Teenage Acne

[Disneyglobegirl]

Have any of you that used Accutane in the past had your bone density checked?

I would be curious to know what the results of that test was as well as how much and how long you took Accutane.

Recently an acquaintance stated that her son refused to take Accutane as the doctor told him that he would have to quit hockey while taking it due to the increased potential of muscle and bone injury. This, to me, is more of a problem side effect than short term depression and something that I would highly encourage anyone to look into before thinking of taking this medication.

I personally do not like meds in general anyway... but this stuff just really worries me.

Actually I think it is a good thing that people are concerned and ask questions and read up on all the info out there about a drug such as Accutane. Accutane as well as any other drug has to list every warning that they are aware of on the product info. Where as most of the side effects that are listed are slim to none that a person will ever experience it but it good to have all the facts before starting any new medication prescription or over the counter.

No I have not had a bone denisty test done. I have always taken extra calcium before and after accutane. I will ask my derm about this though as I have an appt next week for my yearly mole check. I was never worried about this as I only took one course for 5 months at a pretty low dose. I've read the disclaimer that after multiple courses accutane could cause some problems with bone density in some people but as with every type of drug, vitamins and herbal products there is a chance you could be that one person that has a negitive effect even with over the counter items.

I know that accutane can cause some joint and muscle pain in some people and that is why most doctors will recommend no heavy exercise - I also read that fish and flax oil can help relieve that joint pain and I made sure to take fish oil while I was on accutane and I never experienced any type of joint or muscle pain plus I still worked out daily with no problems at all. I still continue to take fish oil daily - it does so many good things for a person's health

Accutane is not something someone should just go into blindly without knowing anything about it. I did my research and it took me a long time before deciding to try it and I am glad I did. For most of the people that have taken Accutane it is their last resort after trying many many things that do not work. Accutane is a powerful medicine and that is why it is important to have your monthly blood work done and dr visits to monitor how it is working and if there are any side effects. I have read on some acne messages boards about some people taking very high doses of Vit A and/or Vit B trying to cure themselves under no Dr supervision - that is what I would consider dangerous and very harmful. There are many out there that just want to get rid of their acne that they are willing to try anything and everything that they read on the message boards. At least with Accutane or other meds from a dermatologist a person is under a Dr's care. If my children suffer from cystic acne and nothing helps I will let them go on Accutane if they want. I've been on it as well as my SIL, my aunt and cousin and we all had success with no side effects from it other then dry lips and skin. I would not hesitate to use it again if I had too.

 

[jopatjopat]

I took accutane about 8 years ago when I was in my 20's and so wished I had in high school. I never thought about the bone density issue, but will be discussing my my doctor as last year we discovered my bone density is at a horrible level for a person in their early 30's. My doctor ran many tests to see if they could determine why, but never found anything. I have always had plenty of calcium in my diet so now we are just monitoring it, but I am wondering if it is a result from the medication...

 

[cajunpeach]

I had mild acne (enough to be a bother me but not my entire face) I kept it all through my life and I'm 36. I saw several Derms and not one gave me anything to completely get rid of it. I finally saw a new derm about something completely unrelated and she saw on my chart that I was being treated for acne and asked me how I was doing with it. I told her not so good, it's always a struggle. She advised me to take Spironolactone. It's primarily used as a diuretic but it has other uses. She suggested that my acne may be hormonal and I should give it a try. When I went to the pharmacy, the pharmacist had never heard of it as an acne treatment and argued with me about it. I told him, I trusted my doctor, call her if you want but give me that prescription!!!! Well, let me tell you what. It cleared my skin right up!!!!!!!!!!! It was a miracle!!!!! It even helped control my overly oily face, even though the Dr. said there was nothing to help all of my oil. Talk to your Derm and see if you can give it a try. It helped me when nothing else could and I tried almost everything for 20 yrs!!!! I took 2 pills in the am & 2 in the pm and after it was clear for a while, weaned down to 1 a day for maintenance. Good luck

 

[RichNKatHolly]

I had mild acne (enough to be a bother me but not my entire face) I kept it all through my life and I'm 36. I saw several Derms and not one gave me anything to completely get rid of it. I finally saw a new derm about something completely unrelated and she saw on my chart that I was being treated for acne and asked me how I was doing with it. I told her not so good, it's always a struggle. She advised me to take Spironolactone. It's primarily used as a diuretic but it has other uses. She suggested that my acne may be hormonal and I should give it a try. When I went to the pharmacy, the pharmacist had never heard of it as an acne treatment and argued with me about it. I told him, I trusted my doctor, call her if you want but give me that prescription!!!! Well, let me tell you what. It cleared my skin right up!!!!!!!!!!! It was a miracle!!!!! It even helped control my overly oily face, even though the Dr. said there was nothing to help all of my oil. Talk to your Derm and see if you can give it a try. It helped me when nothing else could and I tried almost everything for 20 yrs!!!! I took 2 pills in the am & 2 in the pm and after it was clear for a while, weaned down to 1 a day for maintenance. Good luck

