January Postings

Back to the Acne and Roaccutane homepage
Janine - 01/31/99 23:20:50
Gender: Female
Age: 25

Comments:
I have been onreaccutane for six weeks, so far so good. I have the usually side-effects, but I must say, I wished the medicine would work faster. Anyway, what I actually want to say is that one can use 'cellugel' for scarring. It truly is wonderful, and can be used for anything form a burn-wound to acne-scars. Try it, it works. Thanks for the site, it does help to know that you're not alone. Greetings from Afica, Janine

Chris - 01/31/99 06:18:51
Age: 24

Comments:
Hi, just wondering what I can use for dry lips, without it shining a lot. I use normal lip balm, but my friend asked me if I was wearing makeup because of the gloss!!! How embarrassing!!! If you could help me, i would be in your debt!

- 01/30/99 17:35:21
Gender: female
Age: 19

Comments:
Kristi . . . I am surprised that your doctor kept you on such a low dose (20 mg) for so long. After a month, 40 mg or 60 mg per day would have been more typical. So, if I were you, I would not be discouraged that you have not shown significant improveme t. Hopefully your doctor will up your dosage again soon. Also, I have never heard of anyone who could not have children because of taking accutane in the past. There must be some other factor in that girl's case. Accutane does not cause long-term dama e to your eggs. But it is extremely dangerous for a fetus to develop while this drug is in your blood. So no one who is pregnant can take accutane, because it's an almost 100% chance that the baby will be severely deformed. I have no complaints with th drug, other than dry skin and lips and delayed periods.

Kristi - 01/29/99 19:32:33
My Email:kharvey@smail.stark.kent.edu
Gender: female
Age: 20

Comments:
wow....what a great web page,this was exactly what i was looking for. without much hesitation i began accutane in october. my doctor told me of the side effects, but seemed very confident in the fact that it would help my acne. i got on the birth cotrol p ll with the advice of my dr, and like some of you have asked out, my periods have been normal. my acne is not as bad as it used to be after 4 months,but i also havent noticed too much improvement. my doctor just yesterday upped my dosage to 40 mg a day (f om 20 a day). talking to a friend that day about my new dosage, she recalled a friend who had taken it and had terrible terrible side effects and long term effects such as weight gain, depression, not able to have children, and her acne is now worse. she ave me her phone # to speak to her directly about it, but she said it pretty much messed her up for life. i believe she got off the drug 1 year ago. i havent gotten to speak to this person personally yet, but does anyone know anyone who has been off the d ug for awhile and experiences any side effects like that? it has me practically terrified to remain on the drug. i see that a lot of you dont have too many complaints about the drug except for the typical chapped lips and such, and thats where i stand now but horror stories like this make me hesitant to continue.... ~kristi starr

- 01/29/99 04:20:58
My Email:imranm1@yahoo.com

Comments:
Silly me I forgot to give my full e-mail adress

imran - 01/29/99 04:18:55
My Email:imranm1
Age: 27

Comments:
I was wondering if anyone knows whether the reduction of skin oil is permanent. Will it come back after the cycle is finished? What percentage will come back if any?

Tracy Farnham - 01/29/99 03:41:16
My Email:Tracy_Farnham@qtc.com.au
Gender: Female
Age: 26

Comments:
I went on Roaccutane four years ago now. I had horrible cebacious cysts, and although I can still feel where they were, they are no longer protruding from my face. However, I had a bit of a relapse, and broke out in acne very badly. I was in London at the time, and went on Dianette. It has cleared me up, however, it has given me very noticeable pigmentation on my face. Despite my religious efforts with sunscreen, it persists. I would like to go off the pill, and tackle the problem naturally. But, of course I do not need another relapse of acne! Does anyone have any info re time on Dianette, and any other alternatives to more conventional, harsh acne treatments? Thanks so much. Cheers All.

Kristin - 01/28/99 22:26:21
Gender: female
Age: 29

Comments:
To Allie: Sure, I'll check in again in a couple of months to let you know. Also, I'm in good shape after six months of Accutane. I didn't have cystic acne before, just constant small breakouts and lots of oil. I've been off for one month and I'm completel oil-free and zit-free. I think I accumulated a few more wrinkles while on the stuff due to dry, dry skin, but nothing too bad. Few complaints overall. Best regards.

Emma Taylor - 01/28/99 21:59:05
My Email:e.j.taylor@talk21.com
Gender: female
Age: 24

Comments:
I took roaccutane seven years ago and whilst it did clear my acne up, I have been left with very dry skin, so dry that it is painful to smile. I reacted to the drug with joint and muscle pains which is normal, but joint stiffness persisted even after I fi ished the treatment. Whilst I was on roaccutane I suffered a back injury and now live in chronic pain. I have since then developed pains in my knees, shoulders, I have achilled tendonnitis and tenosynovitis. I can't prove that roaccutane caused it but t wouldn't surprise me. If anyone is considering going on this drug, then I would think very carefully. If anyone wants to email me with their comments then feel free to do so.

- 01/28/99 02:19:07
Gender: Female
Age: 35

Comments:
Hello, Reporting in with my Chinese Herbs (taken for my cystic acne) progress. I have been faithfully taking the herbs since 11/4/98. It has almost been 3 months now. I also commented on 12/24/98, 12/25/98, 12/31/98, and 1/8/98. My skin is not oily. am still breaking out some. It has reminded me of Accutane in the way that it gets worse before it gets better. The biggest difference between Accutane and the Herbs for me is that the herbs are so very good for my well being(how I feel). I am the fur hest thing from depressed. My herbalist said it could take a year to clear up cystic acne. I do feel like it is starting to get better and I will take the herbs for at least that long. I may even continue them because of how good I feel about things no . I have a consultation with my herbalist scheduled for Feb. 5th.

Allie - 01/27/99 18:33:55
My Email:amuss@hotmail.com
Gender: female
Age: 27

Comments:
This message is directed to Kristin, I'm interested in knowing what you hear about the pap results and their relation to the accutane. I'm due for my pap next week, and I'd like to be prepared in case my results come back similar to yours. By the way, ou're not a crackpot!! I think we're all a little paranoid about this med, and rightfully so I suppose. I'd also like to know how you're faring after completing your course of accutane.

- 01/27/99 17:25:23

Comments:
REBECCA: Good luck to you! Be sure to let us know about your progress with roaccutane.

Rebecca - 01/27/99 15:06:44
My Email:Dingo_Gal@Hotmail.com
Gender: Female
Age: 28

Comments:
What a wonderful page!!!! Finally some answers to a lot of questions that I have been asking since the first time I heard the word Roaccutane. I have had very severe cystic acne since my teens. i have tried every conceivable treatment, and some that we e just wierd and bizarre. Nothing has worked. I have been very sceptacle about starting on the Roaccutane treatment, but find now that I am willing to try it. The side effects cant be any worse than the pain that I am experiencing with my acne. Some d ys, my face hurts so much that it hurts to move it. I have gotten over the image side of things, and dont really care any more about how my face looks, I just want the awful pain to go away. Lets hope that this medication does its stuff and lets me lead a normal life again that doesnt involve day to day pain.

Sandy - 01/26/99 01:50:40
My Email:harly@compusmart.ab.ca
Gender: female
Age: concerned mom

Comments:
To Kristen, interesting info about your pap smear. This makes me even more nervous about this drug. You can also ask your pharmacist to obtain more info from the company and they will send it to him/her. Let us know what you find out. I am inquiring a out the abnormal mensos (missed menstrual cycle) they are sending info to the pharmacist for me. I asked the dermatologist and this brain head says that it isn't a side effect of accutane and now I find in the drug book that pharmacists have, that it is isted as abnormal menses. What do these doctors know anyway. The pharmacist explained that the statistics and percentages for the side effects are often not correct because in cases like my own, the drs don't recognize the side effects and certainly don t bother the address them to the drug companies. Thanks to the other ladies for getting back to me regarding their experiences.

