Roaccutane 20g a day - any experiences?

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Today I was prescribed a low dose of Roaccutane - 20g or maybe I mean mg per day.
I understand this is half the average dose.
Has anyone been put on low-dose before and if so did you find it worked permanently?
Been reading a bit on Google (yes i know) and some say low dose doesn't work permanently or that you'll have to be on it months longer. Any thoughts?

Also any product recs for skincare? Someone mentioned Carmex lip balm on a previous thread I saw.

thanks

Yep, I have! I even tried 10mg! Sadly I had to stop both times and never completed the course, I quite out of the blue developed awful anxiety (no prior history) - to the point I was crying at unexpected noises in the house .All stopped a week after I discontinued and I am thankful I did stop.
This never gets mentioned and may be TMI so just disregard if so but it made me painfully itchy and dry down below and also in my nose. Best tips i found were moisturising gel (proper medical one for that body part obviously ) Vaseline in the nose, Eucerin 5% urea face cream, switch to cream or balm or oil for cleansing, SPF for daytime, and definitely carmex!
Also if you take a bath, a nice bath oil or the E45 emollient bath was a nice soothing treat. The trick of it is to slap it all on before it gets bad, even when it's not. Once skin has cracked or is sore it's so much harder to heal. I didn't get anything too dramatic on those doses dryness wise but it was sort of...always uncomfortably dry and needed keeping on top of several times daily. Also found the dryness got worse the longer i was on it, and I had virtually none for the first 3-4 weeks.

My doctor never said anything about it not working at a lower dose specifically, he always maintained it would work if i stuck with it and the lower dose was appropriate for a mild to moderate acne.

Really hope it works for you OP! I was told I was just very very unlucky and have had a couple of friends have fab results so am in no way trying to be offputting - just trying to answer honestly.

Hi,

I’m currently on 30mg roaccutane (isotretinoin). I started on 1st Dec. 10mg per day, no real side effects. After a week, a lot of people commented on my skin that didn’t know I was taking the tablets - ‘you’re looking well’ etc. I guess my skin had a glow about it. After two weeks on 10mg I was advised to up it to 20mg which I took for another two weeks. Started feeling the dry lips and noticing my skin was less oily. I can now go for 4 days without washing my hair as well - yay! It could go longer tbh but feels a bit weird not to wash it after that long. I haven’t changed my skin routine which is very basic at the moment after years of using lots of products - am using Simple Face Wash and Simple Light Moisturiser with Dr Murad SPF 50. Aveeno for Body. I need something richer though - any recommendations appreciated

Have been on 30mg since 28th December and no real improvement or difference since but I have been unwell. I’d say my skin texture has improved slightly although dry in patches. I wasn’t on top of moisturising enough so have a scabby patch on my face where the skin got too dry. My lips though, omg. Invest in a decent lip balm, you will need it. I have been using Blistex intensive moisture. It’s ok but I will be ordering Aquaphor in the next few days.

Good luck with your journey!

LRP Toleriane skincare
Also the LRP cicaplast baume

Watch Dr Sam Buntings Vlogs on YouTube and join her fb group ( dr Sams skincare club )

I sound like a broken record but it’s changed my skin and my life .

Lots of us with acne there xx

Thanks will have a look at those. LRP - La Roche Posay?

Glad you had a good result, I truly feel it will change my life also

My DD15 completed a course earlier this year. Started on 10mg and worked up to full dose of I think 55mg.
Skin dryness flared up for a bit each dose increase but overall she managed it really well. Took photos each month as the changes are gradual to start and the acne can worsen before it improves.
She was given a total dose based on body weight and her goal was to achieve that total over however long it took her depending on how she got on. I think it was 7 months in the end.
Lips were the worst and after spending a small fortune on various products, she found good old Vaseline best! Cetaphil moisturiser for her skin.
Stopped in Aug and has a little bit of uneven colouring and mild scarring but only the odd hormonal spot which is a miracle! She uses the retinol based acne cream she was prescribed for these.

Thank you for all the informative and honest responses... I am both looking forward to it and a tad hesitant at the same time....

Just taken pill No 1

Good luck User! Please keep posting with your experience and results. I’d be happy to share mine as well. May this be the 1st step towards beautiful skin for you

Good lusk to everyone else starting out, I started on 20mg isotretinoin on 29th December! Only side effect so far is very dry lips but I'm bracing myself for more!