My new derm also gave me this for my adult monthly breakouts. Worked great and other than having to pee alot, no side effects. I don't know that this will work for cystic acne though.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

I had mild acne (enough to be a bother me but not my entire face) I kept it all through my life and I'm 36. I saw several Derms and not one gave me anything to completely get rid of it. I finally saw a new derm about something completely unrelated and she saw on my chart that I was being treated for acne and asked me how I was doing with it. I told her not so good, it's always a struggle. She advised me to take Spironolactone. It's primarily used as a diuretic but it has other uses. She suggested that my acne may be hormonal and I should give it a try. When I went to the pharmacy, the pharmacist had never heard of it as an acne treatment and argued with me about it. I told him, I trusted my doctor, call her if you want but give me that prescription!!!! Well, let me tell you what. It cleared my skin right up!!!!!!!!!!! It was a miracle!!!!! It even helped control my overly oily face, even though the Dr. said there was nothing to help all of my oil. Talk to your Derm and see if you can give it a try. It helped me when nothing else could and I tried almost everything for 20 yrs!!!! I took 2 pills in the am & 2 in the pm and after it was clear for a while, weaned down to 1 a day for maintenance. Good luck

That is wonderful that it worked for you Spironolactone is starting to get more popular as an acne treatment for women. I also tried this before using accutane and unfortunately it did not work for me but it has worked well for a friend of mine. I definately recommend someone trying Spiro before trying accutane. I think the only effect that you need to watch for with Spiro is too much Potassium - I was told to stay away from extra potassium while on it. Plus it is a diuretic so it can help get rid of a couple pounds - that is always a good thing - lol but I remember having to go to the bathroom alot

 

[daisy1234]

I was on Accutane my soph year of college it works great for Cystic acne...there really is no other option. Regular pimples can be cleared with the other stuff. HOWEVER....I had some not so good side effects....Which I attributed to my dads passing 8 months prior...I remember looking in the mirror in college and thinking that I was the ugliest girl in the world and I cried all the time. At the time I was an RA in the dorms and I was always happy go lucky and all of a sudden people would come up to me and ask..."are you ok?" It was really weird for me....Here I was supposed to be helping people on my floor and people were questioning if I was ok....So I wen to the conseling center and we all thought it was the blues from my dad dying. Of course I didn't share the crying and the ugly girl info....so I went to a group therepy. anyway...no thoughts of suicide but looking back I was not all there...As soon as I got off the pill and the Accutane...I remember feelingso euphoric and at the time I thought it was the pill making my feel crazy. Years later I see Accutane i the news ....teens being depressed,phycotic, suicidal etc... so scary...I was off at college on this drug which probably made my blues true depression! I tell you it was an awful feeling and I really believed all those irrational thoughts. Anyway...just wanted to share my experience. Also...keep in mind my dad passed within that year so maybe I was a little depressed...obviously...and teh drug made it worse????? Who knows....Now would I put my own child on this...well...it would have to be a risk benefit analysis and also a very last option...I would try everythink first and also never put my child on this if I even thought he/she may have any kind of depression issues...because even as your acne clears this med can and did change me mentally! Also I would monitor my child very closely! As far as depression issues...I have never had any since...But I really worried about pp depression because of this past experience and prepared dh just in case...nope never had any issues with that! Ok...I'll stop ranting! Good lucjk with your decision!

 

[cajunpeach]

That is wonderful that it worked for you Spironolactone is starting to get more popular as an acne treatment for women. I also tried this before using accutane and unfortunately it did not work for me but it has worked well for a friend of mine. I definately recommend someone trying Spiro before trying accutane. I think the only effect that you need to watch for with Spiro is too much Potassium - I was told to stay away from extra potassium while on it. Plus it is a diuretic so it can help get rid of a couple pounds - that is always a good thing - lol but I remember having to go to the bathroom alot

I have worse than worse luck, no weight loss me

I had some cystic and it got rid of it too, took a little longer but there gone. The Dr. gave me a topical for it. I think it was called clymican (sp?).