Accutane?

Skel · #1 08-05-2008, 02:20 PM

Any of you guys know anything from first hand experience about using accutane? I know it basically cures acne while you take it, just don't know for sure what the truth is about common, adverse side effects.

KeithBMI · #2 08-05-2008, 02:21 PM

I just got off of it about 3 or 4 months ago.

Highly recommended!

The worst side effect was dryness. I had dry lips and eyes for the entire duration. It was even worse because I was on the program during the wintertime.

mike_v_s · #3 08-05-2008, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skel

Any of you guys know anything from first hand experience about using accutane? I know it basically cures acne while you take it, just don't know for sure what the truth is about common, adverse side effects.

It works, but the residual effects last a while. One of them is dry skin. I had to use lotion in highschool. And chapstick. Daily. And for a while after I stopped taking it (like about a year or more). Depending on the dosage, you can also end up with pock-marked skin (this doesn't go away), although I do not have this problem. But it does work well.

Mike

m0nst3r · #4 08-05-2008, 02:43 PM

It works, but as others have mentioned, it causes some dryness. I used to put chapstick on twice a day (morning and night) and did the same with some spf 15 face moisturizer. That was good enough for me.

HollowBassman · #5 08-05-2008, 02:50 PM

I strongly advise against using Accutane. I won't say why, but rest assured that I may or may not have a reason.

iplaybassguitar · #6 08-05-2008, 02:54 PM

Crazy, on the side of this post right now is an ad for ZENMED acne stuff. i know the ads are content related, but this one is spot on.

i have been using ProActive, also used by the likes of JSimps, Pdidds, and some other famous cats. works great, but only with consistent use.

WorkinOnIt · #7 08-05-2008, 03:03 PM

Used it about 20 years ago in my mid-twenties. Worked very well. It gave me really dry skin for a couple months, but it was well worth it. The dry skin for me only lasted a few weeks beyond the course of treatment.

thesteve · #8 08-05-2008, 03:09 PM

According to my wife, who was on it when she was younger, Accutane works.

And she doesn't buy into the hype of Proactive. We're both convinced that Proactive works because it teaches people how to use an acne treatment system, not because it's anything special.

iplaybassguitar · #9 08-05-2008, 03:15 PM

nah, proactive works. i have tried others, neutrogena and clearisil, different kinds, stuff for the shower, face wash, whatever. proactive works better than anything ive tried. compared to accutane, i dont know, maybe accutane is better, but proactive def works.

thesteve · #10 08-05-2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iplaybassguitar

nah, proactive works. i have tried others, neutrogena and clearisil, different kinds, stuff for the shower, face wash, whatever. proactive works better than anything ive tried. compared to accutane, i dont know, maybe accutane is better, but proactive def works.

Hmm...It might just be one of those things that works for some folks and not for others. She's told me that Proactive was just a waste of time and money for her.

iplaybassguitar · #11 08-05-2008, 03:19 PM

at first i didnt think proactive was that great, but it was because i wasnt using it everyday. i occasionally get a pimple or two still, but its when i have forgotten the proactive for few days

FrizzleFry · #12 08-05-2008, 03:21 PM

I had pretty bad acne for most of high school.

I went to the doc to try and get some Accutane, But there is a Butt load of side affects... So we prescribed something less intense, but still did the job just as well, And unless you Acne is really bad, I don't think you need it.

Lakland55 · #13 08-05-2008, 03:21 PM

I used accutane as a teen in the early nineties and it was excellent, aside from the dryness which more or less causes a lot of excessive peeling. But I have heard of people taking it and having symptoms of serious depression, I'm not sure chemically how its linked but for users it is worth researching because I've heard multiple situations of this occuring.

KeithBMI · #14 08-05-2008, 03:27 PM

Every time I went in for a checkup they asked me if I was feeling depressed, but I never felt sad. I think there is also a side effect about sleeping and eating more, but I already sleep and eat a lot.

It's all in the pamphlet they hand out.

If anything, you'll feel better about yourself because your acne is clearing up.

ac11367 · #15 08-05-2008, 03:32 PM

I was on a 6-months course of Accutane back in 2002. It really does work (knock on wood). I experienced dryness as others, but also I was getting mild occurances of nose-bleeds. Every month I have to do a liver function test and lipid profile to ensure that the drug is not adversely affecting my liver. Also, my acne got considerably worse before it cleared up while on the the course.

Doctor explained to me that there are different types of acne. Proactive and over the counter products cannot treat cystic acnes (which I had) because those acne originate from deeper skin layers than common pimples. So depends on what type of acnes you have, Proactive and OTC products may ot may not work for you.

Skel · #16 08-05-2008, 03:52 PM

Thanks guys. It's not for me, but there was a time when I could have used it. So far everyone who's used it except one who didn't elaborate, did not experience anything except dry skin, and you experience that with the treatments that only give you a 30 percent result. Maybe it's an insurance company thing that you have to start out on something that even the dermatologist says "you can expect 30% relief". Why not get 100%? And one person said something significant to me, anyway. Wouldn't you be so happy that your skin was clear that the possibility of feeling sad would be countered by this happiness?

jokn388 · #17 08-05-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeithBMI

Every time I went in for a checkup they asked me if I was feeling depressed, but I never felt sad. I think there is also a side effect about sleeping and eating more, but I already sleep and eat a lot.

It's all in the pamphlet they hand out.

If anything, you'll feel better about yourself because your acne is clearing up.

It works, and I have never heard of a case of it not working......but man, it made me VERY depressed. I don't know if I've ever felt that bad in my life. Never happy, no confidence, thoughts of suicide, the works. I feel ok now, but studies have come out stating that the psychological effects can last a lifetime. I stayed on it because I figured the ends justified the means.....how vain we humans are. I was on it for a long time (8-12 months) and would not go through that experience again. I would try something like proactive; and if that did not work I would wait until the worst of puberty passed.

Skel · #18 08-05-2008, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jokn388

It works, and I have never heard of a case of it not working......but man, it made me VERY depressed. I don't know if I've ever felt that bad in my life. Never happy, no confidence, thoughts of suicide, the works. I feel ok now, but studies have come out stating that the psychological effects can last a lifetime. I stayed on it because I figured the ends justified the means.....how vain we humans are. I was on it for a long time (8-12 months) and would not go through that experience again. I would try something like proactive; and if that did not work I would wait until the worst of puberty passed.

Sorry that happened to you, first of all. Just when I speak up, I hear this. I'm really sorry this happened to you - best of luck to you

Bass_Machine · #19 08-05-2008, 04:23 PM

It worked for me and I used to be really bad. I could barely look at myself in the mirror beforehand.

BUT

I did get really depressed. I'm quite a fragile sort of personality anyway, and I really felt quite low as a result. It's not the same for everyone, but be aware that occasionally, you may feel a bit low without any real reason.

Petebass · #20 08-05-2008, 04:34 PM

Accutane saved my life when I was a teenager with horrible acne. The side effects var from person to person. Personally I only had to contend with dry lips, and a nose bleed every so often. It was SSOOOOO worth it!!!!!!!

Oh and back then, it was still a new drug so I had to have regular blood tests to monitor my liver function and cholesterol. I'm not sure if that's still the case. Either way, the blood tests never revealed anything bad and the drug works brilliantly.

Mine had the effect of reversing my depression - I believe it was my acne which mad me feel bad about myself. Once that started to go, so did the depression.