To tell on my friend re Accutane off internet?

[LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary]

Hello.
My friend has had moderate acne on chin, neck and chest since a teen. Her gp refused referral to dermatologist for Accutane due to history of depression. Friend told me she now ordered some off internet. Wibu to tell her mum? In case she goes suicidal? Shld I report to police to intercept illegal package?
Thanks.
Ps friend has tried everything else gp will prescribe apparently. What if this wld actually help her???

tbh if i was really worried about a friend like this i would ring her gp and ask to speak with him.

but wait and see if she manages to get them ordered and her hands on them

Which country does your friend live in? Accutane is the American brand name for the drug. It seems odd for someone in the UK to call it that.

We both live in the UK but I know it's called both of these things. I was typing on my phone so used the shorter version!

No way would a GP talk to some random friend who phoned them about a patient.

I wouldn't be asking the GP to "talk" to me about the patient. Just telling them what I know.

Anyway, I'm hoping to persuade my friend to go back to the GP herself.

this is none of your business.
buying roaccutane on the internet is risky but unless you have acne yourself and know how it feels you're really not qualified to butt in on her private affairs re: drug choices.
you'd report her to the police?
Really?
you sound mean.
get on with your own business and leave your friend do her own.

It isn't called Accutane at all in the UK though so saying it is called "both of these things" is wrong if you live in the UK. Here it is called Roaccutane the trade name or Isotretinoin the generic name. Why pick a brand name that is from another country for a UK website? it makes no sense and does make it sound as though you've just been reading about drugs on the internet rather than having a friend who has discussed her acne with a UK GP.

What are the chances that the pills she ends up with are the real thing and not fakes? She will have no idea what she is actually taking.

Actually if I knew that someone I knew but didn't see that often was taking something that might possibly have disastrous consequences for their mental health then I think telling someone close to them what's going on so they could be alert for problems seems very sensible.

Rebecca, are you the MN police? Obviously I have googled it myself, hence why I am so worried!

Very strange that you seem so concerned about the alleged MN police when you've only just joined.

I don't see why you can't just butt out and mind your own business.

Steady on Sooty - looks like there's been a positive flurry of reporting on this thread!
Pfffft @ the button pushers

ilovesooty - I've been a long-time lurker:

"fanjo, entitled, cocklodger, no is a complete sentence, fuck off to the far side...." so I know a fair bit about MN.

But yes, I feel a little persecuted in my first 24hrs as a proper member.

Is there anything else about my credentials you would like to know? You were a MN newbie once yourself, y'know. And I don't think you have to be special to join!

Penguin bollards, mexican house thief, korean lady in the garden, live parking thread, pombears, penis beaker, dropped a plate down the side of the toilet.

Shall I go on?
That's a lot of reading for a troll.
Never sure what a troll was anyway!

Anyway, I'm fucking off to watch Andy Murray now.
On my TV, under a bridge.
Laters, paranoid troll-hunters.

I wasn't implying what you thought I was. I don't troll hunt on threads.

I just don't understand why anyone new would be so bothered about the concept of "police" in a place they've just arrived in. It hurt seems very, very strange.

I couldn't give a fuck about your "credentials" by the way. They don't interest me.

I finished my course of Roaccutane in March this year.

1. The GP would offer you acne treatments to start with. They have various antibiotics (pill and topical), 'the pill' and a topical Roaccutane 'lite' version.

1. Once you've gone through the GP treatment options with little or no success, you can insist the GP refers you to a dermatologist if they don't offer to refer you. Or you can self refer to a derm at any time.

1. The dermatologist will offer you same/similar treatments to the GP and Roaccutane. Only a dermatologist can prescribe Roaccutane.

1. The dermatologist will do a blood test (liver function) to check that you are suitable for Roaccutane.

1. The dermatologist will work out your Roaccutane dosage. It is a total cumulative dosage based on weight and daily amount which will give the length of course. The total dosage is between a range of total amounts.

1. The derm will only give a monthly prescription of Roaccutane at a time. Before you pick up the monthly 'script you will be asked to take a pregnancy test. Most derms advise on you using 2 forms of contraception.

Becoming pregnant whilst on Roaccutane will cause physical and mental deformities of the foetus - to such an extent that my derm said a termination would be advisable.

1. I had blood tests every 2-3 months to check my liver function and cholesterol.

1. Symptoms - extreme dryness and mood swings can be helped by adjusting the dosage. As long as you have the total cumulative amount.

You also become photo sensitive.

So if 'your friend' is buying a suspect acne drug over the Internet then she is very foolish. There is no reason why the GP won't help or offer a derm referral - even with a history of depression. It's for the derm to assess not the GP.

There is a reason Roaccutane is prescription only. It is high dose vitamin A, which works by stopping your sebaceous glands from producing (too much) oil. It also can fnuck up your liver.

Q - how do you know you are buying the drug and not a sugar pill or something harmful?
Q - how would you work out your dosage and length of treatment?
Q - how would you know you have a health liver to start treatment or continue treatment?
Q - why wouldn't you as a adult just go to GP or self refer to a derm?

Just not hurt - autocorrect.

Friend needs to go and see a different gp, and get the derm referral. This is not a drug to be messed around with - I still have scars and back pain. Telling her mum sounds odd, but please please persuade her not to take an online version without proper supervision.

Referring yourself to a dermatologist would mean a private dermatologist and usually cost money. Many private insurers want a GP referral to ensure people aren't attending hospital consultants for trivia.

'On my tv, under a bridge' made me lol.

Good on you, OP

I was given roaccutane for my HS, it was a nightmare and I would never recommend taking it without medical supervision

Apparently it is under investigation in the states

Are you sure she hasn't ordered Retin-a from the Internet? It's prescription only and used to treat acne but a completely different kettle of fish to roaccutane

No - she uses retin-a cream already. It's tablets she's ordered.
I know because I have also used that cream - I have some acne too because of pcos.