How long for a Roccutane referral at the moment?

[Johnlocke]

DD has just been given a Roaccutane referral by an NHS dermatologist. She's been advised to stop her antibiotics and try the combination pill while she waits for her hospital appointment in case this improves her skin at all.

Fortunately there isn't much scarring but obvs DD is really keen to get started with appointments as her acne hasn't improved with any of the other treatments and she's really self conscious. I keep hearing that the waiting lists are really long so I just want to manage her expectations. We're in West London if that makes any difference and private isn't an option for us.

TIA

Hate to tell you but in Edinburgh it was 2 years for my daughter to be seen....referred Feb 2022 seen Feb 2024. (she was 30 at the time and 2nd time around for roaccutane. First time was 2 months)

Obviously London may be very different.

Urghhh, well I'm glad to hear she's eventually been seen but that's such a long time.

I wish I could afford private but just not an option for us.

I had to give in and take the pill OP. It cleared my skin completely in just months. Not ideal but I would take it over roaccutane any day, with all its side effects and monitoring.

Can you do right to choose? We did this for autism diagnosis recently, got everything done within 9 months as opposed to 3-4 years. If you're in England (not sure about Scotland, definitely not Wales though) you can ask your GP to go to be referred to somewhere with a shorter waiting list, they might even let you use a private clinic. Only downside is travelling, roaccutane needs monthly monitoring but perhaps there is a way to do that locally, worth asking your GP.

And for what it's worth I'd choose roaccutane over the pill any day. Roaccutane is pretty permanent and short term (some people need 2 goes, I didn't) she'll basically need to live on the pill, may not work, and the pill itself comes with some pretty huge drawbacks that are largely glossed over at the detriment of young women.

Thanks both - I think the pill is just a short term solution until we can get the roaccutane referral. The antibiotics have done nothing so she is willing to try anything.

Really hope she can get on it soon, it is magic stuff, changed my life and wouldn't hesitate to my teens on it as and when it may be required.

How old is she? I wouldn’t recommend Roaccutane for anyone under 18.

See here www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/isotretinoin-roaccutanev-new-safety-measures-to-be-introduced-in-the-coming-months-including-additional-oversight-on-initiation-of-treatment-for-patients-under-18-years www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/isotretinoin-roaccutanev-new-safety-measures-to-be-introduced-in-the-coming-months-including-additional-oversight-on-initiation-of-treatment-for-patients-under-18-years]]]]

Which pill will she be taking? Dianette (aka co cyprindiol) is by far the most effective IME. Spironolactone is also worth a try.

This is why we went private for my son a couple of years ago. He had his treatment and his skin was cleared in a shorter time than the nhs waiting list

I just can't afford private - sounds like DD has a long wait

I waited 6 months for my Derm appt. They prescribed it and I had to go back the following week for blood tests and pregnancy test then started the following month. I go back every month for blood and pregnancy tests before the next month is prescribed

@YellowphantGrey - do you mind me asking whereabouts you are in UK?
Thank you

I had roaccutane last year, was around 4 months from GP referral to starting the course. Based in SE . Best thing I have ever done and hugely regret not having it earlier, so I say push for it as much as possible and it is worth the wait.

Thank you - this is giving me more hope :)

What do you mean 'given a Roaccutane referral by an NHS dermatologist'?

An NHS dermatologist should just be able to prescribe it.

Do you mean just referred to dermatology by the GP?

I was in the west midlands. I went to my Doctor on the Thursday, Dermatologist referral went in on the Friday, along with a picture of my face, the Derm called the Dr on Monday and asked them to prescribe antibiotics alongside the cream, this was November last year. My derm appointment at the hospital was May this year and started it June.

I was on Soolantra cream and Lymecycline prior to this appointment fkr 6 months

Where I am the dermatologist can't prescribe it. She has referred DD to the a dermatologist for Roaccutane. The process was my GP, NHS dermatologist and now hospital appointment.

I was on Dianette (the pill) at 16 for my acne; it didn't work.

The only thing that worked was Roaccutane. It's not the scarring, it's the spots because at that age you are self conscious (I didn't go swimming with my friends because the acne was on my shoulders and neck, I didn't like nights out in bright places and I didn't look people in the eye).

The cost of a private dermatologist in London is £250 (plus the cost of the private prescription). To save money arrange the required regular blood tests/pregnancy tests through your GP to save money.

The Derm I saw at the hospital was able to prescribe it, my GP can't so that could be why mine was so quick.

If I'd paid privately, it would have been £160 per appointment, not including prescription and blood and pregnancy testing. Annoyingly, it would be the same Derm I'd see on the NHS

Ah, was probably a GP with an extended role in dermatology. They can't do roaccutane.