Accutane......

[Ms_Prissy]

Has anyone here used accutane? I'm so desperate to get on it because i'm sick & tired of dealing with acne at 27 /forums/images/graemlins/cry3.gif. What were your experiences? I've read alot about the side effects & I'm kinda scared. Did it help anyone with blemishes as well, or just the acne? Thanks y'all in advance.

[DigitalRain]

I tried it and couldn't stay on it due to side effects. The worst one was that it gave me tinnitus, ringing in the ears and eye floaters in both eyes. Sweet Nic, Poohbear and another member all tried it with great results, you may want to page them. Most people can take it successfully. I was one of the unfortunate few. I would advise if you are moderately or very nearsighted, stay away from it.

[Ms_Prissy]

[ QUOTE ]
I tried it and couldn't stay on it due to side effects. The worst one was that it gave me tinnitus, ringing in the ears and eye floaters in both eyes. Sweet Nic, Poohbear and another member all tried it with great results, you may want to page them. Most people can take it successfully. I was one of the unfortunate few. I would advise if you are moderately or very nearsighted, stay away from it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the feedback. My sight is great but I've had this ear infection that has refused to go away. I hope it doesn't aggravate it. I plan on being at the doctor's every week to monitor my health, until they ban me from showing up at the clinic. I can just see me being a paranoid patient.

[blkbuttahflyy]

Lia: If you don't mind my asking, would you consider your acne severe or just persistent and worse around the time of your monthly cycle? I was plagued with acne until this year (I'm 33) and it was finally determined that my acne was hormonal. I've been on spironolactone (an oral medication; 100 mg/daily for the first month and 50 mg since then) for about 3 months and my skin hasn't been this clear since the early 80s. I know accutane is supposed to be for severe, cystic acne, but there are a lot of side effects.

[DigitalRain]

[ QUOTE ]
Lia: If you don't mind my asking, would you consider your acne severe or just persistent and worse around the time of your monthly cycle? I was plagued with acne until this year (I'm 33) and it was finally determined that my acne was hormonal. I've been on spironolactone (an oral medication; 100 mg/daily for the first month and 50 mg since then) for about 3 months and my skin hasn't been this clear since the early 80s. I know accutane is supposed to be for severe, cystic acne, but there are a lot of side effects.

[/ QUOTE ]

spironolactone - I've heard a lot of good things about that, don't you have to watch your potassium intake on that? Have you had any side effects and do you have to watch your diet and what were your results? If you don't mind page me and let me know. I don't want to hijack the thread /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[blkbuttahflyy]

[ QUOTE ]
spironolactone - I've heard a lot of good things about that, don't you have to watch your potassium intake on that? Have you had any side effects and do you have to watch your diet and what were your results? If you don't mind page me and let me know. I don't want to hijack the thread /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, you have to watch your potassium intake, but I don't eat bananas like that on the regular. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The only thing I have noticed is that my blood pressure is a little lower than usual. I'm usually around 100/70 and it was 90/65 last week. The doctor said that was in the normal range considering the medication I'm on. If I have to take this for life to keep a clear complexion, then that's just what I'll have to do. And it's not expensive either. /forums/images/graemlins/clap.gif

[Ms_Prissy]

[ QUOTE ]
Lia: If you don't mind my asking, would you consider your acne severe or just persistent and worse around the time of your monthly cycle? I was plagued with acne until this year (I'm 33) and it was finally determined that my acne was hormonal. I've been on spironolactone (an oral medication; 100 mg/daily for the first month and 50 mg since then) for about 3 months and my skin hasn't been this clear since the early 80s. I know accutane is supposed to be for severe, cystic acne, but there are a lot of side effects.

[/ QUOTE ]

I consider my acne severe. It's on going. It does get worse during my monthly cycle. It just doesn't seem to ever go away. It transfers on one location(for lack of a better word) to another. They also tend to be big & clustered(when the stampede begins). I've never heard of spironolactone. I'll ask my doctor about it. If there's something else out there that I can try with less side effects, I'll gladly embrace it. Thanks alot for the info.

[chocolate01]

Have you tried proactive. That's what I use and I've gotten great results. You don't need a presciption to get it and your not gonna feel like your on a medication because it's just a facial cleansing system. I know people that have tried accutane and had good results but you can't take accutane for the rest of your life and when you come off of it the acne is gonna come back because their is no cure for acne. Proactiv has a website that you can go take a look at their products and a 800 number to call and speak to a representative or if your lucky they actually have kiosks at a lot of different malls across the country so you can go and talk to someone face to face about the product and but it there.

