Accutane is considered the most advanced and powerful form of treatment for acne to date. It is highly effective in controlling and healing severe acne especially the ones that leave scars and ugly spots on the face. Accutane is a derivative of Vitamin A and comes in the form of a pill. Accutane treatment lasts for a period of four to five months. Along with its treatment benefits, side effects of accutane treatment can also be identified.
Accutane is a strong acne medication that works from inside out by shrinking the skin’s oil glands. The results can turn out dramatically for people with severe cases of acne. Within a few weeks of accutane treatment, breakouts can stop. More often, this positive result can turn out to be long term and even permanent.
These positive effects of accutane treatment are considered breakthrough in the management of hard to treat and stubborn acne, especially the ones that are recurrent and hard to control. Doctors usually prescribe accutane to patients with moderate to severe cases of acne to effectively manage the inflammation and reduce spread of infection.
Accutane has known side effects which usually make patients think twice before trying it out. Because it is a powerful drug, its side effects can also be severe and numerous. Most common complaint of patients under accutane treatment is joint pain. Some activities may be limited to some patients because their joints and bone conditions cannot return to their pre-accutane state. Chronic joint inflammation can also be observed in some patients limiting a lot of physical activities such as sports.
The effects of accutane treatment are not limited to the joints. Some patients complain of feeling dried out during the course of the treatment. Chapped and dry lips which may persist long after accutane treatment had stopped is also a side effect. Some may even continue to apply lip balms to moisturize their lips years after having accutane treatment. Other patients also complain about having dry eyes accompanied by strange grainy sensation.
These are the positive and negative effects of accutane treatment. Whether to try it or not depends on you. It is always best to consult a dermatologist or doctor if you are considering accutane treatment for moderate to severe acne problems.
Hey guys
some info to share.I have been on roaccutane for 10 weeks and have discovered that the only thing that works for my dry lips is Blistex DCT. In case you were going crazy …worked fro me ,it could work for you !
If you are on Accutane, use Aquaphor by Eucerin. Trust me it will be your best friend not only on your lips, but where your skin is over dried.
Vhiteszi you’re absolutely right, Aquaphor is amazing, my doctor gave me like 7 sample sized ones, its really good
Ive been on accutane for a month Im getting worse hopefully clears up soon but I use for my lips this lotion Walgreens Pharmacist made its wonderful aka Happy Harrys my lips were bleeding and had cuts the next day no more peeling its good stuff you should try it.
what about fatigue, and depression?
will i feel tired alot and not what to do stuff with my friends, and will i be emotional and will i have spaze attacks :p?
Lip Balm iz your best friend when on this. I took accutane when I was 16(I’m 31 now) and I ran through blistex like a fiend. Even to this day I have to use it. That medicine iz harsh but it werks. I rarely get breakout, even 15 years later
I have been on accutane twice over the course of 10 years. 3 years after second treatment my cystic acne flared up again. I decided to try a holistic approach and bought a reference manual by Bastyr university, covering vitamin/mineral solutions for myriad problems A-Z. That was 9 years ago and my acne is cured.
Natasha – if you are feeling depressed, please tell your dr. While not common, severe depression can be a side effect and worsen over time. please tell your dr. and if he advises to quit taking, consider Bastyr as it worked for me! Good luck.
I have been wanting to go on accutane, but I am 34 right now and I would like to have children soon. Has anyone had children around my age after getting on accutane and has there been any problems?
You’ll have no problems having children after taking Accutane as long as you wait at least 1 month (before trying to conceive) after being on the treatment because the medicine stays in your system that long. Some wait longer.
I’d like to share my experience on isotretinoin. I didn’t take Accutane; I took a generic form called “Claravis”. It has the exact same ingredients, side effects, and results as Accutane but it’s a fraction of the price. I was prescribed it by my dermatologist who explained to me that Accutane was the only isotretinoin for a long time and their company held all rights to the ingredients used. I believe he said after 20 years that company had to release it to the public and now other companies are using the same ingredients but for a cheaper price (don’t quote me look that up first!).
Another tip for saving money is when you receive your 30 day dose, of 60mg daily, request a 45 day supply which is in which they give you 40mg pills where you take one 40mg pill the first day and the following day you take two. Of course it only works if you’re taking 60mg. I had an emergency come up that delayed my next appointment so this came in handy. Also if you can’t schedule an appt before you run out, don’t worry! The medication is fully active in your system for up to a month just don’t wait that long to reschedule.