- 01/26/99 00:23:20

Comments:

Kristin - 01/25/99 16:33:29
Gender: female
Age: 29

Comments:
I didn't experience any disruption of my periods while on Accutane (I'm finished now), but I did have a Pap test while taking the stuff, and the test showed "atypical cells." I have *none* of the risk factors for cervical dysplasia/irritation (improperly itted diaphram, multiple sex partners, low estrogen, etc.) Neither my dermatologist nor my gynecologist seemed to think there was a connection between the Accutane and an abnormal Pap result. But I was still curious, so I called Roche Pharmaceuticals to a k if they had any information. (My actual words on the phone were, "I would like to know more about the CYTOPATHOLOGY of Accutane," so I think that freaked out the phone representative right away!) She put me on hold a couple of times, then came back on t e line and said they had some "off-label" information about Accutane and atypical Pap smears. The information was in the form of a letter, but Roche couldn't mail the letter to me, only to a physician. So I asked her to mail it to my gynecologist, and I h ven't seen the letter yet (I will see it when I go back for a follow-up Pap). For all I know, the letter could state that Accutane has a helpful effect on women with atypical Pap smears. But my theory (and it's ONLY a theory), is that if Accutane can chan e the way the skin cells generate/regenerate, and the speed of regenerating, so dramatically, maybe it is also changing the cells of the cervix. Any other women out there who have heard anything about this? I hope I don't sound like a crackpot!

vgk - 01/25/99 15:06:15
My Email:vk0001@unix1.cc.uop.edu
Age: 25

Comments:
WEEK 6: So far so good! I have found a great mousturizor in Estee Lauder's 100% Time Release Creme. I was having major skin peeling problems but that went away over night after my first application of this creme. I highly recommend it if you are exper encing ANY peeling of your face. Vasoline is still doing the trick on my lips. My skin has progressed nicely although I am not totally healed yet. I think that it is a small (and very fortunate) minority whose skin is clear within a week of initiating ccutane. From what I understand 8-10 weeks into therapy is when many people only begin to see results. I just wrote to keep everyone up to date on my experience and to recommend that facial creme which has eliminated that tight skin and peeling effect th t accutane delivers. I am on 70mg of accutane per day and hope to increase my dose after my next dermatologist appointment. To those of you who contacted me via email with questions about accutane and to all those who visit this site: I hope all is we l in your world and that things are progresssing smoothly.

Kelly - 01/25/99 03:18:40
Gender: female
Age: 33

Comments:
I have been to 4 derms. and each has concluded antiobiotics and topical meds are the way to go. After experimenting with every topical you can think of, my current derm has suggested retin a, 1,000 mg tetra. and chemical peels before trying accutane. I et an occasional zit, though the redness on my chin and nose is not severe, it is ALWAYS there. Does anyone out there know whether chemical peels is the way to go, or is this just another waste of money.

- 01/24/99 21:25:35
Gender: female
Age: 19

Comments:
Liz . . . do not be discouraged. I also started out with 20 mg, although it was upped to 40 mg after 4 weeks. But my dermatologist prescribed that low dosage for a very specific reason. She said that with inflammatory acne like mine, starting out with 0 mg would cause it to worsen a lot; maybe even cause cysts. I experienced no worsening of my acne (I couldn't have afforded it really, since my skin scars easily), only gradual improvement. And don't worry that you're still breaking out. Five weeks is 't that long. This Wednesday is my four month anniversary, and I'm still breaking out!! Though now I have only one zit at a time on my face. My dermatologist says I will probably be done after six months. Hang in there, everyone. My prayers are with ou all.

info - 01/24/99 17:01:42

Comments:
I'll be a little bold here but if it can help some. For those of us who have taken antibiotics for our complexion and get a yeast infection, there is a prescription pill that can be prescribed that helps counteract, HOWEVER, one day I asked the pharmacist if there was something natural that may help and he said "yogart". It worked well. I just consumed one of those one-serving containers a day. Hope this natural source works for some that do not already know about it.

cdc - 01/24/99 09:00:16
Gender: female
Age: 21

Comments:
This is a comment to Liz. First of all, 20 mg. per day seems like a very small dose to me. Secondly, 4 weeks is not a lot of time to not see any improvements. I have been on accutane for 9 and a half weeks now. I started on 40 mg. per day for about 6 eeks, then 60 mg. per day for 3 weeks and now 80 mg. per day for only about 3 days. My doctor upped my dosage because he said that the higher dose I could tolerate, the better chance I would have of not having to go on a second treatment later. He said bout two-thirds of people clear up after one treatment and the other third need a second one. All I know is that I am still breaking out and the spots are very large, red and very sore. I have not suffered from any side effects except dryness of skin an lips. Nothing bad though. I just wish I was showing more improvement like some of the others I've read about. I really thought that by now I would. Also, I weigh 113 pounds and 80 mg. seems higher than most people take that I've read about on this web ite. Any others out there like me?

Shani - 01/23/99 18:54:22
My Email:Shani.Ryan@cableinet.co.uk
Gender: female
Age: 26

Comments:
Hi I've just started week one of a four month course of Roaccutane.I'm on 65mg a day and weigh 10 1/2 stones.Is this quite a high dosage?I've had problems with acne since I was 13.I've been on erthrymicin...(what awful side effects with constant trots!)..minocyclin..Retin A whilst studying in the States which was when it all started to get really bad.I was sent to a derm where my cysts were injected with collagen and have subsequently left me with what I think are dreadful scars..although of course my nearest and dearest would have me think otherwise.Anyhow on with the medicine list I then came off the tabs and went onto the topical stuff with Zineryt and Stiemicin and now at last I've got to see a derm on the NHS who's put me on this supposed WONDER DRUG.I'm getting the v.dry skin and lips and touch wood no breakouts..though I havent had any really bad ones for a while anyhow which is why I'm confused about why my doc wanted to put me on this stuff. Anyhow..you can tell I'm a journo..I waffle for England!..after reading this sometimes reassuring and at other times frightening webpage I beginning to wonder if I've done the right thing?Can anyone offer any advice?Also with my job there's alot of socialising which inevitably involves alcohol...I have two events next week.I don't drink other than these sorts of occa

liz - 01/23/99 12:44:17
My Email:lize@ihug.com.au
Gender: female
Age: 22

Comments:
well. it has been five weeks since i started on 20mg of roaccutane per day and have noticed no improvement, i know that it is suppose to get worse but when does it start getting better. i keep reading about people whose acne dissapeared in two weeks and d eam stories like that. What can i do to speed the process a bit ie topical solutions etc, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, can someone please lend some kind words on when this acne of mine might start to improve. I do respond very well to an i biotics but these have shocking side affects, some women might know what i am referring too, quite embarressing. I know roaccutane has infamous side affects but i am getting desperate. Please give me some advice on when this drug will do it's job. i tho ght this was a wander drug and i hope i do not get dissapointed, kind reguards and good luck to you all. liz

- 01/23/99 04:39:19
Gender: female
Age: 19

Comments:
To the mom who wrote in . . . I'm pretty sure I usually get my period normally (i.e. every 28 days). However, my last period arrived some 40 or 45 days after the previous one had started. I'm pretty sure that that was due to accutane. (I had been on 20 mg for a month and 40 mg for two months.) I really didn't worry much about it, as I'm willing to endure almost any side affect if it will give me my happiness back.

Allie - 01/22/99 18:29:55
My Email:amuss@hotmail.com
Gender: female
Age: 27

Comments:
I'll start by saying that I think that Accutane is working great for me, and I'm really happy with the results I'm seeing so far. I've been taking 60mg per day for one month now. I received bloodwork results that were normal in comparison to my baseline tests (in fact, there wasn't a change in my levels at all) and my Rx was refilled for month 2. My heart goes out to those less fortunate with their own results, but for those in search of positive support, like myself, I am offering reassurance that the rug can be effective without experiencing the horrible side effects that I've grown accustomed to reading about. Take care, drink your water religiously, think twice before drinking alcohol and most of all try to remain positive and listen to your body. his website is a great way to help and support one another. I'll be posting regularly and I welcome mail from you!

Sandy - 01/22/99 16:18:05
My Email:harly@compusmart.ab.ca
Gender: Female
Age: considered mom

Comments:
Hi, great comments from everyone. My daughter has been taking accutane for two months now and has missed her period. I have spoken to Derm and have had many conflicting reports. Some say it doesn't affect the menstral cycle and some say it does. I won er how girls that are not on the pill relate to accutane and their periods. Can some of you write back and let me know if you are experiencing this side effect as well. Other than this and flaking skin and sore back and knees all else is going well. He skin is clearing up really nice. Great site, please write back and let me know your experiences. Thanks

SALIM - 01/21/99 13:12:16
My Email:salim5@hotmail.com
Age: 22

Comments:
Thanks to those who contacted me concerning my queries in my previous entry. One more thing though, one of the side effects of using Roaccutane is hair loss. Has anybody suffered any hair loss, and if so has it grown back normally after stopping the treat ent? My hair is thinning already and I'd hate to loose more by using accutane. If I do suffer hair loss when using this drug, will my hair grow back normally or slowly or not at all? How would anyone else describe thier hair loss? Drastic to the point of baldness? or mild and unoticable? Would appreciate any comments or replies.

