Accutane -- Worse before Better

[Marandus]

Katie wrote:

Ugh my liver levels are too high, so they are taking me off accutane. I'm really upset because this was the LAST thing I could do to help my acne.

That sucks, I go for my first lab work this week since starting treatment. keepin fingers crossed. I hope they can get you back onto the treatment some how... hang in there!

[Marandus]

Day 16... Severe cystic acne
Treatment: Accutane
Dosage: 20Mg 2 x daily
Age onset: 30yr Male

Synopsis:
No initial flare up initiated
Initial side effects dissipating
Slight drying of lips
Joint pains mostly in knees and lower back
Slightly blurred vision (mostly in mornings)
Lesions becoming very dry / painful; partial facial swelling under right eye
Rapid clearing resulted during the 5th full day of treatment.
Rapid clearing noted as a concern by dermatologist including rapid onset / offset of side effects.
First post treatment blood / urinalysis scheduled
Small black inclusion noted under toe nail (right foot)
Dry scalp
Symptoms currently manageable under current dosage and treatment duration

[brett]

hey everyone
this is my 2nd time on roaccutane
i am currently in my 6th month and only had 1 small pimple in the past 2 months.
the 1st time on it was shocking, but my skin improved and was clear for about 3-6 months afterwards....it came back but no where near as bad!
i then decided 2 go back on it again...i would feel that my skin has improved and get really happy and think the end of my acne has come-but then i would get a pimple or two and feel really down..
i guess what im saying is dont feel that the drug is not working and that there isnt light at the end of the tunnell..it just takes time, persistence and faith to keep you happy during the tough times, and dont feel bad if a pimple comes up after u hav been on the drug for months....it IS a miracle drug, but it DOES take time

hang in there everyone, i know what it is like..but i strongly advise anybody suffering with acne to go on roaccutane sooner rather than later..i wont lie there will be tought times ahead, but it will all be worth it :)

[brett]

oh thats the other thing i wanted 2 say.

u know when my acne was bad i used 2 read this forum all the time and post about how its bad and blah blah blah,.....but once my acne got better i had no need 2 come on this forum(until i came across it 2day)

so if ur not finding many positive comments on this forum, and its putting a dent in ur confidence-it is actually because ppl who have been cured of acne because of roaccutane r not posting! so stick in there its definetely worth it!

[Mishka]

I've been on it almost 4 months. The first 3 months, my skin was pretty clear. More blackheads, but I just exfoliated those away. Dry lips and my chin pealed once every 2 days. Still does, actually. This is the 4th month for me and I just started braking out! WTF?! I am on 40mg generic brand of accutane. 22 years old, 106 lbs... Not sure why I am breaking out again, but if you're not getting results, ask to up the dosage to 60mg. I sure will!

[Mariah]

I'm on my 6th month. I look at old pictures and think "Ew.. my skin REALLY looked like that?" Accutane works miracles, I'm still not totally convinced though. I want everything cleared on my face. My derm says around the 7th month (If you go for a long time) the red marks that are smooth on your face will go away forever.
Crying spells were a side effect, but I never felt suicidal. Around the second month, it really makes your skin burst out with worst acne, but that's only because it's trying to get it all out so it can heal it.

[amy]

Angie Thorne wrote:

Just wondering how many people have had their acne get worse before getting better on Accutane? I've only been on it for 11 days... the only side effects I've experienced are extremely dry lips which started after just a few days of use & sensitivity to the sun... Anyone care to comment? Thanks! Take care...

My acne got worse after 1 month of treatment. My derm. gave me a z pack and it cleared up in 2 days. I'm at the end of my 2nd month now and all my acne is gone ! i do have very dry skin and get sores on my arms if I'm in the sun to long, the results are fantastic and the side effects will stop when you stop taking it.

[mary the cho]

Ray wrote:

I am 29 years old and have been on Accutane for almost 2 weeks. My break outs are dramtically worse now than before Accutane. I am getting big red cyst like acne on my nose and surrounding areas. I am hoping this is just the medicine pushing out pimples that I had stored for later. It looks like I am going through puberty again!
I hope is doesn't take two months to clear up, but if it works, I guess it is worth it. Just tired of hearing "what is going on with your face" :)

i am also 29 yrs and i have been on accutane for about 7 weeks and my acne has flared up so bad i have people constantly asking me if i'm sick or wtf happened to ur face. i have a twin sister who was on it two years ago and her skin is flawless now..i guess hang in there. do u party ever on this drug though? i have a few times and i noticed it does get worse, but his won't ruin any chances for permanent healing will it?
let me know..anyone??

[Pillow]

Hey guys. I've been on Accutane for around 8+ weeks but i see no improvements!:( really sad about it. In fact, i think it got redder and more scarring? HELP

[betty]

hi, ive been on roaccutane for a month and a half, my face has got worse especially on my chicks thich pimples that have refused to go away for 2 weeks i hate it. is this normal though? Will my skin get better eventually?

