Accutane

I took accutane in high school. The biggest side effect that I saw on myself was my lips. They peeled like crazy. And still to this day are always dry and peel slightly.

Accutane was the best (cosmetic) investment I ever made! My dermatologist told me I would have adult acne until I went through menopause. We tried everything else first, but nothing worked. I finally tried Accutane and have never regretted it. My skin does get dry now in the winter, but a little moisturizer clears that right up. Occassionally I will get a small pimple, but it goes away within a couple of days. I highly recommend it!

If you are worried about side effects try erythromyicin 2% in alcohol. Its a topical soltution that works really well. Everything else failed for me.

I heard it stays in your system for 8 years, is that true? What is you decide to reproduce before the 8 years are up? I hope these aren't stupid questions.

I personally would never take acutane...I think it is just too risky.

What other things have you tried?

I was always afraid of it. I used to use Benzamycin, 10% benzolperoxide wash, and retin a until I became pregnant and lacatating. It worked great. I cant wait to be able to use them again.

I would be cautious taking it during your childbearing years. I am almost postive that it is a category X. As for Accutane staying in your system for 8 years, I am not really sure.

My husband took accutane for his severe cystic acne. (So bad he couldn't work because of the pain) It really calmed everything down for him and made it so the antibiotics could work again. He had the severe dry skin and peeling lips, and still has dry hands.

There is a new procedure for prescribing accutane, I think I remember from a news report, where the dr posts the script on a website, the patient's pcp posts the method of birth control, and before the script can be filled, a lab has to post a neg pg test. TERRIBLE birth defects result from accutane! When dh was taking it, it came in a blister pack with a picture of a pregnant woman with a line through it on each blister, just for a reminder.

There are way to many risks with Accutane. I wouldn't even consider it. It also carries depression/suicide warnings in addition to the strictest pregnancy warnings that are available.

The side effects do worry me. You now have to have a negative pregnancy test before you begin taking it and every month before they even give you a refill.

I've been to a dermatologist since high school or middle school even and have been on every antibiotic and cream you can have. All work for a while and then they try to wean me off of them and I break out. They then have to find something else that works. I've tried retin-A and now take tazorac topical and doryx (pill) which they've just upped the dose on.

The biggest thing that worries me is taking accuntane during my childbearing years. I know it can cause birth defects while you take accutane but I wonder about the long term effects of it on your children.

I used Accutane, it did work well for me. It has been around for at least 25 yrs, have you searched for any long term studies re side effects? Have you tried Retin A?

I've worked in derm for a few years (admin, but soon to be in nursing school!) and here are some other considerations about accutane-

First of all it is a huge committment. YOu have to follow up with the doc alot, get your blood tests and pregnancy tests. In addition, they now have this whole I-Pledge system to promote contraceptive use and it's been kind of pain for patients as well as the prescribing docs. Not only is it a lot of paperwork, you have to log on to some website and participate in their accutane education tutorial.

There's a lot of legal issues surrounding accutane, at least in my office women of child bearing age sign a contract to use two forms of contraception, and consent to abortion if pregnancy occurs.

As far as the treatment itself, the drug is pretty harsh and stays in your system for 6 months after, I think it dries up your skin and makes it very sensitive (esp photosensitive) so you can't get facials or wax or do anything like that.

However, I know a lot of people who have benefitted greatly from it, especially when they tried everything else (topicals, antibiotics, etc) and nothing worked, and if they had really bad cystic acne (the kind that leaves pitted scars).