• Accutane - Cures acne, can cause horrible death. Worth it?
    300 replies, posted
If it was dangerous, would they really recommend it? Also, I used Accutane for my acne, it did wonders. True, it has lots of side effects, but it was totally worth it.
Do eet.
Jesus friggin christ why would you risk your fucking brain swelling, getting disabled, going insane, ect, to get rid of goddamn acne?
I've used it and I don't recommend it. I had horrible acne all throughout high school, and it was bad enough for my dermatologist to suggest I use Accutane. Accutane will fuck you up like a motherfucker. It will also get rid of your acne for as long as you use it. It takes at least 4-5 months to see results and of course your acne will get worse before it gets better. The first three weeks your face will probably breakout pretty bad, but if you're at the point of needing Accutane it doesn't really matter. The side effects are pretty annoying, but I was so desperate I didn't care. I took 40mg in the morning and 60 at night everyday. When you take this shit you will definitely need to carry a chapstick 24/7 because it will do a number on your lips. They'll dry out like little pork cracklings and flake/bleed. You will have to moisturize every day no exceptions. In my experience it was my upper arms and chest that would flake and get dry, but not too noticeably. I also experienced really bad lower back pain. If I had been on my feet for awhile and wanted to lay down I had to ease myself into it or I'd hurt a lot. What made me eventually quit (I was on it for 6 months) was it made me super constipated. Constipated to the point where I would shit like only once every 4 days. When I did shit it was like passing a fucking mack truck out my ass. I've also heard that it can cause colitis and crones disease. Also the kicker here is that once you stop using it your acne will come back eventually. Mine did and I've recently been to a new dermatologist and finally gotten on a combo of clindamicin/klaron lotion and it's actually working. For the first time in like 5 years my face is completely clear. So basically don't do it, because Accuntane is a strong drug and will fuck you up. Also don't even bother if you're a girl. You have to go through an online trust program and update them on your progress like every month. It's because Accutane will make you have deformed flipper babies if you get pregnant. so yeah that's my rant [b]Edit:[/b] I forgot to mention that it supposedly may cause depression/suicide. IMHO I was depressed because of the acne not the medication and I never had any suicidal thoughts. Though my dermatologist had to warn me about it so... welp There are so so SO many side effects OP don't bother with it
[QUOTE=Rigged237;30461470]I've used it and I don't recommend it. I had horrible acne all throughout high school, and it was bad enough for my dermatologist to suggest I use Accutane. Accutane will fuck you up like a motherfucker. It will also get rid of your acne for as long as you use it. It takes at least 4-5 months to see results and of course your acne will get worse before it gets better. The first three weeks your face will probably breakout pretty bad, but if you're at the point of needing Accutane it doesn't really matter. The side effects are pretty annoying, but I was so desperate I didn't care. I took 40mg in the morning and 60 at night everyday. When you take this shit you will definitely need to carry a chapstick 24/7 because it will do a number on your lips. They'll dry out like little pork cracklings and flake/bleed. You will have to moisturize every day no exceptions. In my experience it was my upper arms and chest that would flake and get dry, but not too noticeably. I also experienced really bad lower back pain. If I had been on my feet for awhile and wanted to lay down I had to ease myself into it or I'd hurt a lot. What made me eventually quit (I was on it for 6 months) was it made me super constipated. Constipated to the point where I would shit like only once every 4 days. When I did shit it was like passing a fucking mack truck out my ass. I've also heard that it can cause colitis and crones disease. Also the kicker here is that once you stop using it your acne will come back eventually. Mine did and I've recently been to a new dermatologist and finally gotten on a combo of clindamicin/klaron lotion and it's actually working. For the first time in like 5 years my face is completely clear. So basically don't do it, because Accuntane is a strong drug and will fuck you up. Also don't even bother if you're a girl. You have to go through an online trust program and update them on your progress like every month. It's because Accutane will make you have deformed flipper babies if you get pregnant. so yeah that's my rant [b]Edit:[/b] I forgot to mention that it supposedly may cause depression/suicide. IMHO I was depressed because of the acne not the medication and I never had any suicidal thoughts. Though my dermatologist had to warn me about it so... welp There are so so SO many side effects OP don't bother with it[/QUOTE] yeah so take my advice to have a cleaner face and this guy's reasoning why you shouldn't use it and you're golden
Used it, worked fine. I've got no reactions except the dry lips. I would recommend it, it get rids of acne really good.