[Poohbear]

i used it a little over a year ago, cleared my acne up right away...probably after 3 months out of the 5 months of using it. now i just suffer from hormonal blemishes.

[Champagne_Wishes]

[ QUOTE ]
Has anyone here used accutane? I'm so desperate to get on it because i'm sick & tired of dealing with acne at 27 /forums/images/graemlins/cry3.gif. What were your experiences? I've read alot about the side effects & I'm kinda scared. Did it help anyone with blemishes as well, or just the acne? Thanks y'all in advance.

[/ QUOTE ]

Accutane does work. Unfortunately for me the effects didn't last. I might have to go back on it and I don't want to. It made my skin and hair horribly dry and I was shedding like crazy. I can live with that. But that's not the bad part. I was becoming jaundice since it was affecting my liver and that could be dangerous. Hopefully you will have a better experience than I did.

[Poohbear]

I wanted to add that the only side effects I had was dry skin and lips and a couple of months when i got off Accutane, my hair shedded like crazy for about 3 months then stopped! So make sure you moisturize your body and lips really good. But I was just glad my acne was cured. and the blemishes i get come around the time i have my period. i use retin A micro gel for those.
It took me a while to start the Accutane as well because i was afraid of the side effects as well, but my dermatologist convinced me. Go for it! It's worth the money, go for it if you want your acne gone for good.

[Ms_Prissy]

I've tried proactiv but it didn't work. It was too harsh & I started getting dark circles around my eyes. I'm using accutane as a last resort. Did anyone have a problem getting a touch up while on accutane? I'm worried the relaxer will reap my scalp apart. Any feedback? Thanks again.

[Poohbear]

i tried Proactiv as well before back in the late 1990's and it made my acne worse. It made my pimples really big. I returned that junk back and got my money back.

With the Accutane, i had no problems with relaxing my hair. whatever you do, just dont irritate your scalp before applying the relaxer so u wont have any problems. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Mitre]

accutane is the best thing that happen to me go fo it

[Ms_Prissy]

Thanks y'all. I really appreciate the feedback. I feel alot more comfortable going on it now. I talk to my doctor as well, but getting feedback from people that have used it is always better. I know I can always count on y'all /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[babycakes]

[ QUOTE ]
Lia: If you don't mind my asking, would you consider your acne severe or just persistent and worse around the time of your monthly cycle? I was plagued with acne until this year (I'm 33) and it was finally determined that my acne was hormonal. I've been on spironolactone (an oral medication; 100 mg/daily for the first month and 50 mg since then) for about 3 months and my skin hasn't been this clear since the early 80s. I know accutane is supposed to be for severe, cystic acne, but there are a lot of side effects.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've just been suggected this by my doc. I was a bit apprehensive. Maybe I will try it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Poohbear]

[ QUOTE ]
Lia: If you don't mind my asking, would you consider your acne severe or just persistent and worse around the time of your monthly cycle? I was plagued with acne until this year (I'm 33) and it was finally determined that my acne was hormonal. I've been on spironolactone (an oral medication; 100 mg/daily for the first month and 50 mg since then) for about 3 months and my skin hasn't been this clear since the early 80s. I know accutane is supposed to be for severe, cystic acne, but there are a lot of side effects.

[/ QUOTE ]

My acne wasn't severe or cystic and I took Accutane. Since my acne was a lil moderate, Accutane was a big plus for me. The dermatologist prescribes different dosages or strengths according to the severity of your acne. For example, if you have light to moderate acne, you might have a low strength or low dosage. If you have that severe acne, you might need a higher strength or higher dosage. When I took Accutane, she prescribed me the 40mg strength capsules and to take one capsule two times a day. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[hiza]

I am on accutane for my second time.
And I am really afraid to loose my hair, the last time I shed a lot, my poor hair became so weak and thin, but I think that prefer my skin to look good instead.

I am on 20mg strength capsules and to take 18 capsules per week.
My doctor said that I need to take ca. 400 capsules this time.
I am on my 3 weeks now, so I have a long way to go.


hiza...

[Allandra]

I took Accutane (one course). I'm so glad I did. Although I didn't have breakouts, I had extremely oily skin (hated it). While on Accutane, I took Nature Made Super B Complex w/Vitamin C, Calcium w/Vitamin D and MSM every single day. The only thing I was mad at is that I didn't take Accutane sooner.

[lthomas1]

I am on my second week of taking Accutane. I am excited about the outcome in the next few months. I look forward to having clear skin this summer. No adverse effects so far.