Accutane

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Although a different brand name, DS starts this treatment tomorrow for the most terrible cystic acne. Truly awful. Prescribed by a top public dermatologist, 3 year waiting list to see her.
We are not in the UK, and it's not common here. I know it is banned in some parts of Europe. I have researched and researched, and I know about the possible frightening side effects (aggression, depression, suicide).
DS is mentally fine, despite his skin, no MH problems, no fragility, good self esteem. Still has nasty teenager moments however.

I am having a real wobble. He wants to do this. We have tried everything else. Tonight he had a nasty teenage tantrum (well, it's lasted for 2 days now), and I suddenly felt a pit of dread about starting this medication.
Any positive stories?

My daughter has been on it for several months- during her GCSE's in fact. She's been fine- and very happy that her skin is so much better!
Her lips got very dry. Lansinoh nipple cream is the best lip balm!!

If it's the same as Roaccutane which is used in the UK...

I've used it for cystic acne. My goodness I wish I'd done it as a teenager rather than in my 30s!!!

The side effects increase with dosage. So the average is 30mg but I started on 20mg, dry skin and lips but other than that, no particular issues. The derm may up/down the daily dosage throughout the period which may be 6 months or longer.

PITA to do the monthly blood and pregnancy tests though but I don't know if these are mandatory in your country. I think in some countries they insist on monthly bloods, some don't and the same for pregnancy tests for females.

I am on month 5 of the roaccutane treatment. My skin is spot free! Most of the Red marks/scars are faded.

I'm 36 and wish I had started the treatment years ago.

I’ve had two rounds. Like others wished I did it in my teens/20s. I would have saved myself from the acne scarring I acquired over the years. No issues with mood changes. I had already had slight depression and anxiety, accutane did not have any effect - if anything it improved my confidence and thus my mood overall as my skin improved massively. The dry skin effects were major though, I went through so many tubs and tubes of moisturiser!

Just a few tips, my lips are mega dry, I lucas paw paw ointment and always always have it with me. My eyes are watery and dry so I have an ointment for them to apply at night.

As the months have gone on I have been having joint pains, paracetamol helps a lot.

Drink plenty of water to help with the dry skin, use an oil free moisturiser too.

The weirdest thing I found was suddenly the products I'd used for years were no longer suitable (teatree facewash) I now use body shop vitamin e cream cleanser (very gentle on my face) as the teatree burnt and stung my now sensitive skin. Also my hair never gets greasy (I was used to washing it every single day) and now I can go days without.

Ohhhh another think....the skin under my arms became sore and dry and i cant use deodorant anymore so i have made my own from shea butter, few drops of teatree essential oil and fullers earth (there are recipes online)

I had a 6 months course of roaccutane and it was the best thing I ever did! Only side effects I had were VEEERY dry lips and nose which bled a bit. Didn't notice any changes in my mental health.

That's good to hear. The last few days he has really been mean, and I was really getting down about it affecting him negatively.
There is a lot of bad press about it in some parts of Europe.

@Mrspimplepopper try taking high dose flaxseed oil capsule for your eyes. I suffered terrible with dry eyes before I even started my acne treatment, it effected my day to day life a lot. I'd tried every eye drop you can name and nothing worked, my ophthalmology consultant basically told me it's something I'd have to deal with for the rest of my life. Then I read about flaxseed oil on another forum and started to take it as a last resort pretty much at the same time as I started my roaccutane course, within a month my eyes were almost perfect.

I was on it and I was tired, it goes on for so long but then all of a sudden your off it again.

My DD has just finished 5 months on Roaccutane. Her side effects have been pretty minor really, some eczema, dry lips and clicky hip joints. It's been miraculous although certainly wasn't an immediate cure.

I had it and it was amazing for me. My skin dried up so much that I couldn't wear any camouflage make up, but I didn't care because for the first time in my life I didn't have hideous painful cysts.

My dermatologist told me it was likely that the link to depression was because it's most commonly given to teenagers/ young adults, who are high risk for this anyway, which made sense to me.

I took it when I was approx 20, it worked for several years until I had my children, then I started to get some spots, although not nearly as bad as the first time around, but a second course aged 32 had 95% cleared it. And I don't get any cystic type spots any more.