[QUOTE=chrishdman87;30459794]Sorry but you're an idiot if you take pills to cure acne. Acne = skin level Pills = goes through your digestive system, through your circulatory system, and to your brain. [/QUOTE] Your skin is an organ and like any other organ it can experience problems that medication is required to fix Some people have fucking terrible acne and need something like Accutane, it's just that most people don't
id chose death over severe acne
I took accutane for over 8months (2 4month periods or something like that). The only side effects I had was it dried my face and lips out quite a bit. All medication have some sort of side effects. Also protocol, I know people who have great hygiene and still get lots of acne.
I use alternative treatments. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_14jVhfv68[/media]
I've been on Roaccutane, a similar drug with a number of side effects, and I've been alright. I'm a bit moody and my lips are constantly requiring lip balm, but otherwise I'm fine, and my acne is clearing up. Ask a doctor dude.
[QUOTE=wtfomgbbq;30462388]I took accutane for over 8months (2 4month periods or something like that). The only side effects I had was it dried my face and lips out quite a bit. All medication have some sort of side effects. Also protocol, I know people who have great hygiene and still get lots of acne.[/QUOTE] Diet and emotional factors are big impacts too.
I have acne. I don't give a shit. No confidence issues there, other than I'm aware it doesn't help me look any more mature when interacting with adults.
I don't have any confidence issues, i just want it gone.
Stop being a little bitch. Go look at the side effects of paracetamol. All medications have those many side effects. If so teenager decides to kill himself during the studies, they will include suicidal tendencies as a side effects, just in case. Most of the times, its not even related. I took it for a fews months. The only side effects which I had, and most people have, is drying of the lips, a little increase in colesterol (basically the fat in your skin stays in your blood), and a very slight reduction in night vision. These effects go away one or two weeks after you stop the medication. I had horrible acne, and few months made my skin perfectly clear, and now I just do the normal washing etc. Oh, and of course: Go to fucking dermatologist. You shouldn't even consider taking it if you aren't being followed by one.
Like the guy above me said, go to a dermatologist, I had this friend who used a cream suggested by a girl in school, it fucked her face up.
[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;30460715]Jesus friggin christ why would you risk your fucking brain swelling, getting disabled, going insane, ect, to get rid of goddamn acne?[/QUOTE] because acne fucking blows
I USED to have bad acne, started smearing on benzoyl peroxide in ridiculous amounts (left my face white every night for weeks), and it started to clear up. Did that for a year or so, now all I have to do is wash my face morning/evening and I'm good to go.
[QUOTE=Dan2593;30369790]I'm not talking about one or two pimples on your chin. I'm talking acne. We're talking the shit that grows on your face at uncontrollable rates and fucks over your confidence to the stage you don't want to go outside or look in mirror. Most people suffer with Acne till they're in there Early or mid twenties. I'm 18, I'm not waiting around for this acne to just go. I'm not going through uni or even this summer with acne. I've dodged cameras and mirrors for too fucking long. Then I found Accutane. I've checked forum after forum. Yahoo Answer after Yahoo Answer. I even search about on Twitter. From what I can tell this shit is guranteed to clean up your acne in 3 weeks - 3 months. But it's a serious drug, it has these type of side effects. [b]Common Reactions to Accutane[/b] Pain and swelling of the lips Severe itching Alopecia (hair-thinning/hair-loss/baldness) Fragile and weaker skin Vision problems Decreased night vision (onset may be sudden) Conjunctivitis (pink eye) Contact lens intolerance Dry mucous membranes (dry nose, lungs, bladder, anus) Peeling skin on palms/soles Nail changes Nosebleeds Photosensitivity (sensitivity to light) Elevated triglycerides in the blood Elevated liver enzymes (indicating liver damage) Tinnitus (ringing in ears or buzzing in ears) Joint pain and muscle pain Back pain Depression [b]Serious Reactions