Accutane

[The Prodigy]

I want to take Accutane in my offseason and wanted to see who has had experience on it. Can I take it while I am on a cycle or is that to hard on my liver? Did anyone get good or bad results from it? How much should I start taking and for how long? Thanks so much all!

[thestone40]

Prodigy, I believe Accutane is a great drug with many potential side effects. Some have tried everything to rid themselves of acne with no success and call it a "miracle drug". My opinion is IF you have regular labs and are on some form of B.C. AND you have exhausted other treatments, it's worth the six months of dry, cracked lips and other potential sides. You will have clear skin and addicted to chap stick.

[tight booty]

I think you have to avoid the sun too while taking it. I have known somebody who took it and it cleared up their really bad acne...you wouldn't even know they had acne years later. I think there is a waiting period too before you can get pregnant after taking it. Honestly, if I had bad acne I would go on it after seeing the results of others who have taken it! Acne causes scarring and that is so hard to get rid of!

[tammyp]

i debated for a long time abouttaking it. the sides kept me away. i found some blogs of people that used it and it was scary. i finally found doxycycline and benzaclin worked and still works awesome.

[fitbody]

i took it many many yrs ago not for long
my lips cracked thatz about it besides clearing my skin up
actually one of my girls is trying to get a script right now
her doctor declined and is sending her to a dermatologist
i'll keep you up to date if she experiences any sides

[The Prodigy]

Thanks everyone! Can you share with me how many mg you started on? What was your "cycle" like on it?

[5150]

I'd start with a low dose (40mg/day split into two doses). Some docs will throw people on 60mg/day and 80mg/day depending on the severity of their acne but I feel (from personal experience) starting at a low dose is better. I'm 3 weeks into 40mg/day right now and my back is cleared up A LOT, Chest is drying out but still has very bad cystic acne on it, Face is clear as can be and the only sides I am having are dry/chapped lips. I keep Chap stik and facial lotion with me at all times and use Head & shoulders shampoo to combat the dandruff (haven't had any yet but did when I was younger and on accutane).

Obviously we are all different and will react differently to these drugs but if you have any more questions feel free to ask. I was on Accutane at 60mg/day and 80mg/day when I was 14-16ish and now on 40mg/day at 25yrs of age. I'm quite familiar with the sides at all dosing levels so ask away.... Hope that helps. Take care.

[daywalker72]

It works. Made me feel like shit though. cracked lips, aching joints, and no energy

[The Prodigy]

For those of you who have taken it....how long were you on it before you began to see an improvement in your skin...less breakouts, etc......

[Jeepgcboy97]

For those of you who have taken it....how long were you on it before you began to see an improvement in your skin...less breakouts, etc......

i believe the overal duration of using accutane was 6 months. for me, the acne got worse before it got better (which i was told by the dr that would happen). the first few weeks were the worst, acne got worse and skin was dry. after those few weeks, skin still felt dry but the acne was going away daily. i never felt depressed or anything from this product. my whole family has used it and loves it.

i havent used accutane since then, only because i dont need it anymore. i get the rare pimple here and there but never an outbreak.

[Jello]

20mg per day is said to be 90% as effective as the typical 100mg per day that was being prescribed. Most doctors will start you at that now and have you get regular blood work.

Have you tried other/safer medications for acne. Doxycycline is a popular one that has low sides. You may want to look into that before using Accutane.

[The Prodigy]

Yes I have tried every oral and topical on the market! Been battling acne for years!

[Jello]

Well Accutane will most likely help you but make sure you are using some kind of liver protectant. My personal favorite is Synthergine.

[Curt James]

Yes I have tried every oral and topical on the market! Been battling acne for years!

Then Accutane is the drug for you.

I'll echo the comments about staying out of the sun, avoiding pregnancy, being monitored through regular blood tests, etc. and add that Accutane absolutely destroyed my terrible cystic acne.

Like you, I suffered from acne for years and my dermatologist threw literally every possible combination of drugs at the problem without success.

Fortunately, I worked at a printing plant/bindery which specialized in medical literature and periodicals. The one job was a brochure for the drug.

I saw the miraculous before and after images, snagged a brochure, and presented it to my dermatologist.

He agreed that it was worth a shot. I didn't take the entire prescription as the sides were incredible.

I remember the skin on my forearms cracking, every ounce of oil seemed to dry up in short order, and I had spot alopecia (makes no difference today, but at the time the bald spot was alarming ), but it WORKED!

While I still have oily skin (that returned after I discontinued use of the drug) I've never encountered the horror of painful cystic acne after having used Accutane.

Be cautious of the sides, follow the directions, start with a low dose, expect with great confidence... A MIRACLE.

[The Prodigy]

I will be going thru a dermo and have already signed the IPledge agreement. Waiting til after the summer to start so I can enjoy the sun! I have heard that in the long run this is the best road for me to take. I worry about long term fertility issues though.