Roaccutane / accutane

Drossla · 20 Jul 2011 at 00:12

Hi guys,

just a bump on this. My skin is doing better but still not perfect. I have 1 active pimple at the moment and a few marks from ones that are fading. Currently on day 46.

My question to those who have taken it is...

A)How long were you on it for?
B)What dosage did you take?

I think my derm wants me to do a 4 month course of 40-40-40-40mg

That seems very low to me as most people seem to go up to at least 60mg. I know my acne isn't severe but I hear the higher cumulative dose you take, the less chance of it coming back. To be honest, I would rather do a 5 month course of 40-40-60-60-60

Barks · 20 Jul 2011 at 00:40

Had unbelievable results for me. Don't think I've had a single spot since (6 years ago came off it!)

Drossla · 20 Jul 2011 at 20:24

Anyone

? I know lots of people who have posted in this thread have been on the drug!

genan · 20 Jul 2011 at 20:59

I was on a really low dosage for 2months(?- not sure was years ago) as my acne wasn`t that severe - was on the outer side of my forearm weirdly.

One thing I do remember is that I didn`t see any major changes up until around the 2/3rd of the treatment. Also, don`t forget the drug keeps working in your body even once you stopped taking it. In my case it took the spots around one more month to completely disappear after the treatment. Hope this helps.

To be honest I`d listen to your doctor s/he knows what`s best for you. Take it easy and the results will come and hopefully your liver will still be intact.

Afterall `Roaccutane is a helluva drug`

GTAMADDOG · 20 Jul 2011 at 21:21

Can't remember my dosage but I think it was for six months.

Got the occasional spot during the treatment and still got (and still get) quite a few once the treatment was finished. I think I'm just stuck with really stubborn Acne.

At the moment my face (from my point of view/in my terms) is quite clear but would probably be considered unacceptable by most people who've never really had problems with spots. I'm just hoping it stays a bit more like it is now instead of flaring up again, but I'm pretty certain that the spots are on some sort of cycle. The Acne will appear to die-down for a week or two and then it all kicks off again for a couple of weeks before dying off again.

tigerstyle · 21 Jul 2011 at 02:45

Drossla said:
I think my derm wants me to do a 4 month course of 40-40-40-40mg

That seems very low to me as most people seem to go up to at least 60mg.

It's not a competition. Finish this course, then see, don't stress about what other people are doing.

NinetyOne · 9 Sep 2011 at 23:08

Sorry for bumping a semi old thread (not too old

)

I also suffer from persistent acne since I was 15 although it has improved a great deal now I still constantly get them on my cheeks and temple area and it's just so annoying I've been on every med and topical treatment under the sun (apart from accutane).

I've probably been on 3-4 different meds from my gp and none worked including BP.

I've tried asking for accutane about a year ago but she refused and gave me tetracylin or something which didn't do **** apart from make me tired and turn my teeth yellow.

I don't see how they can refuse you accutane.... sure it has side effects but what drug doesn't? I'd rather have dry skin than red sore spotty skin any day.

Garee · 9 Sep 2011 at 23:11

Jonnycakes said:
I don't see how they can refuse you accutane.... sure it has side effects but what drug doesn't? I'd rather have dry skin than red sore spotty skin any day.

The side effects can be much more severe than dry skin.

NinetyOne · 9 Sep 2011 at 23:14

Garee said:
The side effects can be much more severe than dry skin.

Yeah maybe for the minority but a lot of people get on just fine with it, it's the gamble you take when taking any drugs, I just don't care anymore I'd rather take the risk than not.

Also is there any way of seeing a derm to get accutane without going through your gp? my gp is a bitch and is useless, barley speaks english

Jimbeam3678 · 9 Sep 2011 at 23:28

See a different doctor and express how down you are feeling with your current condition and you feel popping pills which have no effect is doing more harm than good.

If you drop physiological problems in there as well it would help your course! SAcne is a bad bad thing you deserve to be treated

NinetyOne · 9 Sep 2011 at 23:34

divaboy said:
See a different doctor and express how down you are feeling with your current condition and you feel popping pills which have no effect is doing more harm than good.

If you drop physiological problems in there as well it would help your course! SAcne is a bad bad thing you deserve to be treated

Yeah I might have to but It takes so long really it's ridiculous average wait time to see my gp is 2weeks.....

Jimbeam3678 · 9 Sep 2011 at 23:41

Again ring GP express its urgent as you feel depressed blah blah

NinetyOne · 9 Sep 2011 at 23:45

divaboy said:
Again ring GP express its urgent as you feel depressed blah blah

You really think they would see my right away over acne? :L

Jimbeam3678 · 9 Sep 2011 at 23:51

Yes if you say it serious And your depressed .......

KiTBoH · 10 Sep 2011 at 00:09

divaboy said:
Yes if you say it serious And your depressed .......

Shouldn't really need to.
Why would you not just say I want to see a dermatologist? They'll put you through and you can work out when to have an appointment with them.

Roaccutane was pretty brutal for me. My skin was REALLY dry with it and I ended up drinking so much water every day. Didn't get any really bad side effects from it, at least I haven't noticed them

Jimbeam3678 · 10 Sep 2011 at 00:13

KiTBoH said:
Shouldn't really need to.
Why would you not just say I want to see a dermatologist?

So yo don't have to wait 2 weeks for a gp? And a lot of gp will not refer you because of the cost of roactane

NinetyOne · 10 Sep 2011 at 00:17

I've then heard people having to wait up to 6 months to see a derm lol..... GREAT

Jimbeam3678 · 10 Sep 2011 at 00:21

AGAIN stress its effecting your college/job/social life whatever he who moans loud gets seen first in most aspects of the NHS sad but true

NinetyOne · 10 Sep 2011 at 00:28

divaboy said:
AGAIN stress its effecting your college/job/social life whatever he who moans loud gets seen first in most aspects of the NHS sad but true

I'll moan my best (nokinky) first thing monday morning.

If no luck I can always try going private I guess but prob won't be able to afford it.

Mansize_tissue · 16 Sep 2011 at 03:37

I got my GP to refer me to a dermatologist, got an appointment about a month later. A couple of weeks later I had a blood test (that was a few days ago) and in a couple of weeks I've got another derm appointment to see if I'm allowed to start a course of accutane providing my liver enzymes and cholesterol are ok. A lengthy-ish process, but hopefully worth it.