Sean - 01/20/99 19:13:44
My Email:Sean0974@aol.com
Gender: Male
Age: 24

Comments:
I still have bad side effects from roaccutane after 5 years and no-one i.e all doctors will take any responsibility . the drug should be banned full stop .I wish it had never been created . Good luck to everyone here though hope u have better luck than i did and anyone who wants a full book of side effects contact me

Dennis - 01/20/99 15:46:11
My Email:elmior@freemail.nl
Gender: Male
Age: 20

Comments:
I made a homepage about roaccutane, if you have information on it,PLEASE MAIL ME. There will be photo's on it either

Beth - 01/20/99 03:33:40
Gender: Female
Age: 18

Comments:
This is in response to the person suprised at my 200mg dosage. I did not start out on 200mg. I started on 80mg and worked up when that dosage was having no effect. I was told that the higher the dose the less likely recurrence is once treatment is over. M side effects have seemed less severe than many people who were on 80mg or less. I also had regular blood work done before and after adjustments in my dosage to make sure my liver was handling it okay. There were no changes in my liver functions so I stay d at the higher dosage. I didn't have any crazy side effects so....I certainly don't feel poisoned. But thanks for your concern.

a - 01/19/99 22:36:21

Comments:
Side-effects of accutane on http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/isotret.htm

Melissa Haworth - 01/19/99 17:06:46
My Email:IMAGECKO2@aol.com
Gender: female
Age: 31

Comments:
I enjoyed reading postings on your site. I am also an acne sufferer. I've been on Accutane for almost two months. I have experienced nearly all of the expected side effects. The most troublesome two, are my inability to run (I'm a runner) due to severe joint and muscle ache. The other being vaginal discomfort, and yeast infections. I made a committment to take Accutane, but am starting to get depressed about the few punds I've put on. I am contemplating stopping. However, in spite of these side effect , I do like the results of my skin. I keep telling myself "short term pain for long term gain" so far that has sustained me. Thank you for your site and all the info that is displayed there. please post this to your site, as I could not figure out how to o it.

vgk - 01/19/99 16:20:54
My Email:vk0001@unix1.cc.uop.edu
Age: 25

Comments:
Accutane is GREAT! I have now been on accutane for a month and have seen improvements daily. I still get a new blemish every couple of days but my skin is no longer as inflammed or painful as it used to be. I am surprised to read that some people haven t experienced much successs on accutane. For those of you thinking about starting- I would definitely go for it (after speaking extensively with your physician about your concerns). The SIDE EFFECTS which I have experienced have not bothered me enough t discontinue treatment. My lips are very dry and my chin peels constantly. My friends have already noticed improvement and said that I have an "accutane glow." I know many people who have been on accutane and they all agree that it is great. You can s ill DRIVE and STUDY and take it if you are OVERWEIGHT. VERY FEW people (the exceptions appear on this website I suppose) that I have spoken with discouraged me. My quality of life has improved- I still obsess about my acne and still check first thing wh n I get our of bed whether or not I have a new blemish. With accutane I am pleasantly surprised to find improvement every so often. This is a FABULOUS website with great personal stories. It is important to be educated about the side effects and such bu please remember to speak with your physician about all of your concerns and if you decided to go with accutane keep checking and contributing to this site...and invest in some good moisturisr and vasoline!

Salim (London) - 01/19/99 15:25:23
My Email:salim5@hotmail.com
Age: 22

Comments:
Can anybody tell me whether or not Roaccutane/Accutane is a good idea whilst learning to drive, or whilst studying for your degree finals; ie, do the side effects of Roaccutane affect your ability to drive, or does it affect your work, the mood swings etc What about if you are quite overweight already? Do you then suffer more from the side-effects? Just how bad is the dryness of the lips, skin etc(I would appreciate a very descriptive account, someone else on this page also suggested that lypsil was crap nd that another treatment, I forget the name now, was very good, can anybody advance on this?). Has anybody using Roaccutane used any antibiotics previously? Oxytetracycline? Erythromycin? The former did me no good what so ever for about 8 months, my GP told me that most people are on it for about a year so that is why I left it so long. The latter, Erythromycin did wonders. No more new spots (a few from shaving badly etc, BTW guys don't use an electric shaver for goodness' sake) and also a few others, but on the whole it has cut my spots by a factor of about 8 I'd say. I saw my GP last w ek and it was decided that I will start a course of Roaccutane in a couple of months time. In the mean time I was given an increased dosage of Erythromycin and a topical oinment called Diacin. Has anybody else tried this? If so what results have you seen? As much as Gp's can help, they don't often tell the whole truth, which is why I think this page is a superb idea. B.T.W has anybody else tried the BodyShop's "TeaTree Oil", it is supposed to help with your spots, in my case it made them a lot worse, (stay away from it). However thier "Face Protector" I find is very good. It is a moisturiser that also cuts the amount f grease in your skin, I don't think it actually helps to clear up acne, but it does keep your skin soft. I feel a bit disheartend by the stories of the side-effects, especially those about Acne getting a hell of a lot worse before it gets better. Over the past 2 months now, the Erythromycin I have been using has really improved the condition of my skin, and t looks as though it might in time clear it up completely. I wouldn't want the Roaccutane to mess things up. As you can see I've a lot to get of my mind, and writing this has really eased things for me. I would appreciate any comments or answers as to my ueries. Cheers

Sharara - 01/18/99 19:31:55
My Email:ladli@yahoo.com
Gender: Female
Age: 24

Comments:
I have had acne since I was 21. I think my acne may have been as a result of using bad cosmetics that clogged my pores. I have been struggling for the last 3 years to beat this problem but to no avail. I tried everything out in the market you name it. Tr pical creames, antibiotics and more. Finally somebody recommened this powder to me. It is called - Herocyn Powder. It is from Indonesia and contains- Salicylic acid,Menthol,Camphor,Zinc Oxide, Sulphur and Talc. I started using it since the last 15 days. A d believe it or not my acne is cleared!! It works wonders. And I believ if it cured stubborn acne like mine, it will clear yours too. I hope this was helpful. PLEASE THINK OF ALL THE SIDE EFFECTS OF ACCUTANE BEFORE TAKING IT!!

- 01/18/99 17:00:28
Gender: female
Age: 19

Comments:
I'm sorry, but if any dermatologist prescribes 200 mg of accutane a day, they should not be practicing medicine. How is that possible? Unless you weighed 3,000 lbs. or something, that would be poison.

- 01/18/99 10:19:27
Gender: Female
Age: 19

Comments:
I would definately not reccomend accuntane for mild acne. The side effects are such a pain, literally, that it's just not worth it. And accutane may not even work for you. I wouldn't have termed my acne severe, just stubborn. Yet during treatment my acne efinately became severe. Now that I just finished treatment it's not much better than before I started. So if the side effects are really terrible for you I wouldn't stick with it, since accutane might not even work for you. I stuck with it becuase I have lots of friends that swear accutane is a miricle drug - but accutane obviously doesn't work for everyone. If I could go back and do it again I probally wouldn't have done the accutane but kept up the different types of antibiotics.

Beth - 01/18/99 10:12:30
Gender: female
Age: 18

Comments:
Hello everyone. I just finished my 25 week course of accutane!!! Yeah!! (It was originally supposed to be for 20 weeks but it wasn't clear enough so my dermo added another few)My face broke out terribly during my course, for months,not weeks. I think I am even now still breaking out. I weigh 140-150 pounds and had been on 200 mg a day!! Yet my side effects were no different than anyone's I read. My lips were terrible, but I can already feel them healing! (I'm sure most of us have sat around and pulled the kin off our lips.) I've been reccomended a second round of treatment,but I may decline. I'll keep you posted. Beth

- 01/18/99 06:11:23
Gender: female
Age: 21

Comments:
This is in response to the posting from C.R.B. wanting to hear from those who had become pregnant while on accutane. If someone does become pregnant while on accutane, I believe there is about 100% chance that the baby will be deformed, retarded or both. That is about the only thing my doctor warned me about when he put me on accutane. Unless someone gets pregnant accidentally, there is absolutely no excuse for it. Also, I find it hard to believe that your acne cleared up after only one week.

- 01/18/99 05:35:15
Gender: female
Age: 19

Comments:
In regards to the posting below . . . I certainly HOPE that no one has an experience to share of being pregnant and taking accutane!!! Not to mention the poor baby who would either have to be aborted or born with severe birth defects, that woman would be ome another statistic that would help convince the FDA that accutane needs to be taken off the market.

C.R.B - 01/18/99 01:38:13
Gender: female
Age: 31

Comments:
within one week of treatment my skin cleared -face shoulders back chest- & my confidence 'boomed'i am in my last month of treatment iconsider my skin to be 'perfect'. i had all,and still do have side effects -sore joints,dandruff,dry lips eyes skin,headac es,hair loss,mood swings,the roaccutane occasional body rash but all these are worth it to have the skin i have today,not to mention the new life i have.i would like to read some experiences of those who have been pregnant whilst taking roaccutane.