Lastly, I know there are a lot of possible side effects, and everyone is different. I was lucky because my only side effects were dry skin, chapped lips and a rash on my arm (from extreme cold weather). I recommend the same Aquaphor by Eucerin and “Pond” for extra dry skin they both work like a charm. I didn’t have any suicidal thoughts or tendencies, in fact I was prescribed YAZ birth control as my primary form and learned that after dealing with the side effects of the first two months it was well worth using. In my 23 years of living I’ve had no handle on my emotions, suicide, depression, are rooted deep in both sides of my family. My feelings of hopelessness, spasms of anger, crying spells, depression, and horrible cramps during my already irregular period went away after taking YAZ. My hormones are more balanced than they’ve ever been. I found out I was suffering from PMDD. I started taking YAZ two months before beginning my Claravis treatment therefore it wasn’t the result of having an acne-free face and body. My experience was a very pleasant one on Claravis, even if I didn’t see results until the last two months. It’s a product worth your time if you’re willing to eat a little better and follow your dosage. So whatever you do decide I hope it works for you! Good luck!
I was on accutane about 6 years ago and still deal with the side effects day to day. I would recommend anything other than accutane. While on the meds i could see dead skin fall from my face as the wind would blow. My lips cracked and split. i went mental on friends and family members out of no where. And currently diagnosed as bipolar manic depressive. I’m 23 now and still have moderate acne. At the time all i wanted was clear skin like all the other kids. I threw caution to the wind. In retrospect, it was the worst decision i’ve ever made. If you do decide to use accutane, exercise extreme caution.
im doing a research paper on the severe side effects of accutane. If anyone would like to help with any info or let me conduct an online interview please let me know. email address uplamb@yahoo.com
Jennifer is absolutly right about Claravis. I just got on it this week after getting a very bad breakout with cystic acne. The last time it was this bad was when I was in high school and that was 21 years ago. My derm wrote a prescription for Isotretinoin (Accutane) and I went to get it filled and the Pharmacy clerk said to me I hope you have insurance because this cost $900. At this point I was about to say it’s not worth it but then they told me they could not get it. I then went to Walgreens who indicated ‘Claravis” was the same drug in a generic form. With my insurance I was able to get a 30 day supply for $10. This is my first two days on it so I will monitor my emotions and see what happens.
I was on Accutane a few years ago. My only real side effects were chapped lips and moderately dry skin (nothing that lip balm or lotion can’t cure). As far as other crazy side effects, it’s reported that less than 5% of people will ever experience anything drastic (depression, chronic joint pain, liver damage, etc). The result was worth it and I would recommend the product to anyone with severe acne problems.
I have just started Claravis 6 days ago. I suffered from cystic acne over 15 years and finally have had enough. Yes, I am well aware of the side effects but having acne that is painful and which distorts my appearance was enough to make me suicidal. So far, i see a difference in my pores becoming smaller and white heads surfacing and then exfoliating. I am eating fatty meals when I take the medicine to decrease GI side effects. I have taken antibiotics for many years and had to deal with yeast infections constantly. I have had dry lips so far and I am attempting to keep well hydrated. I am never excited about taking any medications so taking a med that has so many side effects took much consideration. I am going to stay active and eat well during the rest of my therapy. Good Luck to the rest of you and thank you to those who have shared their experiences.
This is my first day I’ve taken accutane, and I’m monotoring my moods. I have sebacious hyperplasia of the nose which I had for sometime and did’n even know I what it was until this past December, so I’m praying taht this work. Nothing welse will work for my sebasious hyperplasia and I don’t want an imperfect nose forever, so I’m trusting God that this will work with little side effects.
meds affect different people in different ways, i contribute accutane to blurring my vision, i still get breakouts but definitly not as bad, if it was cured it would of been worth it, glasses aren’t that bad but oh well
I used accutane when I was 15. My acne was out of control. I had it on my face shoulders chest and back. I had tried everything and nothing worked. So my dermatologist put me on accutane. For me it worked miracles. I’m 21 now and I have not had a single spot of acne since taking accutane. It was literally the only thing that ever helped me.
I was on rhoacutane about 6 years ago, for a strong and long (8 months) dose. Had blood work done for my liver every two weeks (due to the drugs toxicity) after about 3 months my skin became dry, as well as my lips. These were the only side effects i experienced, even with my high dose! and all very manageable with moisturizer and lip balm. I never experienced mental symptoms, or joint ache.
