WAY O/T...Accutane??

[haircrazee]

Hi all, wondering if anyone on the board has been on Accutane before? I am currently on month 3 and was worried about sun exposure in Orlando 1st of March.(I'll still be on it)..Also anyone have trouble losing weight while on it?
I gained 10 lbs since I started it and I go to the gym religiously and watch what I eat, but can't lose weight?? I'm getting very frustrated! Anyone have any info I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[happycamper83]

I was on it for 6 months.

I was not on it while at Disney, so I can't really comment from experience re: sun exposure.. but I did find I was not in the sun as much as I expected at Disney, between many attractions being indoors, lots of shade available if you wanted it, etc.

I never had a weight issue while on it, so I can't help there either. I probably wouldn't worry about it too much.. sounds like you've been doing everything you can that's within your control and I'd expect you'll lose the weight again once you're off the drugs.

 

[momlady]

Make sure you wear a high SPF sunscreen, wear it religiously and re-apply often. Wear a hat too, and lip balm with SPF in it. Your lips may suffer the most in the sun!

Re: weight gain, can't really comment on that but could you be retaining water with this med?

 

[maggieb9975]

One of my DD's was on it and was advised to be VERY careful of the sun...especially lips as hers were constantly chapped without the sun!
Re weight gain...did you have to go on birth control with the accutane because of the high risk of birth defects? My DD did even tho she wasn't sexually active( I hope). Her dermatologist said he wouldn't put anyone on accutane without birth control.....

Perhaps that could be causing the weight gain?

 

[haircrazee]

Thanks for the replies everyone..No I'm not on birth control pills as my tubes are tied / hubby is also "fixed" and have no plans on getting preggos again..lol.
I have never seen this happen before to me. I also quit smoking last May and some are saying it's that, but I highly doubt me not able to lose is that..(though some of my weight gain I can say was due to quitting, as In total I gained 30 lbs).
My body just won't let go of this weight, my belly is swollen, actually I have added 5 inches to my waist since starting Accutane...which tells me it must be alot of swelling now that I think of it..I always had small waist to hip ratio and now it's only a few inches difference, and my body just isn't made like that. Huummm something isn't adding up, anyways have an appt with Dermo Tuesday, hope she can clears things up for me a bit..
and thanks all for advice on sun...hoping I'm not as sensitive as some though.
My hubby says I look like the Joker cause the corners of my lips are so cracked and red...lol..(hoping that clears up a bit by the time we leave)

Thanks everyone, will keep posted on weight.

 

[happycamper83]

Oh.. I completely forgot:

My lip lifesaver while on Accutane was Carmex click sitck lip chap. I tried everything and anything... this was the BEST. Look for the ugly yellow and red package.

 

[haircrazee]

Will try that thanks a bunch...everything I've tried so far hasn't done the trick, though, Blistex of all things has been the best by far, even 100% better than the Avene stuff I was talked into buying...15.00 later!!!!

 

[haircrazee]

happyCamper thanks so much for the Carmex info...I got one yesterday( not the stick one but the squeeze one) and after about an hour, it took off all my dry skin at corners of my mouth!! And it looked soo much better. Nothing like walking around looking like ya have two matching cold sores on the corners of your mouth!! Ugh..

Anyways, Derm says the weight retention has nothing to do with Accutane, if anything the opposite would happen..anyhow, not too impressed with her right now, I'm thinking with such an increase in weight and not being able to lose it, maybe she should have sent me for tests to see if it's anything else..
My waist circum went up 5 "!!! Was 28 now 33" in 4 months! And I'm not even shaped that was, I've always been an hourglass figure, and now I'm more apple...impossible!! I have an appt with my Family phys next week, hopefully get some answers from her. crossing fingers.
Thanks everyone!

 

[Csaks]

Man this brings back memories. I was on this stuff 25 yrs ago for a bad case of acne and this was a last ditch effort on the Doctors part to help me out. I don't remember alot but I do remember the serious chapped lipps. I still have a problem to this day, every coat and vehicle has a tube in it . I hate needles but had to go every week to have blood drawn while on it. I remember every night I was able to 'peel a layer of my face' off but in the end it was all worth it. I don't remember the weight thing but I was just a teenager that could eat vase quantities of junk and not gain a thing, unlike today.

 

[haircrazee]

Csaks, I'm hearing and reading alot about people being able to almost literally peel skin off..this hasn't happened to me, only really bad rashes over my arms and hands.
This too is my last hope..I've been on absolutely everyting possible to help Acne, but nothing has helped. One topical solution helped a bit, but where it's on my back, it's sort of hard to reach all areas, and to think I'd have to put this on the rest of my life to keep my acne at bay doesn't sound that ap"peal"ing...also bleaches everyting it touches...Clyndoxil or someting..

 

[Csaks]

Csaks, I'm hearing and reading alot about people being able to almost literally peel skin off..this hasn't happened to me, only really bad rashes over my arms and hands.
This too is my last hope..I've been on absolutely everyting possible to help Acne, but nothing has helped. One topical solution helped a bit, but where it's on my back, it's sort of hard to reach all areas, and to think I'd have to put this on the rest of my life to keep my acne at bay doesn't sound that ap"peal"ing...also bleaches everyting it touches...Clyndoxil or someting..

My case was brutal, mostly on the face still have the scars. I was on every lotion and potion on the market and nothing worked. Until accutane I thought I was doomed forever. I don't know what's in the stuff but it worked for me. Before that I was on something that started with a 'T', they said it would do the job, NOT.

It was so long ago I can't remember all the side effects but the rash rings a bell. I used to grouse out my mom and peel a layer of skin off, it was like a really bad sunburn peel every night. My limited understanding was it basically dried you out from the inside and I'm guessing the amount of the drug you are on decides whether you get to the skin peeling stage. They had me on a hefty dose for a few months. I don't know the reason for the weekly blood tests but I assume it was to keep an eye on something. As for the sun just use a good sunscreen and have fun.

In the long run it was all worth the peeling, being dried out and the chapped lipps, all cleared up from then till now.

 

[Kaitlyn08]

I was on Accutane for 6 months, and I kept my face from becoming too dry by using Cetaphil (face wash and moisturizer). This is the only product that ever worked for me (Accutane, I mean), and I had SEVERE acne for years prior.

In terms of sun exposure, I found that I had to use lotion with a high SPF (even in winter).

As for weight gain, I didn't have an issue (I actually lost quite a bit of weight), but you should get blood work done. I had to do this regularly throughout my time on Accutane (if I remember correctly, it has some sort of impact on your cholesterol, so you have to be really careful).

 

[justjulie]

My son was on two rounds of Accutane. Take the sun advisory very seriously. He used the highest he could get - I think his dermatologist recommended La Roche Posay as his preference - pricey but worth it. Also watch your nose and tops of your ears - thin skin and very sensitive to burning.

Apply and reapply while in the sun - take no chances. His biggest complaint was the raw lips. He never used the Carmex but I hear it has crushed aspirin in it that acts as a painkiller too ... The best skin moisturizer we found was Aquaphor by Lucerne.