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General health

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Original poster

Has anyone taken Isotertinoin /Roaccutane later in life?

21 replies

catskit · 30/08/2018 20:31

I'm in my late 40s and just been prescribed this as am fed up with antibiotics. I took the drug in the past in my 20s but not for too long - I was ok-ish re side effects, nothing of lasting damage.

But I'm now worried that at later age the liver/digestion would be affected more and skin/hair already thinner than used to be - so can end up really showing when they start to thin. Anyone has any positive (or negative) experience?

OP posts:

Original poster

catskit · 01/09/2018 11:43

bump

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Spartacunt · 01/09/2018 22:57

I took it at 40 - bad skin all my life, tried everything else and this was a last resort. Made my lips and hair dry but otherwise miraculous and my acne did not return (50 now). I really recommend it.

Spartacunt · 01/09/2018 22:58

Ps no thinning of hair at all and no other side effects.

Original poster

catskit · 02/09/2018 17:40

oh thanks, Spartan! Great news that it never returned - I took it in my 20 but has returned after a year - for me Dianette worked best back then.

How long did you take it for, and do you remember what was your dose? I asked for the lowest dose(20mg) but they said although that's fine, it may take much longer. But am scared of higher doses.

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Original poster

catskit · 02/09/2018 17:40

*20s

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WhirlyGigWhirlyGig · 02/09/2018 17:44

I'm 50 and I took it two years ago. My cholesterol went up, my liver went crazy but I take another drug that affects the liver too. My lips were like cracked earth and my skin was rippable thin.
However would I take it again, short answer yes. The benefits far outweighed the negatives.

lurkingfromhome · 02/09/2018 20:51

I took it when I was 47 for six months. Utterly utterly life-changing. I had very few side effects - dry lips (which everyone gets, I think), somewhat sore muscles and joints for the latter three months and that was it. All blood tests fine, no depression, no dry skin anywhere other than my lips.
After 25 years of cycle after cycle of antibiotics plus frequent two-week courses of penicillin as my acne was all over my face and horribly infected, this was an absolute life changer. I literally haven’t had a single spot in the 4 years since and can’t recommend it enough. Do PM me if you have any questions at all.

lurkingfromhome · 02/09/2018 20:52

Oh and I was menopausal at the time - didn’t seem to make any difference to anything.

Effendi · 02/09/2018 20:54

Roaccutane, life changing. Wish I'd done it years ago.
Dry lips and ears only.

witherwings · 02/09/2018 21:16

I took it when I was 36 (7 years ago) and the only symptom was dry lips. Absolutely brilliant stuff, my skin improved in the first couple of weeks. I had acne since I was 14 so it was amazing for me.

Original poster

catskit · 03/09/2018 00:27

Ooh a lot of positive feedback! thank you for all replies. Has everyone taken it long term (4-6 months) like lurking or did you have results sooner and could come off sooner?
I have a bit of a chronic muscle ache in shoulders/neck so really wouldn't want to take long term, but after hearing your reviews, am feeling braver. Back in my 20s I took it for about 3.5 month - skin became great but got back to problems later. Yes I remember horrid dry/peeling lips but if that's only thing now I'll be happy.
Can anyone report on what doses you took? I've been out on lowest dose, I hope still effective.
lurking thanks, I'll pm tomorrow.

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Original poster

catskit · 03/09/2018 00:28

Whirly has your liver gone back to normal since?

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Effendi · 03/09/2018 02:53

About 6 months as I recall.
I was about 42 when I took it after suffering for years.

witherwings · 03/09/2018 03:12

I took it for 6 months

WhirlyGigWhirlyGig · 03/09/2018 08:55

Cat no my liver is still playing up but that's because of the methotrexate I take and not the isotretinoin.
Honestly after years of antibiotics that trashed my stomach so now I'm stuck on omeprazole too and plastering thick makeup on because people stared at me my face was that bad, I'm now mostly makeupless. Sometimes I'll put tinted moisturiser on but my skin is just bloody lovely now, by that I don't mean it's the most amazing skin in 5he world but compared to how it was it's amazing.

Original poster

catskit · 03/09/2018 18:34

Whirly tell me about it, trashed my stomach with antibiotics too! just had enough! NOw trying to avoid wheat and anything spicy. Not to mention that they never completely clear the skin.
What a relief though to have a great skin! hope it stays that way (has it been a while?)

wither and Effendi - 6 months! I think I' won't last 6months as I already have quite thin hair which sheds easily - at the moment that's compensated by the general volume of hair but on R I'm sure it will shed more.
Effendi, if you skin was already better after 2wks, did you consider staying on for up to 3 months, maybe were told not to?

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WhirlyGigWhirlyGig · 03/09/2018 18:42

cat yes still good skin 18 months later. I had to stop after 5 months due to bloods but my consultant and nurse were happy that my skin was 100% better. If I had to I'd take it again despite being on two lots of immunosuppressants which mean I'm more vulnerable to infection with my paper thin skin that ripped so easily.

As much as we say we don't want to be vain, the stares of horror from people was enough to make me think I'd take it again. And the pain, the pain from all the lumps and spots. The pain when they oozed yellow crap because they were infected. Yes I'd do it all again and not care a jot.

Spartacunt · 03/09/2018 20:08

I took it for 6months at a fairly high dose (II think they base it on weight?) - and it was fine. Really was the best thing ever for my skin!

Eloisedublin123 · 03/09/2018 21:45

Please don’t feel I’m trying to minimize anyone’s experience here but I just wanted to mention (in case it helps anyone) that I’ve had acne rosacea for 8 years. Started taking 400 mg of oral magnesium every day 4 months ago and my skins much much better. Haven’t changed much else. Just in case anyone gets anything out of this.

Effendi · 04/09/2018 14:54

It was witherwings that had an improvement after a couple of weeks.
I can't remember how long it was for me but certainly not months.

Now I get the odd small pimple before my period though lately they seem to have stopped since I've been using retinol.

I suffered for so many years and wasted ££££ on so called remedies, I even tried Chinese herbal shit.

Diannette was wonderful while I was on it, same with the tetracyclines but as soon as I stopped, they came back.

CatAndHisKit · 06/09/2018 00:41

Effendi, yep, tried the Chinese herbal shit too (so expensive!), as well as facials (always gone worse after those), Dianette they stopped prescribing just after I got to early 30s. Mind you, Dianette caused mood swings too.

Eloise, that's interesting - you normally hear that it's Zinc that helps. Great that it helped, but I'm not sure it's good to take magnesium (or any metals) daily long term? I also had to take iron for a while and still take it at times when low energy and I think they clash. But I may try magnesium for a bit - I wonder if it's ok WITH Roac, as magnesium actually helps with muscle ache.

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