Accutane

[Snowysmom]

My older DS was on Accutane and it worked wonders for him. We were very hesitant to let him take it but after going through various levels of antibiotics and having no effect, he really wanted to go on it. We researched it, he had friends who had been on it so we did not just rush into it. His face and back are now clear. He did have the dry lips and skin so he used chapstick and moisturizer. He has been off Accutane for about 6 months now and his skin and lips are back to normal.

 

[Forevryoung]

I have had acne on my face and back since I was 12 or so but I have an extensive psychiatric history as well. I have tried many different things and nothing has worked long term (and I dont have much patience when things dont work). My parents have always run away from dermatologists who suggest Accutane. Their fear has remained with me even though I am well above the age to make medical decisions for myself.

Now that I am "older" (21), it is better but my face is never clear. Part of me wants to take the Accutane but part of me is extremely cautious. I mentioned it to my parents once and they suggested I really consider the side effects. Maybe I should talk to my doctors again

 

[RAZ24]

DS18 was on it. DD15 just finished a couple of months ago. It did wonders for both. Our derm took almost a year of trying different meds before putting them on. Dry lips was a problem for my children. DD was on BC along with it.

Christine

 

[liamsaunt]

I took accutane. I developed acne in fourth grade, and it got worse as the years went on. It wasn't just on my face, it was on my back, my chest, my upper arms, even on my ears! I started seeing a dematologist in eighth grade.

Years of pretty much everything else didn't work, I tried retin-a, tetracycline(allergic!), some other cream that I can't recall the name of...finally, my freshman year in college I went on accutane. I had to have blood drawn each month to prove I was not pregnant before they'd fill the script (though the only way I could have been pregnant was via immaculate conception, lol).

It took two six-month courses of accutane to clear up my acne. I had a flare up again about a year later which subsided with a three-month course.

I did not experience the joint pain or anxiety that others have mentioned. I did have terribly chapped lips--they would almost cave in completely if I forgot my blistex, extreme sensitivity to the sun, both in my skin and my eyes. The biggest thing that happened is my hair really thinned out. A lot of it came back but I still have thin hair.

For me, it was worth it. Acne impacts people socially in ways that people that have never suffered from it cannot realize. Once my acne cleared up I was much more social, made more firiends, and was more outgoing and comfortable with myself.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[tiff13]

Thank you for all your responses.