C.R.B - 01/18/99 01:38:11
Gender: female
Age: 31

Comments:
Hello all, Sandra who posted on 1/16. Back in about 1983 or 84 I stopped taking birth control pills and I immediately started getting cysts. I had been taking the pills for about 4 years and I started taking it when I was 16 or 17 for ACNE. I did not r alize at the time that that could have been the cause and I did not re-prescribe to the birth control pill. I have suffered everyday since. I do not know exactly why I just don't re-prescribe and see if that helps. Actually I do recall now that the pil did cause me mood swings, etc. I am one who is trying chinese herbs for 3 months now. Seems like maybe it might eventually help. Peace

F.O - 01/17/99 18:59:14
My Email:f.o@virgin.net
Gender: MALE
Age: 19

Comments:
I have suffered from acne since i was 14, and never really took any notice until it got really bad. I have been on a number of treatments and in october 98 i started using Roaccutane. It has improved my acne and i am continuing the treatment until my Derm tologist states otherwise. I would just like to know if there is anything else i can do whilst i am on this treatment and also if there is anything i can do about, scarring, blemishes etc. Thanks

Dan - 01/17/99 17:58:16
My Email:alycamps@yahoo.com
Gender: Male
Age: 31

Comments:
I have had acne on my face almost everyday since I was about 13, and just this past year I confronted it and went on Accutane after trying to deal with the problem with antibiotics. My first attempt with Accutane was horrible: I had been taking about 100, 00 to 150,000 IUs of Vit. A in an effort to dry my skin. It didnt' work, but what it did do was increase the side effects of the Accutane and make my face break out with literally dozens and dozens of whiteheads. The Accutane does that I was on was 80mg day and now I 'm on 40 mg./day and have been on it for 5 weeks. Stick with it folks! My acne got very, very bad the first 3 weeks, but then cleared up immediately and I haven't had so much as a single little pimple since then, and I even started to push the envelope by eating lots of greasy food and what not, just to see what would happen. Nothing! Stick with it. Go on Accutane and begin to enjoy the world again. It's like I'm a fish and I'm swimming now, so free.

Dan - 01/17/99 17:54:52
My Email:alycamps@yahoo.com
Gender: Male
Age: 31

Comments:
Just a message of hope for all of you out there suffering. It took 4 months for my acne to clear up to an improved state. At first it seemed to get much much worse. After the four months it has cleared to what I consider to be a very good state, only a few occasional minor spots. I am still taking the drug but i decided to lower my dose to only one 20 mg tablet a day because of very painful joints which I was needing painkillers to control 24 hrs a day. I had previously been on 60mg, at present i hav taken the equivalent of 40mg for 6 and a half months, i have the equivalent of 3 months supply left but I have decided not to finish it but to keep on the lower dose for the equivalent amount of time as this seems to still be working with continued impro ement especially on my back. To all of you who are at the hardest point on your course keep going! there is light at the end of the tunnel. My confidence has increased dramatically and I now finally feel free to live the life I want to live rather than being restricted by such a terrible disease. Once again good luck and don't give up however unsuccesful it might seem at the time.

- 01/17/99 15:48:28

Comments:
I DEFINATELY do not recommend Accutane! My blood pressure soared and caused me to have mood swings. And the acne just came back. Antobiotics seem to be working without Dreadful side effects. But are not to be taken for too long because of intestinal pr blems which may occur in the long run. For women I hear that birth control can help clear up your skin.

Depresssed - 01/17/99 03:42:27
My Email:asiangod7@hotmail.com
Gender: male
Age: 17

Comments:
Hi i was just reading your page obviously because i suffer from acne as well. And i would just like to say that i understand for all the people out there who suffer from this disease. i've been depressed for a while now and ive started to use a cream cal ed retin-a which also works. I just hope some of you people try it out too.. GOOD LUCK!

- 01/17/99 03:30:54
Gender: female
Age: 33

Comments:
I am contemplating taking accutane. I have a mild case (but persistant) of redness on the nose and chin. I have tried every topical drug and oral you can think of. I don't really experience pimples so much as the redness that never seems to go away. I the meantime my derm. has recommended glycolic peels. I started two days ago. He seems to think it would take five and then it would be every 6 months or so. (This of course is not covered by insurance at $125 each session). Does anyone know if this i worth the time and expense? Thanks.

sandra - 01/16/99 08:12:50
My Email:phythian@trump.net.au
Gender: female
Age: 29

Comments:
I have been suffering cystic acne for 6-7 months since coming off the pill - my GP says its due to the hormonal changes. She has referred me to a Dermatologist to get Accutane etc, but I have to wait 2 months to get in for an appointment. I have been to d the bad news that it will take up to 6 months to get rid of the acne even though it started in a matter of days. I will need to have laser surgery to fix the scars - my skin scars VERY easily. I find the acne very embarassing - especially in my positi n as Manager of a business and makeup unfortunately does not sufficiently hide it. I would be interested in hearing from any other girls who have had similar problems with cystic acne from coming off the pill.

cdc - 01/15/99 22:58:46
Gender: female
Age: 21

Comments:
This is for Kristy. You said you had been on the treatment for 4 weeks and your acne was much worse. I have been on for 8 weeks now and my is also much worse. No lessening in sight yet. I did not have cystic acne but acne vulgaris characterized by sma ler bumps, blackheads and whiteheads. Now all the whiteheads I had are turning into cystic bumps. It is pretty awful. I'm hoping this is just a result of the accutane getting out the "poison" in my face. After reading through the entries on this websi e, I was a little discouraged because it seems that many people are getting better when they are at my stage of treatment. But then, some other people say it takes up to three months to see a difference. I hope that is the case with me and I start seein some improvement soon. I'm hanging in there though. I take 60 mg. per day now (as I previously posted). So, don't worry that you are not showing improvement after only 4 weeks. I think that is much too soon. Keep your chin up and good luck.

David - 01/15/99 15:43:33
My Email:dp@unforgettable.com
Gender: Male
Age: 28

Comments:
I seem to be a bit of a one off after reading some of the other stories posted here. I just finished a three month course of Roaccutane to clear really bad acne on the back and occasional nasties on the forehead. Side effects were as expected although t ey don't tell you all the places where dryness affects (boys, think of your more sensitive areas!) Buy a big tub of Vaseline before you start and make sure you stick it up the nose to avoid nasty nosebleeds. I found Nivea Lipbalm worked best on the lips and was less greasy than the Vas (Lypsyl was crap). Interested to see folks comments on booze. I tried to stop in the first week but submitted to the lure of the pub after two weeks and drank normally for 2 1/2 mths including bingeing at Xmas and New Ye r. I must have been lucky cos my blood tests showed no effect on the liver and my hangovers were no worse than usual. Had to cut out fatty foods though cos my cholesterol level went through the roof. Anway, spots (or plooks!) have cleared up a treat an symptoms have subsided after a week and a half. No more sticky lips, hurrah! Skin feels great and I'm looking forward to an embarrasment free summer holiday and trips to the swimming pool. Don't let the horror stories put you off trying it for a while I reduced the dosage slightly when the dryness got so bad my eyes were red (not a contact wearer). BTW, the drug cost �650 GBP for my treatment (4 pills a day) and I got it on private healthcare although the dermatologist would have taken me on NHS if hey wouldn't pay (CIGNA). Best of luck.

kristy - 01/15/99 14:42:05
My Email:kristy-@rocketmail.com
Gender: female
Age: 20

Comments:
help! i have been on roaccutane for about 4 weeks now, and my skin is much worse! my dermatologist prescribed it for me despite me not having cystic acne because it bothered me so much, and now it's worse! i know it's supposed to get worse before getting etter, can anyone tell me how long into the treatment they began to get positive results? thanks to everyone on this website - it's great to know others have the same problem.

staceyf - 01/15/99 14:22:08
My Email:staceyf@uk.caribiner.com
Gender: Female
Age: 25

Comments:
I have been very fortunate to be able to be prescibed Roaccutane on the NHS and i was so pleased when I found out. My mother had acne when she was young and i guess she's passed it down to me (I'd rather have had her eye colour!) I wouldn't say that I hav severe acne but whatever time of the month there'll always be one on the way or one foming, bit it a small one or a big boil (scarring material) I have been very reluctant about this drug due to the side effects (although dry skin sounds quite appealing or a change)! I've heard that you can't go out in the sun whilst you're on it? Having read everyone's results it goes to show how it effects everyone in different ways I guess I should give it a go despite the dry skin etc...Would anyone be able to sugges a good time to start? Will I want to be staying in and hiding everynight? I heard that once you finish the course (not giving up too early which i hear a few people do) you will never get another spot again in your life...I find this hard to believe essp cially at certain times of the month for us girls....! Anymore advice is truly appreciated. My heart goes out for those with acne and it does get very depressing at times and don't listen to what nasty people say I bet you're a better person on the inside than they are.

