Do you mind elaborating on this? Everything I’ve read indicates that pregnancy is just not recommended within one month of using the medication, I haven’t found anything about ten years later or even longer. Just curious, not snarky.
As for my experience with Accutane, I don’t think I’d do it again. I had just the persistent annoying acne, not a lot, but maybe a whitehead and a few pimples in pretty much constant rotation. Which is pretty much the way my skin is again, although I have found that using the Oil Cleansing Method actually seems to help keep my skin clearer, but it’s hard on the drains in the house. Definitely all the acne targeted soaps and medications seem to make things worse for me–I do better with just some witch hazel astringent every once in a while, a hot washcloth scrubbing with a cool rinse and some moisturizer. The worst thing is touching my face.
I just think I should have tried a few other things before going to Accutane since my acne was really just an annoyance. I have a cousin who had serious, horrible acne that people would actually stare at, unable to tear their eyes away–for her, Accutane was possibly a literal lifesaver although she suffered horribly from the treatment as well. For me, I would skip it, because while it did clear up my skin quite nicely and I was glad to not have that hassle or embarrassment for several years, I feel it changed something in the way I handle sun and fluids. This will probably sound crazy since I’ve never seen it indicated before, but I am really sun sensitive now. I get dehydrated pretty easily–I used to be a camel, but now I can be super thirsty, piss a gallon, and still be thirsty. And, speaking of pissing a gallon, it’s more like a pint as my bladder seems smaller. Who knows, those things might be completely unrelated since it has been a long time since the treatment and I couldn’t really tell you exactly when those changes started, but the experience during Accutane treatment wasn’t all that pleasant either–rectal bleeding, which is mild on the whole side effects scale.
Just that the shock pictures in the brochure of deformed babies were so ghastly. I really didn’t have any desire to have children – in fact, I was kind of insulted when I had to take the pregnancy tests, when I wasn’t sexually active and I told them so. I didn’t object so much to being on the birth control, because it helped my cramps, so there was some actual benefit. I understood why they had to do it, because the birth defects are truly horrific. But it was a reflex reaction looking at those pictures – nuh-uh! I ain’t never havin’ a baby!
I can understand the knee-jerk reaction, but I have an absolutely stunning daughter and was on Accutane in my early twenties (had her when I was around 25).
As a case study of one (me:)) the side-effect of birth defects is not permanent.
About 20 years ago I took Accutane after all other methods (including Retin-A and antibiotics) had been tried and failed. I think I’ve had 3 mild pimples since then. Godsend for me. Good luck.
My skin has cleared up remarkably since I was put on furosemide (Lasix) some years ago. However, this is a diuretic, and I wouldn’t recommend anyone even asking about it unless they NEED a diuretic.
Took accutane about 4 years ago. The first few weeks were horrible on it because it screws with your skin a lot (dries out, and your pores close up and shove everything out – did not expect that to be that bad, and was kinda embarassing) howvever, right after that it cleared up and have been perfect since. I was kinda incredulous after finishing the treatment when the dermatologist said, “that’s it, you’re done” and I started asking her if I needed certain facewash medicine, followups, anything. She said I just needed generic mild cleanser, and if all goes well i’ll never need to go back.
My joints were a little achy, but they monitor the hell out of you on the treatment, and will stop treatment if your levels are out of whack. I wish I did it 10 years ago and saved all the suffering, however my first dermatologist never recommended it, so I didn’t do it. I trust my doctors though so if they recommend something, I listen to them.
Since no one’s mentioned it, Accutane’s been linked to depression as well as psychosis and suicide. It screwed up a friend of mine pretty badly, though he was a teenager when he took it, and the effects stopped a few months after he stopped. His doctor hadn’t discussed it at all with him, so at the time he thought it was hormones or just general depression. So I guess, like birth control, you just need to weigh your priorities, be aware that it’s a possibility and monitor yourself.
One of the ladies I work with started Accutane a couple of months ago. She’s 27 and had very, very bad acne.The change has been remarkable. Her skin is still recovering, but the improvement is really impressive. Good luck!
lindsaybluth, I think I just blue myself when I read your very detailed reply. There’s a lot of good info in that post.
I find the testimonials to be very helpful. If I could guarantee that my only adverse reaction to accutane would be dry skin (even really, really dry skin), then I’d take it in a heartbeat. Incidentally, I saw one of those legal commercials on TV targeted to former accutane users suffering from depression, Crohn’s disease, or IBD.
I suggest you bring up a lot of those drugs to your dermatologist. I personally did not react well to Acanya, but so very many do because it’s a great combination. Always always ask for samples! Only the newer drugs will have 'em, including Differin and Acanya. I never purchased Acanya, but had 2 weeks worth of samples from a few little jars from my doc, nor Differin, where I had a few tubes that lasted me 2 months.
Some of the drugs are very old, such as Klaron, the Proactiv mask ingredients (sulphur), and the oral antibiotics + other stuff regimens. Many docs are hesitant to prescribe them because they are so old, they’re not guaranteed for everyone, and they don’t make much $ off of them. Also, any acne regimen would be incomplete without a mild moisturizer/sunscreen (even if you have acne, you need moisture!) such as Aveeno Positively Radiant spf30.
