a change in diet was needed too for me, afterwards of taking it, i gave up caffeine (well at least not 10 sodas a day), i dont eat chocolate for the most part, and eat a lot healtier. stil get acne every now and then, but its a lot better.

 

[pulse8]

I took some amount that I'm not sure of for about 3 or 4 months. My lips were the only thing that dried up and the corners of my mouth were constantly cracking and bleeding. It was well worth it, though. My acne cleared right up. I haven't done much more than washing my face regularly since and it's all clear.

 

[Lichee]

i myself take Retin A and luckily it has stopped here. I heard some of the things about Accutane, but nothing like what i just read. eek!

Hope your treatment goes well. you will really enjoy life a bit more socially

btw...i thought retin A was merely topical. is it really true u can still get depression on a medication that you apply on your skin? odd.

Lichee

 

[toph99]

it did wonders for me, but i went through a thing of chapstick every few weeks to keep my lips moist. also your skin can't take as much punishment, as what would usually be a minor scratch turns into a huge cut, so be careful. you will want to buy a heavy moisturizer, something with vitamin E i'd suggest, to put on your face every morning as it will flake during the day if you don't. watch out for mood swings as it has given people serious depression before

 

[chiwawa626]

Scratching/dryness --> Bleeding? ouch, hopefully i dont have it that bad u guys like carry klenex and lotion constantly? hehe, looks like ur gonna jack off !....

oh yeah, dryness, i would do anything for DRY HANDS, my hands are constantly wet and sweaty, mabey they will be dry for once

 

[zimu]

ther'es a lot of crap you have to deal with-
dehydration, dry eyes, bleeding noses etc.. (Well depends on how bad you're hit.)
but its DEFINITELY worth it at the end
it did wonders for me.

 

[kaiotes]

girls who aren't on birth control shouldn't take it.
i've been on it for past 3+ months, i think its time to stop (will have to ask my derma next visit)
she says it has done huge improvement to my acne.
well i still have eczema thats what she is gonna try and solve for me after i'm done w/ accutane.
others has pretty much summed up all.
keep eye on liver w/ blood test.
hope ur acne gets better.
and whatever jonjon said, very true.

skin will dry up, (i had to find a certain lotion that works w/ my skin.)
have to put lotion on face after every shower.
lips will get dried up VERY easily.
i carry lotion w/ my like how i put on my classes.

the edge of mouth and near earlobe may also create an opening or cracking (personal experience)
so stock up on lotions

 

[erub]

I took it - I got it for free (and got paid) to take it for a study they were doing on loss of bone density. I took the pills like I normally would have done if we had paid, and agreed to lie on a bed for 1 hr before and after the study while they did some sort of bone scan. Got paid around $225 for my troubles too . It got rid of all my acne, and I had a nasty case, with lots all over my face and back. I have gotten a few back in the year since I've been off of it, but not very many. I have a few pictures from when I had acne, and I looked horrible...much better now

btw: They do warn you about the side effects, and there definitely are some. Yours lips become very dry, lots of nose bleeds, etc. My skin turned red for some weird reason after about 3 months(no, it wasn't a sun burn). My friend is taking it now, its helping him a lot.

 

[chiwawa626]

Thanks for everyones advice, tips, and support
Im gonna go get my bloodtest tommorow and after that hopefully start.

One more Question:
Any good lotions, Moisturizers, soaps, and things for chapped lips? LMK what u think works best


THANKS!!

 

[MonstaThrilla]

I found that using Clearasil Daily Face Wash twice a day fixed my acne, and it was pretty bad...

 

[Lichee]

that stuff only seems to free my skin of oil for like 2-3 hours. Benzoyl Peroxide (prescription strength) face wash gets down into the pores and seems to last me around 3-4 times that length.

Lichee