pat - 01/14/99 16:37:27
Gender: female
Age: 19

Comments:
accutane is processed in your liver just like alcohol.. if you drink in excess your liver is overworking and you can cause some damage.. it is ok to ocassionally drink.. if you have a big event comming ( like mardi gras or your sister's wedding ) tell your derm about it and he will take you off the drug for a couple of days

- 01/14/99 13:49:40
Gender: male
Age: 20

Comments:
I have an important question: Does alcahol inhibit the function of accutane or does it just raise blood chloresterol levels, and hurt the liver? Thanks.

cdc - 01/14/99 03:50:49
Gender: female
Age: 21

Comments:
First of all, this is in reply to the message from "help". Accutane and Roaccutane are one and the same. It is called Roaccutane outside of the U.S. Secondly, perhaps you should give accutane another try. It may not have been the cause of your anxiety attacks. Also, you said you were supposed to stay on it for six months and you stopped after only three months. I have been on accutane for almost 8 weeks. For the first 6 weeks, I was on 40 mg. per day and since am on 60 mg. per day. I don't know tha the dosage necessarily goes by weight as I've read on some of the past messages because I am almost 5'6'' tall and weigh 114 lbs. My doctor raised my dosage because I was not responding as well on 40 mg. and also I was tolerating the accutane quite well I have dry skin and lips as expected and the other day I had a mild nosebleed. My blood work is normal so far but I will have another blood test done next Monday and that will be the first since I have been on 60 mg. My face is still breaking out big t me but I feel encouraged after reading some of the messages from people that have finished the treatment that there is hope. Thanks to Betsey and Amie for writing in regularly throughout your treatment. I backtracked through the archives when I found th s website and it has been helpful to read your two in particular. I am going to try to write in regularly during the course of my treatment so maybe I can help others who are going through the same thing. Take care.

help - 01/14/99 02:28:57
My Email:cbhend@ibm.net
Gender: male
Age: 34

Comments:
I have had acne since jr.high and the older I get the worse it gets. I tried antibiotics and they worked for a while, then I tried accutaneat the age of 27 and at first I thought it was great. I had the usual side affects dryness, then all of a sudden I h d a panic attack and from then I was always worried about something. I only took the accutane for 3 months at the most, I moved to another city and decided to quit taking it cause my skin was clear. I was supposed to take it for six months, I should've li tened to my doctor. Anyway when I moved I did get very emotional. Went to a shrink (exscuse the word) to see if he could help. Well a thousand dollars later I still felt terrible. Then one day I decided if I wanted to get better I have to do it myself. I as successfell but I still have acne, I tried just about everything and even proactive. It worked for awhile but now the acne is getting worse. I see accutane and roaccutane is this the same thing? I can use any suggestions anybody might have.

vgk - 01/13/99 05:11:53
Age: 25

Comments:
I have now been on Accutane for about a month. I have seen a bit of improvement- my face isn't as inflamed as it used to get and new blemishes are very small. My lips are constantly peeling and my chin is molting as well. I had my monthly appointment t day with my dermatologist and he said that he may up my dose if I continue to tolerate the meds (I have only experienced the predictable side effect of major dryness). Although I am glad to have experienced some improvement I am hesitant to be jubilant. I think that my acne will come and go over the next month until I see leaps and bounds of improvement. I think this web site is awesome- hang in there everyone!

Michael - 01/12/99 23:50:51
My Email:si@si-sampat.freeserve.co.uk
Gender: Male
Age: 15

Comments:
I am only 15 and have acne from my head to my knees - it started as a result of puberty but also from severe stress from bullying at school. I am on 60 mg of Roaccutane per day and in my second week. I am under the care of a specialist as I am already m ldly depressed. I dont like talking about my acne to anybody, but people have already remarked how much better I look and after only 2 weeks on the drug. I am very nauseous. Great web site.

Betsey - 01/12/99 20:05:28
My Email:betsey68@yahoo.com
Gender: female
Age: 30

Comments:
This is for Maya. Yes, I do live in the U.S. and I'm on 60mg's of Accutane. My skin WAS very oily with breakouts of white/blackheads. I've had excellent results with this drug. Good luck to you!

Amie - 01/12/99 06:42:14
Gender: Female
Age: 26

Comments:
I have written in many times before. I began my Accutane treatment back in October taking 40 mg's per day. I am now off it and my skin is very, very clear. Its tone is not model perfect...but each day its gets better and better. I stopped taking the medic ne before my skin was actually all cleared up and resumed the antibiotics. I am still taking about 80 mg's a week just to maintain a little bit of the medicine in my system. I will actually go to the store w/o makeup on now and I am not afraid of people s eing me w/o makeup. If you are on this medication please be strong and believe in its benefits. It does something wonderous!!! It is NOT hopeless. My skin was not the severe acne but it defiently became severe while I was taking the Accutane! While on th Accutane my skin was the worst I had ever seen it. I am just writing in to give some of you a HOPE story....and to assure you that Accutane does work...and of course differently for everyone....Good Luck �

Maya - 01/12/99 00:28:27

Comments:
BETSEY: I was just wondering whether or not you live in the United States. The reason I ask is because I was the one who wrote in asking whether or not Accutane has ever been prescribed to those with mild, but persistent, acne (characterized only by bla kheads and some oily areas), and you wrote back saying that you had been prescribed Accutane exactly for that reason. I'm guessing that you live in the US (your weight was listed in lbs. and you called the drug Accutane), and I'm hoping so because that m ans that there is hope that the dermatologist I will be visiting for the first time soon may prescribe this medication for me. Please write back. - - Maya

me - 01/11/99 07:38:38
My Email:meee2@iname.com
Gender: male
Age: 21

Comments:
Well, to all those people that are suffering from dry skin, I suggest using this stuff called Timezone, by Estee Lauder. I know, if you're a bloke, then you wouldn't be caught dead with this stuff. But if you use a facial cleanser (don't get some cheap rappy one), rinse that off really well with warm water, then apply TimeZone, then you'll have no problems. Many thanks to my sister for introducing 'female' products to me (even though i'd rather die than tell my mates). But do that twice a day, once in the morning and once before you sleep, and you should have no troubles with flaky skin. A bonus with that stuff is that it only makes your face shine for about 30mins before it dissapears, and lasts all day. As for the dry lips, SMEAR lip balm all over it at night, and apply as neccessary during the day, so it doesn't look so shiny. Another tip for those is NEVER touch your face at all, if you absolutely must, then clean your hands thoroughly, or use a tissue. If you scratch a trouble spot... watch out. And for those who can't resist popping the easy pimple, make sure you use a clean sterilised needle to pop it. To sterilise it, just run the needle through a naked flame for a few seconds. Make sure that the needle is sterilised for each different pimpl , or you risk spreading the bacteria to other places. There is a super small scar left, but if it's a friday night and you got a date (or something like that), then it might be worth the pop :) Lastly, to john@jaecom.demon.co.uk, I received a pamphlet telling me that there is a small chance that roaccutane can cause permanent damage, so I think that it was to be taken into consideration before undergoing the treatment. Unfortunately, I think th t this is what the company does in order to protect itself. But if you want to try to sue em, I don't see why not. Good luck :) Um, I think that i've taken too much space, so I'll leave it at that. If you need more tips, you can email me at meee2@iname.com, and i'll see if I can help you out.

Christie - 01/11/99 05:37:19
My Email:clshea@ufl.edu
Gender: Female
Age: 22

Comments:
I just finished a 5 month treatment of Accutane. It worked wonders to clear up my skin but I have been having a terrible side effect! I finished my treatment 2 weeks ago, for the past month or so I have been itching all over my body terribly. I itch night and day like crazy. My doctor has given me some allergy medicine but it is not helping at all. I don't know what to do about this and neither does my doctor. If anyone has had this side effect please e-mail me at clshea@ufl.edu I need all the info and help that I can get.