It worked wonders for my cystic and severe face/shoulders/back acne and only now… 6 years later is my skin returning to bad acne breakouts (uncontrollable with normal skin products, herbal supplements etc) Im going to be setting up a dermo appointment in the coming week to see what is recommended, im hoping to get another prescription of acutane, as i saw nothing but positives after a few months. Sure i still have dry lips to this day, but Blistex twice a day and i dont have to worry about it.
Just thought id share my story
Ive been on Claravis for almost a month. 30mg a day. my skins already clearing up a ton.. im still getting a few zits but nothing like it was.No weird side effects aside from dry skin. i put Vaseline on my face and lips and i don’t have to put chap stick on the whole day. i tried everything else. topicals and antibiotics. if you’ve tried everything don’t let the side effects scare you away. im 19 btw. good luck
I Really want to try accutane all i want is clear skin, should i go for it?
This stuff works for sure. But has nasty side effects. I got depressed and had suicidal thoughts. If i wasn’t such a mentally strong person as i am, i would be dead now. sad but true. but that rarely happens i heard. and it was also combined with the pain of the acne(back and chest acne). But it stopped the acne and was totally worth it. i was left with a LOT of nasty scars on back and chest, and my doctor said that removal of scars in the areas they were located was difficult as the skin was very thin and the scars might turn even worse. If anyone have any experience on this please post something underneath. I am willing to go anywhere in the world to get rid of my scars.
now almost two years later the acne is coming back slightly, but not nearly as severe as before the treatment.
for all you out there with acne, KEEP YOUR FINGERS AWAY! you touching and squeezing makes it much worse and leaves nasty scars. hygiene is also an important factor in the process. keep your skin clean if you want to minimize the aftermath.
Do NOT use Accutane/Claravis! Yes, my son’s acne cleared up significantly, but after 3 months on the meds he became violently ill with extreme abdominal cramping and uncontrolled vomiting. After many doctor visits and CT scans he was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. This is one of the side affects that we were not aware of. He now has Remicade infusions every two months at a cost of $5000 and this will be needed for a lifetime! Pill medications were tried but they did not work. So now his acne has returned AND he has a chronic disease brought on by the Claravis use. He has been hospitalized twice in the last two months due to the illness. Do NOT use this drug.
Thank youç Guyy, for sharing your experience. ? hope it will help me a lot.
Best regards !
I am just about into my third month of taking accutane. I am a senior in high school and have had acne since the 4th grade. I have tried literally EVERYTHING for my acne: proactiv 2x, every form of neutrogena, skin id, clearisil, cetaphil, sea breeze, olay, 6 different dermotologists, oracea (oral pill), and i could go on. Nothing worked. I had never heard of accutane before but it was my last resort for hopes of ever having clear skin. I dont have so much “cystic” acne, but deep under the skin acne. My skin is also oily, and extremely sensitive and scars easily. I have changed make up brands probably a million times. Blistex is definitely a good lip balm, and nivea origional lotion for the face is great too. i swim a lot so i use aquaphor at night and it works wonders! I still get flaky spots on my face, especially around my mouth. and i went through a phase of having to use a nose spray. mentally i feel fine, however physically i have recently started feeling lower back pain and joint pain, but its livable. girls that are on, or thinking about taking accutane, do not use powder make up! it makes you super flaky and its embarrassing when people say something in school! i use almay liquid foundation for dry skin, and almay concealer if i need to. anything hypoallergenic is good. just make sure you keep your skin hydrated and stay on top of it because once you start to get dry its hard to go back to hydrated skin! also drink a ton of water that helped balance my flakyness out a lot. i have a feeling i went through my “flare phase” while on accutane. i can see the under the skin acne clearing up so its definitely working:) i know there is a lot of what seems negative things that come with accutane, but hey you get perfect skin:) dont lose hope on the pill if you dont see results immediately, everyone is different with how the pill will work with them, just think about the end results and you will get through it:)
When all the other medications failed, accutane DIDN’T! It was the only medication that cleared up my skin and along with that my mental depression from having cystic acne as well as the physical discomfort from feeling the deep down boils on your face. Yes i remember the chapped lips and even a bloody nose in the night (dried out inner nose) but none of those side effects compare in the least to having cystic acne! I AM FOR ACCUTANE 100% A MIRACLE DRUG!
hey i just wanted everyone to know, that i had posted on here back in february, when i still had acne. i am on my last month of accutane and i officially have no more acne. the results are amazing and my confidence has never been higher!!