Roaccutane

[Emerald]

Hi everyone!

 

I went to the doctor yesterday for my skin and he said I could start Roaccutane. I've read on the Internet that it's a really strong treatment but also really effective.

Do you guys have taken Roaccutane? How did it go?

 

Thanks

[Emerald]

Anyone....?

[dcdeb]

Not me, but the dermatologist has suggested it for my son.

 

I'm a bit leery, as it is supposedly VERY strong with lots of side effects.

Especially for women...

 

From http://www.drugs.com/accutane.html:

 

What is the most important information I should know about Accutane?

Accutane can cause severe, life-threatening birth defects if the mother takes the medication during pregnancy. Even one dose of Accutane can cause major birth defects of the baby's ears, eyes, face, skull, heart, and brain. Never use Accutane if you are pregnant.

 

Women of child-bearing potential must agree in writing to use two specific forms of birth control and have regular pregnancy tests before, during, and after taking Accutane. Unless you have had a total hysterectomy or have been in menopause for at least a year, you are considered to be of child-bearing potential.

 

So if you take it, you'll have to be on birth control pills as well, I think,

just to be on the safe side -- even if you're not sexually active.

 

I've also heard that it has, in some cases, been tied to depression, and

that some users have attempted or even committed suicide. My son's

acne is mostly on his back, so I really don't think I want to chance it,

based on some of these side effects.

 

Sorry I can't offer any first-hand experience -- I just find the description

of it rather off-putting, and wouldn't consider it except in extreme

cases.

 

Just my two pence...

 

dcdeb

[chickadee]

Hi everyone!

 

I went to the doctor yesterday for my skin and he said I could start Roaccutane. I've read on the Internet that it's a really strong treatment but also really effective.

Do you guys have taken Roaccutane? How did it go?

 

Thanks

 

I used it when I was a teenager as I had severe cystic acne. My hubby also had it. We didn't know each other then (lived in different states) but our combined genetics don't auger well for our kids lol.

 

As I said, I took it and was fine. It worked well. I don't recall much about any of the side effects, but this was 20 years ago. I remember I had to go on the contraceptive pill and I had to sign a contract (much to my embarrassment, as I was a virgin with no intentions of sexual activity, but they said to me "What if you were raped?" Naturally, that didn't make me feel any better!). I remember I had to be careful about how much sunlight I got (which was OK, as I was not a bathing beauty or a particularly outdoorsy type). I remember it being a very big deal to my parents and that I had to go to a skin specialist who was more of a specialist than just a dermatologist. But as for anything else...??? As I said, it's 20 years ago now, and although I don't have great skin (Roaccutane can't get rid of my large pores for me) I'm mostly blemish free these days and I have a lot less scarring than I might have had otherwise.

 

If the doctor has assessed you and said you can start taking it, then he will have taken into account your medical history and your current physical condition with regards asthma, diabetes, heart disease et al and all the other pre-existing conditions that it would interfere with. So, provided you are sensible with the things you can control, I see no reason why you shouldn't go for it!

[Emerald]

Oh cool guys thanks ^^

I know for the problems it causes to babies, my doctor told me. I really don't think I'll get pregnant now (I'm only 19, don't have a boyfriend and am not sexually active yet, but as you said, one never knows eh?)

As for the depression thing, I've heard that some people commit suicide during the treatment, but it has not yet been proven whether it's Roaccutane which is responsible for that, so... And I've heard that if you're not in a good state of mind before starting the treatment, it can influence blah blah. Nothing's wrong with me, I mean, I'm happy and like life. I just hate my skin:naughty:

The side effect that most people seem to have is dryness (can I say that? lol). So I'll have to have thousands of body creme and my Labello on me all the time:bleh:

[neeve272]

hey peeps! wow, it feels like ages since I´ve been on here!!!

Yep I used Roaccutane...best thing I ever did, in terms of my skin. I was tortured with 3 kinds of acne..I mean the dermatologist told me I was by far the worst she had ever seen.....not nice, I know. But Roaccutane cleared it up completely...to be honest, it changed my self image...my skin had been THAT bad. So I would say without a doubt, do it!! Yes it causes severe dryness, but that's how it works. Yep you'll need a lot of stuff for your lips (I found a brilliant nivea tube thing, it was the best) but you learn to deal with it. Stay off alcohol, and just keep an eye on your moods. I mean, you'll know yourself if you start feeling down. If that happens, the dermatologist might reduce the dosage for a while, or take you off it for a little bit.

As she advised me, I would say avoid looking it up on the internet. That'll just freak you out because all you hear is the bad, extreme stories. Like i said, be aware of how you're feeling. But yeah, it worked brilliantly for me.

Best of luck, and keep us updated!

[Emerald]

Oh thanks^^

Ok I admit, I looked for stuff on the Internet, but I found forums where people who did it talk about it and it actually reassured me^^.

Two of my friends did it, they told me today, and their skin is really nice!! My skin is awful and sometimes, I just don't feel like going out cause it embarrasses me.... so yeah, I think I'll definitively do it:wink2:I want a peach skin (as we say in French )

[dcdeb]

Oh thanks^^

Ok I admit, I looked for stuff on the Internet, but I found forums where people who did it talk about it and it actually reassured me^^.

Two of my friends did it, they told me today, and their skin is really nice!! My skin is awful and sometimes, I just don't feel like going out cause it embarrasses me.... so yeah, I think I'll definitively do it:wink2:I want a peach skin (as we say in French )

 

Good luck with it, Emerald!

[Emerald]

Thanks ^^. I'll have to wait 2 months though, cause I have to go to the dermatologist before, and do a blood test etc...

You can call me Emilie

[im_stuck_in_the_middle]

My brother and father have taken it before, and I have been having some pretty bad acne lately - but the dermatologist prescribed some other pill for me called "Pierre Fabre Isotretinone" or something like that - don't think the side effects are as serious asthe ones you get with Roaccutane - I know 'm not allowed to get pregnant though

[chickadee]

My brother and father have taken it before, and I have been having some pretty bad acne lately - but the dermatologist prescribed some other pill for me called "Pierre Fabre Isotretinone" or something like that - don't think the side effects are as serious asthe ones you get with Roaccutane - I know 'm not allowed to get pregnant though

 

Actually, isotretinone sounds very much like roaccutane... Yep, looking it up, the brand name is roaccutane, the pharmaceutical name is isotretinoin. I'm not really sure how yours is different??

[im_stuck_in_the_middle]

Actually, isotretinone sounds very much like roaccutane... Yep, looking it up, the brand name is roaccutane, the pharmaceutical name is isotretinoin. I'm not really sure how yours is different??

Really? Haha so i'm actually taking the hardcore stuff:naughty:

There's a big warning against pregnancies on the box:naughty: just like roaccutane:naughty:

 

Thanks so much for the info CD!!