Vicky - 01/10/99 15:26:49
My Email:peter-michael.mangold@t-online.de
Gender: female
Age: 14

Comments:
I had acne for 2 years now. I have been taking accutane for 12 weeks and almost nothing improved. I read some people get the dose according to their weight, but I weigh 50 kg and only get 30 mg. Now I think it is too little. My skin and lips are very dry and I can't do really anything about it. I had also a bad eruption on my hands during the 5-8th week. But not anymore. After I read much in the net, I don't think anymore that accutane is the miracle it seems to be.

chris cassidy - 01/10/99 11:51:13
My Email:chriscassidy@nandomail.com
Gender: female
Age: 33

Comments:
It's so great to find that there are many suffering the ill effects of acne in their 30's, not just me!! Not so great to hear roaccutane is not the miracle I was hoping for. I've had cystic acne on and off since the teenage years which I've treated with all the usual antibiotics and lotions and over the counter crap, and diane 35.. My acne is solely confined to my face (lucky me) and reacts well to antibiotics. If I have a breakout I will clear all of it within a week or two BUT if I stop it returns wit in 3 days. I was told by all the GPs and dermatologist over the years that when I had children it would clear up. Well the total opposite occured, when I fell pregnant with my first child in '94 my skin which had been OK before suddenly and continously ot worse and worse and worse until in the 5th month I looked as if I had been seriously burnt. It was blistery, scabby and very painful. The dermatologist diagnosed it as cystic acne and perioral dermatitis. A no win situation, oil giving me acne and d rmatitis making my skin dry and flaky. I didn't take drugs to help during pregnancy or the 15 months of breastfeeding and only returned to antibiotics after which again cleared it immediately. Baby no 2 came along and the same thing happened again excep this time with severity (I didn;t think that was possible)and I was forced to take mild doses of antibiotics in the last 6 months and the 14 months of breastfeeding. I am greatly concerned about the ill effects of such long term usage will do my immune ystem and my baby's. My dermatologist has given me the pescription for roaccutane but I still haven't started treatment as I wanted to read as much information before I jumped into what seems my last resort. Does anyone have a similar tale of woe? I wou d greatly appreciate to hear from anyone who has had a problem with their skin during pregnancy and how they reacted to roaccutane.

Jodie - 01/09/99 23:53:09
My Email:mikepat@btinternet.com
Gender: Female
Age: 23

Comments:
I was perscribed Roaccutane by a Private Dermatologist in Harley Street London and I had to pay over �1000 for the full four months course with blood tests and appointments. I was told by my GP that it was not available on the NHS. I am a model and an a tress and one spot for me can make the difference between getting a job and not getting a job. My skin had got quite bad, blackheads, whiteheads, quite large swollen spots quite frequently. In my job, I sometimes have to wear alot of make up for long pe iods of time and under hot lights, so all these factors were not making my skin any better either. After a few weeks of taking Roaccutane, I developed as warned, dry skin, lips, eyes, and also aches and pains, extreme tiredness, and depression. I really did suffer whilst on the tablets. I was always crying, I hated myself, I felt lonely. I put my boyfriend through hell. But the tablets did do the trick with my skin and it started to become beautifuuly clear and blemish free. However, the whole time I was on the tablets I had repeated bouts of Thrush and then Cystitis. As fast as i got rid of the thrush, it came back. It was the Cystitis that became dangerous for me. It would not go, despite two seperate courses of antibiotics. It then spread to my kidneys and I developed a kidney infection and ended up in hospital for a week, on intravenous antibiotics and a saline drip because I was so dehydrated. I was in hospital for my birthday and almost missed out on my holiday. After this incident I was ca eful to drink lots of cranberry juice and up until Christmas I had been fine. A couple of days after Christmas the kidney infection returned. I was admitted into hospital again, and this time I was in there for New Years Eve/New Years Day. I have been old that I have a very weak right kidney possibly caused by Roaccutane. Anyone thinking of going on Roaccutane, please ask your doctor what he thinks of related kidney problems. Roaccutane was an investment for me, but I am beginning to wish that I had ound another way to treat my acne. I have since spoken to a girl who's sister took Roaccutane and suffered Kidney FAILURE. Has anyone else got any similar experiences to do with their kidneys???

Julian - 01/09/99 21:30:21
My Email:hullianx13@hotmail.com
Gender: male
Age: 16

Comments:
Can anyone tell me anything about icepick scars and treating them? How much does the treatment cost and how effective is it?

Trev - 01/08/99 20:49:12
My Email:ionic@iafrica.com
Gender: male
Age: 21

Comments:
Hey there!!I seem to have had the same history as you. However you seem to have a higher degree of Acne. Mine is the typical ACNE VULGARIS.I have also tried various oral anti-biotics prescribed by my doctor but no real hope. they all clear up - and then t e revenge attack arrives with full cavalry and all.I even tried homopathic medication - neem extract (every meal) - traumial injection (once a week) with some theraputic laser treatment administrated by myself. this gave me the best result. I cleared up t an extent that the only thing i was worring about was the slight redness under my jaw bone. I have one problem though. Come exam time - i stress major. Breaking out in Zits seems to be my bodies way of telling me the work load is too much.I get localised cycsts under my jaw bone. So tonight i sit here in otal dismay - one month after my last exam i am back to square one. the treatment did help, but did it only supress it? I dont want that ! I want to RID of it.I stopped having laser cause it started to c st too much cash. I am at the stage of flipping a coin to decide wether i should go on to the big-R (roacutane).MY MAIN REASON FOR TYPING: Have you heard of ozone therapy ? H2O2 - hydrogen peroxide ! There are different concentrations of this chemical ormula. Most people use 10% i used 30% as prescribed by my doctor. It goes white at first. That is a sign of it reacting with bacteria. then the skin scabs. The scabbing is what scared me - so i stopped the treatment! Should i have?? Have you heard any ther results with this treatment ??I know you are not a med. doc. but i am open to your oppinions !!yours faithfullyTrev

Nat - 01/08/99 19:03:52
My Email:nataliad@mweb.co.za
Gender: Female
Age: 22

Comments:
HI!! I HAVE BEEN ON ROACCUTANE FOR 4 MONTHS NOW!! Anyone who is having reservations about taking the drug - shouldnt be. I HAD NO SIDE-EFFECTS - APART FROM THE DRY LIPS, and Im taking 60mgs (which is a high dosage fro my weight - 48kgs). So really dont worry - you may be as lucky as I was! My problem though is that my skin has cleared up slightly - but I still get the occassional cyst. Shouldnt my skin be clear by now? WHAT SHOULD I BE USING FOR SCARING? I have those awful brownish marks on my back - I've never had them before. Does anyone know if they ever go away and what I can use to get rid of them??? PLease reply Thanks for a great web-site Nat

Ryu - 01/08/99 03:57:28
My Email:ryu_evil@yahoo.com
Gender: male
Age: 18

Comments:
okay..this is my 1st week already for using tretinoin the one that said by FDA is highly effective for severe acne ...so far..my acne still going worse ....there is no improvement yet ... My skin is getting dry .... and it looks like helpless .....got no choice except waiting until it cure....this is my report .... and hope someone with experience of Retin-A (tretinoin) can tell me about this .... Thank ya.... God Bless u All.....

- 01/08/99 03:48:20
Gender: Female
Age: 35

Comments:
Hello all. I am reporting as I said I would regarding the question Amie asked about how to find a credible chinese herbalist. I signed this guest book on 12-24, 12-25, and 12-31. I also signed it earlier except I did not write those dates down. I am e perimenting with Chinese Herbs since 11/4/98. It has been two months now. I seemed to have slow improvement for the first month and a half. I had a break out the other day, but it seems to be healing fasting than normal. I asked the Chinese Herbalist bout how long the average person may have to take the herbs before seeing tremendous improvement and she told me that people with cystic acne have had to take it for a year. I am ok with trying it for a while, as I have no other choices. If it helps me nd I can help even one other person. Yippee. I will post from time to time. Anyway this is what the receptionist at the office of my Chinese Herbalist told me in response to my question about how to find a credible Chinese Herbalist. She said most any ccupuncurist should have training in Chinese Herbs. My Chinese Herbalist has a well rounded knowledge. She has specialized in studies of the skin. 2 years of independent study with a renound Chinese Herbalist in California. Studied Immune Enhancement i the Bay Area of California. She goes to every Herbal seminar. She studied Chinese Herbology for 1 year in China. That does sound pretty rounded to me. And she said she cured her own acne with the herbs. I did refer to other details in my previous po tings. Peace.

vgk - 01/07/99 16:55:29
My Email:vk0001@unix1.cc.uop.edu
Age: 25

Comments:
It's so great to read Accutane success stories! I am being as patient as possible during these initial weeks of treatment because I really think I will have clear(er) skin than I had when I began treatment. Okay- for all those who have had questions abo t DOSAGE: according to the literature you should be getting 0.5-1.5 mg per kg per day. If you only know your weight in pounds multiply your weight by .454 and that should be your daily dose. So if you weigh between 140-150 you should have a dose of aro nd 70 mgs per day. I am not a physician so I don't know why some people have lower and higher doses- but it doesn't hurt to collaborate with your doctor to understand the reasons behind your dose and so forth.

