Roaccutane

[hillarypcof]

Hi all!
It has been a long time coming, and I have delayed this treatment for some time, however with the lockdowns/restrictions of the pandemic I feel there has been no better time for me to take up my Dermatologist's recommendation of Roaccutane for my acne.

I am aware that it is a very potent drug. I am aware of the side effects.

I wondered if any of you have had any experiences with this drug, and if there is any advice you would give in order for me to prepare?

What do you wish you had been told before you started it?

Thank you all so much in advance!

Yes I took 40mg for 4 months. It was very succcessful.

I used lasinoh nipple cream for my lips, moisturising eye drops from Sainsburys, Aldi soy night cream at night and extra body lotion everywhere. My hair fell out a bit around the hairline but came back after stopping and I couldn’t see as well when the lights were off.

It was ok, I was tired but it wasn’t awful. It has been anecdotally linked to suicides but the derm nurses hadn’t had anyone depressed on it.

Buy a pill sorter, Tesco do them for a £1 in the pound section. The night I took 80mg by accident was not fun. I ached.

I took mine with my evening meal as that tends to have more fat in it to increase absorption & I got the side effects out the way while I was asleep.

Hi there. I took it a very long time ago - 20 years plus - so it may be different now.

If I were in the same situation today (i.e. septic spots on my face and shoulders and back in my 30s/40s, interfering with my ability to feel confident professionally and socially) then I would definitely do it again. It took my spots away, and I can probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of spots I've had since.

The two side-effects that I remember were that my face quickly became quite red - sort of brick red, as though I'd been walking in a strong wind - and that my lips kept peeling. They peeled so much that I was literally going through a tube of lip balm every day! I wish I'd known that in advance as I'd have been ready for it, but it wouldn't put me off having it again.

Depression was the other potential symptom that was mentioned back when I took it, but I didn't suffer from that.

Good luck to you, OP - if septic spots are spoiling your life then I hope this can solve that problem for you as it did for me

Yes, I have taken 2 rounds of accutane (the last one finished around 2 years ago). I'll come on to the side effects, but I loved the results of this. My skin was flawless, face/chest/back/other unmentionable places where I got the occasional bump. Pores were invisible too. After 18-24 months my skin was not as good, and so I took a second round which helped, but I now only tend to have blackheads and minor pimples occasionally.

I remember exceptionally dry skin, and I used Aveeno lotion on my face as well as body. My skin would accept any heavy duty creams that previously I wouldn't have put on my face due to the oiliness.

Make sure that you have good lip balm to hand - I used this every 5 minutes - don't use a cheap chapstick but make sure it is a properly moisturising balm, not just an oil slick that sits on top. I bought Aquaphor in a big tub and decanted to smaller pots to carry around. Make sure you slap it on before sleep.

SPF50 whenever you go outside, whether it is sunny or not.

Eye drops for dry eyes. In my second round I had mild blepharitis. On one occasion I also had the sore cuticle issue, but only on one finger.

Top tip: DO NOT WAX YOUR MOUSTACHE (if you have one). Your skin will be very fragile, so any picking/scratching or other abrasion will mark you. I speak from experience

Good luck with the treatment. I hope that it works well for you. I am so glad that I did it. I am currently using a topical tretinoin to treat my recent pore congestion/outbreaks but they're not really problematic I just thought - as you did - that whilst I am hiding in the house, this is the perfect time to get on with it!

Blistex relief cream
A good moisturizer
Gentle face wash/cream
Moisturising eye drops
Decent sunglasses
Factor 50 everywhere even if it is not sunny.

Thank you all so much! I really appreciate all the stories, advice and support you've all given.

Cystic acne really is taking over my life. I turn 25 this year and I have worse skin than when I was 15! I have tried all the antibiotics and prescription ointments known to man. The only reason I've put Roaccutane off for so long is the side effects, and being in a national lockdown and surely subsequent tiers, I feel there is no better time to give this a shot.

I will stock up on Vaseline and moisturiser!
Thank you all again 💕

At least your not starting it at 41 like I did 🤦🏻‍♀️

I also took it 20 years ago and it was life changing.
Sore skin & lips but that ends as your course is done.
Best of luck OP.

I'm excited for you OP :)

I remember that when I went for my first consultation with the dermatologist another young woman came out of his room with what looked like flawless skin. I was envious! When I went in to see him he told me that I could expect my skin to look like that in a couple of months' time, and... he was right. As PP said, it was life-changing.

Fingers crossed for you

Two of my DD's have been on it. Amazing! It's taken a while for the scarring to disappear but now it has they have beautiful skin. You should take the opportunity of taking over lockdown as it doesn't work overnight.

Goodluck with this! DD 15 just started hers on Sunday x

Thank you all for your well wishes! I'm glad to hear of positive experiences that you and/or your DCs have had :)
I am looking forward to getting started and getting rid of my awful skin once and for all!!!!

I am seeing the Dermatologist on Monday morning and I think I will be issued it then. I know he will go through everything with me, but I have so many questions and I'm too excited to wait to ask them!!