[Heather]

Ive been on accutane for about a week now, and ive already been noticing improvment... ive gotten a few new pimples since starting but they heal up much faster. Though im wondering if i can go into the sun if i put on a high spf? my derm told me no sun whatsoever... but i cant do that. any suggestions?
Ive noticed my eyes drying out and my lips chapping..though its not horrible yet. i havent had severely dry skin yet, but im waiting for it.

[Angie]

I just finished my third and month and a little discouraged because I'm still breaking out. Trying to hold out for the next few months to give it a chance.

[lizzy]

Spike wrote:

I have been on for 5 days annd have got enormous welts almost type pimples. Is this okay/normal? Worse than ever!!!

i am just about to start accutane and i am really scared of my acne getting worse! i work at a mcdonalds and i deal with people all the time so i dont want to look bad! my drem. also said to not eat fried foods. also she said i hve to get blood work done , how bad is that?

[lizzy]

brett wrote:

oh thats the other thing i wanted 2 say.
u know when my acne was bad i used 2 read this forum all the time and post about how its bad and blah blah blah,.....but once my acne got better i had no need 2 come on this forum(until i came across it 2day)
so if ur not finding many positive comments on this forum, and its putting a dent in ur confidence-it is actually because ppl who have been cured of acne because of roaccutane r not posting! so stick in there its definetely worth it!

thanks for that you really lifted my spirits!

[lizzy]

one more thing how are the pills to swallow? i pretty bad at swallowing pills

[lizzy]

zina wrote:

to andy, shut up, till you have experienced acne i dont think you should talk, yeah right your friend comminted suicide proably because his life sucked not because he was getting clear skin!

hell to the yeah!!

[lizzy]

Katie wrote:

I've been on accutane a month, but my liver levels came back high from a different doctor checking for something else totally unrelated to dermatology. My dermatologist is calling me back Monday. I SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO don't want to stop taking accutane. My skin is already starting to clear up. This is my last and only option :( Wish me luck!

good luck!:)

[jc girl]

This is for all of you ladies taking Accutane... A few weeks ago I went for my 4 month check up with my dermatologist. I told him I'd had quite a bit to drink a few days earlier because I was celebrating my 25th bday. He said everything should be fine because I'm not much of a drinker, but the blood work would tell us everything. The next day I get a frantic message from my derm telling me to call him back immediately. Before I could call back his assistant was calling me. Long story short my blood work came back with my liver being fine but positive for pregnancy! I freaked out!!! She told me to stop taking the meds immediately and since my regular dr. is in the same office they gave her my results and she called me. She said the bloodwork came back with extremely high levels and there was no doubt that I was pregnant. I've been on the pill for years and although there are times when i might miss a pill and have to double up I've never even thought about getting pregnant. She gave me the number of a place to have the pregnancy terminated and said she was sorry but there was no way in hell I was keeping this baby after being on Accutane. I told her there was no way in hell I would want to have a baby. So the next week I went and had an abortion and now i'm back on Accutane again. I thought they wouldn't let me finish but I was so happy they did and this is such a lesson learned. Ladies PLEASE always use a condom while on this medication. I think the Accutane weakens the effects of the pill so don't trust it alone.

[stayunknown]

hey people.

previously i had been on minocyclin for like 5 years, but i had to keep using higher dosages for it to work, so i went to the derm and got accutane.

I have been using accutane for like 10 days now,
and at first it got worse, and now its really unbearable, all nasty big white heads, i get like 10~15 or more on my face each day when i wake up
I really dont want to go outside at all, ive stayed inside for the last 4 days or so, but tomorrow i have to go outside for something.

on one side im happy to be really dealing with it, but it hasnt been this bad for like the whole 5years i was on minocyclin.

its hard but im going to have to live through it somehow, im going to try to stay inside for most of the treatment, until i see some significant changes, i feel embarrased and dont want to go to college, or get a job, so i kind of got in debt now.

anyways this was my rant, thanks for reading.

[fmyface]

Stacy wrote:

I'm 18 yrs old and have never had serious acne in my life untill about 6 months ago after the summer. Right away i went to a derm and tried everything from topicals to antibiotics and nothing worked. I just dont understand how my face in 6 months can go from practically perfect skin to a horrible mess covered in zits. I have now been on accutane for two months and a week, and have seen no good improvements! My acne got alot worse and turned into large cystic acne deep in my skin, its very dry and flaky and my lips are dry! Other then that i have been very healthy! I was wondering how long this drug will take, people say around 3 months, but i really cant see my face getting clear in only three more weeks in the state that its in! It's really hard, and ive began to understand how simple things like just going out of the house can be so much work, im trying to keep doing my usual things, but its really hard to go to work and school when your face is such a mess. It brings down my confidence, i really hope it will start to work soon. I'm very opptimistic that it will work, it just seems to take SO long! I just need to remember there is more to me then my skin, and maybe this is the downfall in life that im taking. There's people with much worse problems, and i guess that despite how hard it is, its the card i've been delt and many have it alot worse then i do.

Good luck to you all!

good attitude!!!i have to pull myself out of my head and think the same way ...about 15 times a day!! my face is my own private hell..i start month 3 tomorrow and if it doesn't clear soon i am going to freak..its hurts and itches so bad i cannot sleep some nights!