Did you get roaccutane on the NHS or through a private dermatologist?

I went private and he told me that NHS dermatologists usually prescribe a stronger dose over a shorter period. This put me off as I was really nervous about side effects.

If it's possible to get a low dose on NHS then I might go with that, I'm paying through the nose for this treatment!!

MySkirt, I’m NHS. My dermatologist prescribed me 10mg to start. So it’s definitely possible to be on a low dose to begin with.

Me? NHS
I am aware the side effects can be bad so I said can I start on a lower dose and she said that's what she had planned for me anyway.

We can all be Roac buddies

I'm going to order some lip balms and moisturisers from Boots or what not today/tomorrow.

DS took a very low dose.
It took ages to get through because it’s cumulative.
But he tolerated it without problem and his skin is like a baby’s arse now

I'm definitely going to try and get an NHS prescription then if a low dose can be given, clearly the private dermatologist was having me on

Yes let's be Roac buddies!

I have found Kiehls lip balm the best so far for moisturising my lips, nivea and vaseline don't seem to be helping much.

You're given a total amount to take based on your height and weight (or something). You'll start on a lower dose and this usually is increased over time. But some people don't tolerate a higher daily dose so stay lower but as long as you take the total amount it won't matter, you'll just be in them for longer.

I actually found 20 to be the perfect dose. 10 didn't work and over time went up to 30, but on 30 started feeling the side effects too much - sunburn, dried lips, and dry eyes as well as a coldsore that took a month to heal (!)

Hopefully this won't happen for you but I also had a massive breakout every time the dose went up and it was terrible when I started - my skin was the worst it has ever been about two - three weeks after starting. Just a word of warning.

But - it's worth it. I'm not exaggerating when I say it's changed my life

DD1 got too dry on the high dose, she would have toughed it out but it was causing red hard lumps on her face so the derm dropped the amount. She went long and low after a few months on full dose. Her skin is amazing now, much less dryness and totally clear and glowy. She's got three weeks to go.

We've all been on it at some stage (acne prone family) and all swear by 8 hour cream.

How’s everyone getting on so far?

Hi there. Watching with a lot of interest. How long are you supposed to stay on this. Can you stay on it indefinitely?

My dh has been prescribed it twice, for a skin condition
His hair fell out, as usual with cancer treatments and it didn't work.
They are trying to get him to take it again plus anti depressents, but he won't as it doesn't work for him.
Thinking of going private to avoid the drug pushing consultant tbh.
It can make you suicidal and an 11 year old was prescribed it and since stopping taking it can't stop crying.
Be very wary, sometimes the benefit if any isn't worth the side effects.

Please research before taking it, especially if female and pregnant, bf, or wanting to conceive.
This is the new pushed drug replacing statins as dished out willy nilly.
Look at the side effects and ask yourself if you want to be at your gps surgery a lot to be observed.

Hi OP, just wanted to post because I always post on Roaccutane threads if I see them here with MY OWN experience of the drug.

Wish I could remember the dose I took (but I can't!) but I took it on two separate occasions in my life.

I'm not saying the drug isn't a problem for some people.

But for me it was life-changing (in the good way)

Nothing, NOTHING else even remotely helped my painful cystic adult acne.

I had it in my late teens and again in my early 30s.

Since that second time (almost 15 years ago now) I've never needed it again.

TBF I didn't need it at any point in the previous ten years I wasn't taking it (aged 19ish to 30ish) but quiye suddenly just before my wedding my acne returned with a vengeance.

My skin is now, and has been ever since, perfect. Barely even a single hormonal spot apart from in the last couple of years which I think is peri-menopausal and only maybe one large one every other month,

Pre-Roaccutane my entire chin and jaw would be covered with HUGE painful lumps that took weeks to go away and which nothing could treat. I looked dreadful.

I have a history of anxiety/depression but the Roaccutane did not affect me in that way. Not saying it may not affect others but in my case it had no effect on that (if anything my mental health soared up because I had one less horrible thing to be anxious about)

If my own DD ever shows signs of inheriting my cystic acne later on (she's only tiny now) I would help get her onto Roaacutane as soon as humanly possible. It's not worth suffering (again, I repeat, when absolutley nothing else has worked for months and months, from antibiotics and other meds to diet changes and the entire gamut) when this drug will make the problem disappear.