Did you/your DDs have to go on a Contraceptive Pill whilst taking Roaccutane? I am currently not on this method of birth control.

Also - is alcohol forbidden whilst taking the drug? I will have a farewell G&T on Sunday if so! 😉🍸

Thank you all so much x

You can’t drink on it. Eat healthily too, bit of fat with each dose.

I used to think it terribly sad when I was your age when colleagues my age went on healthy eating kicks but then I realised when I got there that’s just what you have to do or you feel crap.

My DSS used it about 10 years ago for severe acne - it changed his life. He was so withdrawn and socially awkward because of the acne robbing him of self confidence. The Roaccutane literally cleared his skin in a few months and he has never looked back. His skin is clear and he has loads of self confidence. Good luck !

I'm pretty sure you have to use contraception when you're on it , because it can cause birth defects. Better to be sure.

I took it around 1987 and it was an absolute game changer. Stock up on heavy duty moisturisers for everywhere, then enjoy watching those cysts shrink into oblivion.

I had it when I was much younger, cleared my skin up a treat. Yes to the heavy duty moistuisers, a good lip balm and sunblock when it gets to summer.

I was made to go on the pill while I took it, I wasnt sexually activy, but they obvs couldnt trust the word of a 16 year old!!

Derm asked Dd to take 2 forms of contraception on our initial phone consultation in December. Dd is not sexually active and cant take the combined pill because of aura migraines (she was prescribed for her skin). We just agreed to it but shes not going to take it. He didnt mention it again.

We ordered loads of products after doing some research , cerave cream for her body, aquaphor for lips we have coconut oil to use as hair/scalp mask and , she started taking vitamin b12, b5 for hair and omega 3 tablets about 2 weeks ago. We also got some cetaphil spf50 moisturiser for when she actually leaves the house!

Also found a tip about taking it with high fat foods for better absorption so Dd takes it after dinner with a spoonful of peanut butter!

My dd aged 17 was on this for 6 months and it’s changed her life. Literally amazing stuff. Yes there are risks and side effects but there is with everything. The only issue she really had was dry lips - we spent fortunes on carmex! Hope it works for you.

I got very, very thin, as in 7 stone thin 😬 completely lost my appetite but overall it was a brilliant drug. Skin completely cleared up and have had very few breakouts in the last 15 years.....took it for 18 months I think. I didn't have huge issues with dryness, used lip balm and eye drops alright

Oh and yes I had to take the pill, was a private dermatologist and it was a requirement. In fact I had to sign a declaration every month that I was using 2 forms of contraceptive

I keep remembering stuff 😂 yes definitely no alcohol or anything that might contribute to liver damage. It helped me completely kick a mild recreational drug habit I had at the time, didn't even drink for a long time after

I was on this about 3-4 years ago, in my 30s. BEST thing I have ever done in my life. Always suffered with acne and I'm still amazed at how much better my skin is now. Has given me so much more confidence and self esteem.

I used to get huge painful spots on my back, and spots on my neck and face mostly around chin. Now I'm completely spot free on my back, and very occasionally get a chin spot coming up to break-week on my pill.

Whilst taking it, my nurse advised me I could drink alcohol but try not to be a binge drinker. They do blood tests for your liver to check its coping OK.
You need to drink ALOT of water, I would always ensure I had a bottle of water with me wherever I went. I do alot of exercise including weight lifting and really noticed the stiff joints and excessive sweating. I sweat alot normally but it was literally pouring off me when I worked out. On a morning I'd get out of bed and slightly struggle to walk to toilet as my ankle joints were so sore, but that would pass as I got moving. The sore joints were more towards the end of my course, and the side effect passed very quickly after stopping the tablets.
Lips were always dry dry dry, had lip balms on me at all times! Skin in general didn't get too dry, I used Lush bath oil bars regularly. I used Cetaphil face cleanser, which seemed to work really well, and Aveeno as a general body lotion.
My hair was AMAZING. I have fine hair that's usually insanely greasy and oily at the roots requiring daily washing. The tablets made it amazing! It wasn't greasy, and I could go days between washing. Frequently had people at work complimenting hair asking if I'd had something done. Sadly after finishing tablets it's gone back to normal, it was definitely a roaccutane benefit.
Oh and use SPF50, and avoid time in sun. I'd finished roaccutane and a month or so after went on holiday to Thailand, I'm fair skinned and burn easily at best of times, but I was loving showing off my spot free back in my bikini and burned red raw despite the factor 50 and trying to be careful

The monthly pregnancy tests were a bit annoying, but has to be done I guess.

It's a miracle drug!!I took it for 8 months ending in August last year. I used to get approximately 2 cysts per day but I haven't had even one spot in the past 5 months!!

@Fluffycloudland77

At least your not starting it at 41 like I did 🤦🏻‍♀️

I was 41 as well 🙁

Good luck hillary.

Does anyone know if dermatologists are willing to prescribe, if there are pre existing mental health concerns?

Ds is currently seeing Camhs for difficulties with anxiety and depression. He's been on oral antibiotics for 2+ years and his skin his far worse than when he started them. GP did a dermatology referral just before Christmas but I think it could be a long wait due to Covid.