Kris - 01/07/99 13:19:02
My Email:coolkrishna@hotmail.com
Gender: Male

Comments:
It is great to find a very informative site about Roaccutane. I myself have had acne problems for about 6 years and have tried various creams and oral medication. Most seemed to work for a while but soon the acne was back. My doctor recently suggested Roa cutane. I am however a little concerned about the side-effects though: I alreday have problems with dandruff on my scalp and I heard that Roaccutane may even increase this problem. Is there any way of controlling the dandruff while on Roaccutane? Also I w s wondering if a lot of exercise may cause any problems? Any suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks

RYU - 01/07/99 07:58:11
My Email:ryu_evil@yahoo.com
Gender: Male
Age: 18

Comments:
Hi....I just want to share my story about acne ... I'm still suffering becouse of it though ... and now I'm in the first week of using tretinoin ...coz my doctor said to use it ...if that wont make it i'll take the isotretinoin.... now my acne is getting worse like the instruction that will be worse first .... hope i can be patient about it ..... this is the 3rd attack ....the first one has been cured when i was in Indonesia 4 years ago ...after a year...it was attacking again..then i went to dermatology ...and i got treatment ...then it was getting be controlled ...after that 4 months ago..it's a tacking again .... i got to tell ya that i'm as desperate as u all... all i can hope is this tretinoin will help me... coz i searched in FDA website ...they told me that they suggest in sever case to use "tretinoin" .... and "isotretinoin" (if u have a good health). Let's hope for all of us to get to be cured by any medicine that we already took for now ...... GOD BLESS U ALL!! ......

jenn - 01/07/99 06:46:08
My Email:jgiffordcvt@juno.com
Age: 25

Comments:
First, I need to say that I was moved to tears over the experiences that people have shared on this site. I have been on Accutane for 3 months now, and it has been a trying, but great time for me. I have had a few side effects, dry eyes & lips, headaches stomach aches, and elevated triglyceride levels. Even with the side effects, this is the best thing I did for myself( It was my birthday present). I would gladly suffer a few side effects to get rid of this darn acne. I screamed and yelled and jumped o the bed the morning I woke up with dry, flakey skin! I was so happy, it seemed as if 15 years of severe acne was worth it for this one day. Since then, I have noticed that I am a happier person. I had never realised how much my acne had engulfed my li e and made me unhappy. Never again will I have to break down into tears on a Friday night because I am going out with my CLEAR SKINNED friends and I have a HUGE zit on the tip of my nose(or 3 on my chin, 2 on each side of my nose, you get the picture). I am wondering though, if Accutane usage can inhibit the skins healing process. I recently got a tattoo that is completely destroyed now. It healed horribly. I have had tattoos before and they always healed up fine, and I do not think it's the tattoois because he does all my tattoos. Once again, I love this site, keep up the good work!

Meagan Whalen - 01/07/99 06:25:20
My Email:PHOENIX4@BIGPOND.COM
Gender: Female
Age: 18

Comments:
I have finally been prescibed roaccutane. I new of some of the side effects, but the Dr warned we of another. Has anyone heard of developing Strawberry size welts on their face, he said that is a 2% chance of this occuring. i have waited for years to b prescibed this and now I am freaking out about these sides effects. I have tried a hell of a lot of things and after 3 years I am sick of having this acne. It's not as bad as some cases I have seen, but it's bad enough for me. If anyone has any imform tion that could help me please email me. Thanks Meagan. Australia

vgk - 01/07/99 05:53:43
My Email:vk0001@unix1.cc.uop.edu
Age: 25

Comments:
To L: I agree with the woman who wrote that she thought that 40mg a day of Accutane sounds like a low dose. From what I understand you should receive a standard cumulative dose of 120mg/kg per treatment course. If you think that you are receiving subst ndard medical care be assertive with your physician and tell them what you have heard and ask for a higher dose! I know that acne is depressing (I bet 99% of the people who have written on this page agree!) but hang in there! Seriously consider seeking c unseling if it is affecting your life the way you describe. I find that people with acne are far more disgusted by acne than those who don't have it. Give yourself a break. I am in the middle of week 3 and am on 70mg per day. I have very dry lips and ery dry skin around my mouth. My white blemishes have been reduced a bit but I am far from cured. I will continue to report my progress. This is a GREAT webpage - good thinking on the part of it's creator. I check it every evening and am glad that I h ve an outlet to share my experiences and to read other's experiences.

Kristin - 01/06/99 20:35:42
Gender: female
Age: 29

Comments:
To L., male, age 28: I'm wondering if your dose of Accutane (40 mg/day) was too low. I am a 105 lb. female, and I was on 60 mg/day. Also, one year seems like a long time to stay on this medicine. What did your doctor suggest after that one year of treatme t? Maybe that doctor wasn't doing enough to monitor your situation. I don't know what to tell you about a cure for acne -- there might never be a cure, unfortunately -- but please hang in there! If you are considering suicide, it might help to talk to a ounselor, psychologist, or clergyperson. There are people who want to help those of us who hit rock bottom. Or maybe there is an acne support group in your area. Please reconsider, and stay in touch with this page if you want to. Kristin

L - 01/06/99 18:57:34
Gender: Male
Age: 28

Comments:
My acne has gone worse now. I dont know what to do anymore. I used Accutane for almost a year, 40 mgs a day but it cannot cure acne!!! I have used every antibiotic, lotions but nothing really works. It is so depressing (no girlfriend, very little friends) so also my social life is a mess. I'm thinking about suicide and i do not believe any doctor anymore. They say that they can cure it with Accutane but that is not true and they don't know what the longterm side-effects are. I'm an adult but i have this di ease for 13 years now. 13 years of my life are gone! I'm an emotional wreck and stay in my room most of the time. Suicide is a drastic measure but it is better then this life!

Betsey - 01/06/99 14:32:52
My Email:betsey68@yahoo.com
Gender: female
Age: 30

Comments:
I posted a message back in September when I first started Accutane. I will finish my course on January 29, YEAH!! This drug did absolute wonders for me...I didn't have cystic or nodular acne to begin with, just white/blackheads along with very oily skin. oping to grow out of it never happened, so after my 30th bday and after the summer I decided to reluctantly try Accutane. I was a nervous wreck about it, being very health concious and physically active..I took the plunge. My derm. started me on 40 mgs an after the first month increased it to 60mgs..I'm 4'11" 100lbs. After 2 or 3 weeks my skin completely cleared up, not only on my face but all over my body may skin tone changed completely. The side effects weren't that bad...very chapped lips, dry skin an lethargy now and then. I reccomend drinking lots of water (avoid alcohol completely!!) eat low fat foods and exercise regularly and stay out of direct sun light. Also, make sure you visit your derm. regularly and have your blood tested! I have faith in t is wonder drug with hopes that my blemishes will not return. Have faith too and good luck to you all. Please contact me if you have any questions. Thanks for reading!

Dennis - 01/05/99 21:01:21
My Email:elmior@freemail.nl
Gender: Male
Age: 19

Comments:
I've had acne since i was 14 or so, at first it wasn't really bad. Just a spot now and than. But when i became it started to become worse, but still not bad enough to take drastic actions. 3 months ago my doctor described me some anti-biotics, these only ade things worse. I then went to a dermatologist, she described me Roaccutane. At first the pharmacie gave me the wrong amount of Roaccutane(2of 10mg instead of 2 of 20mg) I am now in my 3rd week, and everything is going better now. i'm not completely cur d yet, but i read that that can be expected after 1,5 or 2 months. I have a few questions. -Is it harmfull to take alcohol, while using Roaccutane? -Can the acne come back when you're for example in your 30s?

Margaret DiNatale - 01/05/99 18:54:49
My Email:dinatal3@adlibv.adelphi.edu
Gender: Female
Age: 28

Comments:
Well I'm back on Accutane again! Santa gave me a really lovely present - the return of my acne(I'd have preferred the lump of coal)! I started it last Monday the 28th and my face is a bit of a mess. I'm so upset. The depression has really gotten to me thi time ( I've been crying for about two days now). I'm on 80mg per day plus clyndamyacin and am still breaking out. This is a little weird because the first time, my skin cleared up immediately with no breakouts. I don't understand this because my acne was not really that bad to begin with. Maybe it was because the first time, I started out with a high dose (80mgs) and then was lowered to 40mgs per day for the remainder of the course. Has anyone else had this experience? The dose was lowered the first time ecause I had such bad headaches and had a long commute to work at the time and my vision was blurry. I'm having the headaches again, plus the depression, vision problems chest pains and all the dry skin, lips, hair and nosebleeds already. I don't know wha to do anymore. Does this problem ever go away? One thing that I will be trying is eliminating all sugar and as much oil as possible from my diet to see how that works. I was thinking that the breakouts seemed to be coinciding with the Holidays and all of the sweets and junk that I was eating. Who know's. My body is so messed up from all of these years of medication that who really knows what the problem is anymore. Well I'll keep you all posted on any new developements. Good luck.