So that's it really. I just wanted ot wish you luck with it all and ask you to post as you go along.

fwiw I did get dryness but it wasn't that bad, just needed a good moisturiser and lip balm. I wear contacts but I was fine.

I didn't take it in time for it to work its magic before my wedding and I will always regret that because in my photos my skin looks diabolical :( Only 2 weeks later, on honeymoon, it started to work and my spots faded almost overnight.

Good luck and hope it helps you the way it helped me.

Hey

I've been on roaccutane twice. First time got titrated up to my dose which was worked out by weight. Had some dry eyes, chapped lips and a sore nose. First week or so had an all over body itch. My prescription got stopped at 4 months because my appointments were messed up, went back on a month later for a further 4 months and my skin was amazing!

Unfortunately it came back, no where near the same extent however because my acne had knocked my confidence so much as soon as the first couple of spots started to show I was a mess. I got referred and started on spironolactone, and a very low dose of roaccuatne which they allowed to work out when and how much to take (i'm a nurse) for 6 months.

That was a couple of years ago now. My skin isn't as good as what it was like when I first finished but I'm taking some pimples on my forehead that clear up with duac and this past month i've had 2 bigger spots on my chin due to being unwell so a massive difference from my severe cystic acne.

The thing that bugs me just now is my scars are starting to show more and i don't know if thats an age thing? But I would not hesitate to go back on the low dose. Good luck!

I’ll join in this thread too. I’m on 20mg a day. The first 2-3 weeks my skin did get worse and to be honest I found that hard to cope with and my (pre existing) anxiety got worse. However my skin has improved a lot since then as has my anxiety (back to its normal baseline!). It’s the most amazing feeling to be able to wake up get dressed and leave the house and not spend hours in front of the mirror trying to cover up huge cystic pus filled spots!
I have very dry lips, but not dry skin. In fact by the end of the day it still gets a bit oily but nothing like the oil slick it was before.
I hope roaccutane is a permenant cure for em but I’m not feeling hopeful to be honest!
I’ve been on it before at 20mg but i stopped after three months as we decided to ttc and I wanted to have a few months to be 100% sure it was out of my system. My acne returned during my pregnancy (so about a year after finishing roaccutane) I had to take erythromycin and was horrendous my the time baby was a few months old so sadly I’ve stopped bf to go back on the roaccutane. I don’t like taking it, even though it works because I just wish I didn’t bloody have to. I wish I could be a “normal” person with normal skin. Acne has ruined my confidence and I constantly dread my boys growing up and inheriting it.
I’m going to stay on it at least 6 months. The dermatologist hasn’t specified a target cumulative dose but I don’t think we have completed our family and are thinking about trying for another baby next year so I’d like to possibly take roaccutane for 6 months then have 6 months off before ttc.
I hope it goes well for you and it’s noce to have some company whilst on the roaccutane. I’ve not told anyone in real life I’m on it except my husband so feel
A bit lonely!

Hello

Never on Roacc but prescribe it daily

The target amount is based on weight but it a loose figure.
Some get all clear before and some need an extended period.
The reason for the high dose is that if patients can tolerate it they finish the course quicker.
Some newer research(the Americans ) are suggesting low dose and often eg 20mg.
We expect dry lips , dry skin then we know it’s working and acne will get ‘burnt out ‘ ie gone for good.
Those who get acne very young eg 12/13, will often need another course later in life.
The most important thing is compliance, attendance at Derm clinic
Lips- balm on at least 4 times per hour!
LRP cicaplast balm is very good, however the frequency is key.
Skin care- LRP Effaclar is good...stay away from Aloe, tea tree etc.
Spf50 every morning.
No tattoos, laser, chemical peels etc as you are have a lower immunity and more prone to infection.
2 forms of contraception
No protein shakes and powders or supplements. (Pea protein is ok)

Xx

Why no protein shakes? Hope

I am not taking roaccutane but do suffer from adult acne ( currently on spironolactone).

Am just interested to know why.

I used to take this. Best lip balm I found was Body Shop hemp lip balm. I'm not usually a fan of their products but this one really helped. I was practically wedded to it... it does smell a bit odd though.

I'm sure if I'd had the Cicaplast hand cream I'd have loved it. I used one by Eucerin, which was quite helpful.