Starting roaccutane (acne) meds -- 17yo DS

[NutCutlet101]

My nearly 18-yo DS has been prescribed roaccutane for his acne. (We have been through the side effects, self-care issues, etc, with doctor.) We're due to go abroad for a short break next week (in a different time zone): does anyone out there have any experience of the first few days of using this drug?

My feeling is to wait the extra five days and then start the pills on return, when regularity of doses can be ensured. That said, I know DS is very anxious to get started on the pills. I suppose I am worried about him feeling horrid side-effects a long way from home.

All advice gratefully received.

My son was on this at a similar age a long time ago so I don't remember the first few days, but I can say the only side effect for him was very dry lips. Good luck.

I’ve had two rounds of Roaccutane. I had no side effects for the first few days.

For the first week he might have a really intense skin purging where his acne gets a lot worse and then it slowly starts to get better. Side effects wise I'd say the worst I ever got was nosebleeds and dry lips.

I was on Roaccutane twice and it took weeks for the side effects to show so he should be fine .. later on I had mild red eyes and dry lips but it was totally worth it as cleared up my acne so well and massively increased my self confidence. I would recommend he has a good gentle moisturiser and spf and a decent lip salve. Also eye drops helped me too.

Thank you, everyone. That's really good advice. I had not thought how dryness might impact on contact lens wearing.

I remember when I took it that it made my skin very Sun sensitive. I would be very careful starting it when you are going to be in the sunshine.

Also - I struggled with contact lenses so wore glasses more. Lips will be very dry . I tried everything . Carmex was the best. Yellow tube with red top.

Roaccutane was incredible. It remodeled my skin and got rid of all the scarring even things like my tb vaccination and chicken pox scars.

My DD found she had very dry lips and inside her nose. On the plus side- her hair was totally non greasy so she didn't have to wash it so often. High factor suncream is essential or avoid going out in the sun. ( Her dermatology nurse was very strict about this.)

It's amazing stuff. DD suffered for years and at the age of 23 this was last resort. She took it for 6 months and a year later her skin is clear and the scars she had have pretty much gone.

I do not want to be overly negative, but my daughter took roaccutane for 6 months and it made her skin perfect, albeit dry. However, it can cause depression and rage. Or it did with my daughter. Some do not get this side effect. My advice would be for your DS to begin with this potent drug when you return from the short break. Just so that he is secure.

Thanks, @Truffles15. The monitoring of the mental health effects is so important. Currently, I have the pills hidden in a large saucepan (memo to self). I hope we can hold off til we return!

I didn't get any side effects other than dry lips (lanolips was amazing for that).

My skin literally improved from day one. I suffered from cystic acne and never got another one after I began the tablets.

I believe you're more likely to suffer from side effects that you're already more susceptible to. So if your DC has no problems with mental health now, chances are it won't affect him in that way. That's what I was told anyway.

I hope it works for him, it changed my life - best thing I ever did.

Thank you everyone for excellent advice. Pulls to be started on return to UK; eye drops, moisturiser, SPF all in readiness.

A friend of mine is a dermatologist and describes Roaccutane as really life changing for so many patients.

Careful monitoring is key.

Absolutely no alcohol is one of the demands he makes of patients and contraception/abstinence.

He believes it has been a miracle drug and his patients over the years have agreed.

The dry lips are a killer though.

My second sons friend was on it and the difference it made to his 18 year old skin over 12 months, has been extraordinary

He was asked to keep a journal of his feelings/emotions every day while on it.

Best of luck.

My DD (18) is on it and the impact has been incredible. Like PP the main side effect has been dry lips and inside of nose (she uses aquaphor on her lips and carries it at all times). She doesn't need to wash her hair as often. One side effect for her has been body aches. She also thinks it's affected her motivation levels but TBH it's difficult to know whether that's really accutane or just being a teenager who needs lots of sleep.

Thank you. DS will start this coming weekend on it and the dull skies are going to be a plus (ie not much sun). The doctor has given him a mood sheet to fill in carefully.

I so hope it works well for him -- it is heartening to read of so many good experiences.

I suffered with acne until I was 40 and the NHS were absolutely crap and kept wanting to put me on antibiotics which didn't work and I didn't want. I finally said 'enough' and went private and got roaccutane. So it's wonderful your son has got it quite young. In the first few days the only side effect I had, which is of course v common, was the dryness (to the extent that my skin was itchy and sore). The worst side effects for me didn't develop until a couple of weeks in, and that was the aching joints. They were so bad that I had to do stairs one at a time and sort of sideways . . . . which meant that at work and with friends and family everyone was asking why I was suddenly moving about like a woman twice my age.

Ps. For me it has been a 70/80% cure. I'm sitting here with two annoying zits at the moment. The only other person I know who has been on it had to have two tries as after the first course of treatment she had clear skin for a couple of years and then acne came back with a vengeance. So it's not a miracle cure for everyone but it's been by far and away the most successful treatment for me and I wish I'd had it 20 years ago. Good luck to your son!

Thanks,@wingsandstrings, for your info. I am glad the drug has been good for you. Here, DS has been on roaccutane now for a fortnight and it's been remarkable to see how it's working. His skin is really clearing. So far, he hasn't reported dry eyes and aches, though I wonder if he's more tired than before he started the course. Tomorrow, he moves onto a pill twice a day so we might see different symptoms emerging. Mood-wise he seems fine, but it seems that his appetite has decreased. Watching both mood and food like a hawk here.

Sod's law means that an NHS appointment at dermatology has come through for the end of the month. This means that we are in a quandary re whether to swap over to NHS care or not. The hospital tells me that the consultant would have to make their own assessment so no continuity of drug regime is guaranteed.

Thank for, posters, for your experiences and advice. It's been so useful.

Watch out for ankle pain. I got terrible ankle pain. Might be more of an issue for a sporty boy.

@NewDogOwner -- thanks! I'll check with DS. Haven't heard this one before.