Laura - 01/05/99 08:18:42
My Email:LJESSOP180@hotmail.com
Gender: female
Age: 18

Comments:
i am on 80 mg/day and have suffered many horrible side effects--the dryness, increased break-outs, sore muscles, fatigue and a mild form of depression. however, i chose to go on and stay on this medicine because i feel if i have resources available to me i should use them. there are some things that accutane patients can do about these side effects: moisturizers (i know...they only do so much), chapstick, anti-depressants, and it doesn't hurt to cry. also: what a great opportunity we as patients have to gain more patience in our lives! if it is so bad, discuss it w/ your doctor. but know that there are many who are going through this too, and that God doesn't make anyone ugly. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!

Erin - 01/05/99 05:26:16
My Email:E_bear98@yahoo.com
Gender: female
Age: 18

Comments:
hi!! I want to say i really enjoy this site. It has helped me through so much...I have been pretty depressed over my acne problem and it has hurt to see what it has done to my social life at the end of my teen years. It hurts to look in the mirror and yet know that this is what people have to look at daily when they talk to me. I have spent many a nights crying over it...and yet I have noone to talk to cause not many of my friends are going through what I am going through with this disease. Recently things have been going pretty good. I haven't start accutane..because I have been pretty unsure about it and if it's worth it. My ance seems to be slowly going away...I pray everyday that I am "getting over" it. Is that possible to grow out of it??? I have had p etty bad acne for about 2 years now. If I am finally getting over it...what can I try to do to help to get rid of my scars, my skin is smoother, but it still shows a bit. I don't have crater scars, but some redness that still shows. Do i have a big chance that it's all not over?? I hope that everyone benefits from this site and as hard as it is to realize there are people out there that are feeling the way you do. And besides that acne you may have there are many things about you that are beautiful. Thanks so much!

Erin - 01/04/99 19:00:17
Gender: female
Age: 19

Comments:
Amie- Actually, I am on 40mg twice a week, so that's 80mg a week, which is still a low dose. So far, I have had a little bit of chapped lips, but am thankful that I am still able to wear my contacts. The reason I am taking such a low dose is that I go o school in a different state, meaning my doctor would not be able to monitor me very closely. This way, I can see what taking accutane is like and when I'm home for the summer, I can go on a regular dosage if the low dose isn't doing much. Does anyone lse take a low dose?

Sara - 01/04/99 18:47:22
My Email:Cialdina@rocketmail.com
Gender: Female
Age: 25

Comments:
Hello everybody. I've already written some days ago.Now I'd like to say that we are all very different one from another, so one can be perfectly cured by Roaccutan,another can suffer from bad side effects, another one could not be cured at all...so people starting Roaccutan should not be scared by the bad experiences of other people.I began Roaccutan a month ago(40 mg) and I didn't suffer from side effects, apart from dry skin.So, don't be discouraged!!!

Amie - 01/04/99 07:37:50
Gender: Female
Age: 26

Comments:
I think it is VERY interesting what the girl before me has just said! She is only taking 40 mg's of Accutane a WEEK! Wow!!! Please lete us know how things go and what side effects you get. I have never heard of anyone on such a low dosage! That's really a azing....something to ask our dostor's about. What was your doctor's philosophy on the low dosage prescription?

Erin - 01/03/99 22:15:54
My Email:epearce@goucher.edu
Gender: Female
Age: 19

Comments:
Hi there...I recently started taking low dose accutane, meaning I take 40mg twice a week. I stumbled onto this page looking for info about what I could expect while on accutane. Someone asked if accutane would be prescribed for less serious acne. I def nitely don't have cystic acne or any of that magnitude, but I do have a very persistent acne that hasn't really responded well to antibiotics and topical treatments. My dermatologist always thought that my acne would go away once I reached 16 or 17, so m acne never really bothered me. I assumed that at some point it would end. Since it hasn't, my derm suggested accutane. He has always presented it as a possibility, but I was wary because of the side-effects. Now, I really just want to get rid of it!! This is a great website. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Amie - 01/03/99 08:27:46
Gender: Female
Age: 26

Comments:
Happy new year everyone!!! I have been on 40 mg's of Accutane since October. Although, I am cheating! I stopped after 10 weeks and have been taking 500 mg's of Erthromyicin a day since. My skin is the clearest its ever been! It is so soft and although its not completely cured I am averaging only maybe 1 0r 2 new one's a day and they go away really quickly. The only time I felt funny about this drig was in my 2-4 week...when the cystic acne got sooo bad. Just think of it as your skin getting its poison out! I can't imagine a vitamin, a natural product causing depression. It must also be other factors playing in. Acne is a very depressing symptom in itself to begin with. I am waiting to see if the severe acne comes back and how my skin does. So far its gettin better and better. I have thought that maybe the parabens in the Accutane caused my skin to get so much worse. It was so sensitive and raw. My skin hurt while I was on it as did my whole body. If I have to go on it again I will. Its definetly worth it! G od Luck to everyone and hang in there. I liked what a previous person had said..."Listen to your body"...no one knows it as well as you do!

- 01/03/99 06:23:15
Gender: female
Age: 20

Comments:
I hope someone can answer my question. I have seen the same question before but nobody answered it. Is there anyone who has been on accutane and it helped clear up those annoying whiteheads? I have been on accutane for about 6 weeks and I am starting t break out a little less but the whiteheads that I have always had (there are many) do not seem to be getting better at all. In fact, they seem to be multiplying. Can anyone help? Thanks.

. - 01/02/99 14:03:07
My Email:skicka64@hotmail.com

Comments:
This is a response to the girl worried about depressions while accutane. I NEVER suffered from depressions before. I used accutane twice. Nothing happened the first time. After the second time I started to feel strange. Very strong feelings, stronger than you ever can image. This feeling started right after using the medicine. While on medicine I only felt the usual side-effects. This started in may this year. In september it got even worse...strongly suicidal and at times uncontactable. I should have been happier than ever but no, something went wrong, strongly wrong. I totally collapsed in october...my body didnt make it anymore, the hole body aiked. If you get depression like this your hole body aikes, stomach and head are worst. Well, today Im better bu it is not good, cant feel happiness about anything and Im scared to death if this comes back. And the second thing Im afraid of is what long term effects accutane has done? It totally wrecked up my mind now, so why cant we all users after 25-30 years dev lop parkinsons or something like that? Well, that is only a guess. But what I know is that accutane took away my pimples but destroyd the most of my feelings. But I have hope to be better. If Im sure if accutane caused this? Well, Im no doctor but what I now is that it started wright after stopping using the medicine. Why? I dont know. Do the manufacturer know? No, they dont even know for sure how the medicine works in the skin! Please whatever you do, dont use accutane if you dont have to...whit that I mean that you got the amount of acne that you cant live with it, then, only then take the medicine. Maybe you are thinking that you are strong and never have depressions, well I t ought like that but the hell broke loose. Any questions please write to me.

John - 01/02/99 13:55:08
My Email:john@jaecom.demon.co uk
Gender: male - father of user

Comments:
I am writing on behalf of my son who took Roaccutane for around 8 months (80g) along with steroids. So you can probably guess the severity of his acne. Although he eventually got rid of his problem he started to loose his hair quite rapidly. He took the d ug when he was 17 /18 and was quite bald at 21. He is now 23 and feels that the drug was the sole reason he lost his hair at a vey young age. He has now got to come to terms with being bald very prematurely. The drug company only warns against temporary h ir loss not complete baldness. Does anyone know of sinilar experiences and if anyone has taken legal proceedings?

lizzie - 01/02/99 08:45:16
My Email:sexy_2010@yahoo.com
Gender: female
Age: 22

Comments:
Hi, I have suffered from acne, in various degrees of severity for abot six years. Having tried all kinds of drugs and topical solutions, all with unsatisfactory results, my dermatologist put me on accure. It has now been abot tree weeks and my skin has go ten slightly worse but i presume this is to be expected. I have also begun to suffer from dry skin and lips, and more recently, a substantial loss of appetite. These things do not tend to worry me so much as they are easily controlled. One worry I have is depression. I have suffered from depression over the past six years, which has been treated accordingly with various drugs and thearapy. I would like to here from anyone who may be in a similar situation and there experiences. I am currently taking an ant -depressent called ciprimil. thanx

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