Also keep in mind you should be changing your pillowcases every other day, as well as your face towels (that should be used for patting, not rubbing, your face dry every day). Swab your cell phone and any headset you use for gaming with alcohol weekly.
I managed to see a doctor last week and walked away with a prescription for Epiduo and for doxycycline (and antibiotic I haven’t tried). The doctor also alleviated my fears to a certain extent about accutane.
Now I’m wondering if it wouldn’t have been better to just get started on accutane. For most people, it’s a permanent solution. I’ve read through dozens of pages online about, and while there are some people who aren’t forever cured by accutane, it seems that their acne is much less severe afterwards. What’s the endgame with a topical like Epiduo (or any topical for that matter)? I doubt it will change the physiology of my pores to the extent that accutane will. It seems the only reason I can justify to use a topical is in the hope that it would hold back the flood waters until hopefully my skin “grows out of it,” so to speak, but I’m not sure how likely that is.
I’ve struggled with acne for a decade now. I haven’t tried Accutane, but I don’t have cystic acne. If I did - I think I would try Accutane. Yes, it’s a bit scary, but most people I know who’ve tried it have had the desired results without horrible side-effects.
Topical remedies really have not worked for me. Nutrition has been absolutely key, since I’ve gotten that on track I have the best skin I’ve had in years, I’m not using any topical treatments currently beyond frequent washing with water and a moisturizing cream wash. A couple years I thought I would have acne forever.
I’m glad you reopened this thread, because I was thinking of doing it. My acne has gotten bad again; my prescription for Doxycycline has expired and I couldn’t get a dermatologist appointment for another couple of weeks, during which time I will be out of town. The office agreed to call in a one-month supply for me until I can get an appointment when I come back.
hobscrk777, I haven’t used Epiduo; it seems to have come out in early 2009. I have used Differin, which is one component; it’s that plus benzoyl peroxide. Do you have a followup appointment with your dermatologist already scheduled? If so, I’d try the Epiduo and see if it helps before bringing out the big guns of Accutane. Actually, I’d schedule the followup anyway.
I don’t want to be discouraging, but I am 51 years old and saying things like "hopefully my skin “grows out of it,” and “A couple years I thought I would have acne forever” just make me shake my head. Every time I go to the dermatologist I see a new person and it’s always Dr. Smug who ignores everything I say and thinks it’s adult-onset acne when I have had this problem since I was 13 years old with little relief. Every new treatment works for a little while so they pat themselves on the back in satisfaction until I come back and a different Dr. Smug looks at the long list of meds I’ve been on and thinks I’m some kind of a nut all over again. And again suggests I “try Accutane,” when it says right there on my chart that I’ve done it twice and won’t do it again.
Sorry about the rant, but the thread is called “Need to Vent About My Acne.” :mad:
Really? You’ve had problems with acne for years and this is the first time they’ve put you on doxycycline? That’s surprising; I was under the impression from several dermos that it’s the antibiotic of choice. hobscrk777, I don’t think you’ve mentioned it, but do you have cyctic acne? Extremely large, painful nodules?
I’m glad the doctor alleviated your fears, but you should be aware there are people who do experience the suicidal thoughts and the persistent joint pain later in life.
Epiduo seems like a good idea; I take it you’ve tried the regular runs of Retin-A, and Differin is much more gentle. Its 0.1% cream is supposed to work wonders for people where Retin-A didn’t or was too harsh; me, it just made me peel and flake.
Would you mind describing how you keyed in on the right nutritional balance? I’ve read that this can have a positive impact, but it seems like unless you systematically eliminate one and only one item from your regular diet for weeks at a time, there are dozens of variables at play.
I haven’t scheduled a follow-up appointment yet. Everything I’ve read about topical retinoids says that they take at least two months to really have an effect, so I feel like I should stick with Epiduo for three months to see what happens before going back.
PS: No apologizing for ranting in this read!
In my previous post I meant that this is the first time I’ve tried doxycycline in particular; I’ve had several rounds of minocycline and bactrim. My acne is probably 70% cystic, 30% non-cystic. Over the last few years, it’s become progressively more cystic; the ratio was reversed probably four years ago.
To be honest, that is still a concern of mine…I don’t want to have aching joints for the rest of my life because of a medication I took in my 20s. Consequently, I’m going to stick with Epiduo for the rest of the year, I think.
I haven’t tried Retin-A or differin, but I have tried tazarotene. The doctor mentioned both of these in my most recent appointment, but I insisted on Epiduo because I’d done some research and found that it was just as you described - less harsh than Retin-A. Epiduo is essential Differin (adapalene) plus benzoyl peroxide, so it seemed like a good combination to try at this stage.
Thanks for the tip about the moisturizer/sunscreen combo! I found one of those at the grocery store and it’s really convenient to have both in one lotion.
I’d never heard of Epiduo, but I like the dual offensive nature of it. I really wanted Acanya to work well for me, but no such luck (clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide). Dual offensives seem to be gaining a foothold. I hope Epiduo works, do let us know! Glad to know you found a moisturizer/sunscreen combo - my current dermatologist is the first and only person to strongly encourage moisturizer/sunscreen combos (and even give me a little notecard with particular brands) even though they’re pretty much essential to the whole regimen.
And hey, if this works, hooray! Then you can start looking at ways to fade acne scars, something I’m looking into now
Why thank you.