to Accutane[/b] Depression Erectile dysfunction (difficulty in maintaining erection) :dong: Violent behavior/aggression Psychosis (seeing or hearing things that are not real) Suicidal ideation (rare) Suicide attempts Hearing impairment Pseudotumor cerebri (swelling pressure in the brain) Osteopenia/osteoporosis (loss in bone mass and strength/weak and fragile bones) Hepatotoxicity (liver damage) Anaphylaxis (rapid and deadly allergic reaction) Allergic vasculitis (inflammation and damage to blood vessels) Major birth defects Cataracts/corneal opacities (can cause a decrease in vision and lead to eventual blindness) Premature epiphyseal closure (short stature) Neutropenia (low white blood cell count, which makes the body vulnerable to bacterial and fungal infections) Agranulocytosis (a serious condition in which white blood cells decrease in number or disappear altogether) (rare) Rhabdomyolysis (potentially fatal disease that destroys skeletal muscle) (rare) Inflammatory bowel disease (inflammation of the intestine and resulting in abdominal cramping and persistent diarrhea) Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, an organ important in digestion) Vascular thrombosis (heart attack) Stroke Seizures So it could, in theory. Make me blind, disabled and deaf. It could turn me into a vegetable. :byodood: I've heard for the most part it just causes dry skin and some nose bleeds. This seems fine to me. I'm going to ask my doctor for a prescription when I see them at the end of the month. I've tried everything else, this is a last shot attempt. But I'm curious to hear what you guys think. Would you take this drug? Have you taken this drug? Am I a fucking idiot? [b]Don't forget to vote on the poll.[/b] You're opinion is [i]'important'[/i] to me. Ha, Yeah let's go with that.[/QUOTE] Dan dan dan, do you really want to get rid of acne and risk becoming death, blind, etc? Who cares about what is on your face, personality counts in how people judge you but I guess you go for what you want!
Starting accutane tomorrow. I hope for the best. Is the person above me being sarcastic?
[QUOTE=Protocol7;30462760]Diet and emotional factors are big impacts too.[/QUOTE] Both my doctor and dermatologist told me diet isn't a factor, and I believe them. I've had acne for years, and last summer especially I was on a bit health kick. Ate a lot of fruits and vegetables, no fast foods, no oily/greasy/fried foods, and definitely no chocolate. On top of that, I was essentially stress free. Yet, my acne was some of the worst it had been in a long time. I wash my face with soap a minimum of 2 times a day and don't touch it, but acne is there. A lot of you guys in this thread seem to think acne is some magical little dwarf that's afraid of soap and water, but for most of the people that are even thinking of meds like accutane, it's a medical condition, and should be treated as such.
If you're interested, the chance of getting these side effects is: [quote=NHS Choices]10% or Higher: [LIST] [*]abnormal laboratory test results [*]back pain [*]blood problems [*]dermatitis [*]dry eye - seek medical advice if you get dry eyes. You may need to use an eye drop or an eye ointment to stop your eyes from becoming dry while you are taking Roaccutane [*]dry skin - you should use a moisturising cream or ointment while you are taking Roaccutane [*]fragile skin - skin may be damaged more easily [*]high levels of lipids in the blood [*]inflammation and cracking of the skin of the lips or dry lips - you should use a lip balm while you are taking Roaccutane [*]irritation or inflammation of the eye or eyelid [*]itching [*]jointpain [*]musclepain or tenderness [*]skin exfoliation [*]skin rash or rashes [/LIST] 1% to 10%: [LIST] [*]dryness in the nose [*]headaches [*]high levels of cholesterol in the blood [*]increased blood sugar levels [*]inflammation of the nose and throat [*]nose bleed [*]proteinuria [*]blood in the urine [/LIST] 0.01% to 1%: [LIST] [*]allergic reactions - seek medical advice if you have an allergic reaction [*]anaphylactic reactions [*]hair loss [*]hypersensitivity reactions [*]skin hypersensitivity reactions [*]thoughts of committing suicide, behavioural problems or worsening of behavioural problems including: aggression, feeling anxious, mood changes, depression or psychosis or psychotic-like behaviour - you or your carer must seek medical advice if you become depressed or if your depression worsens [/LIST] 0.01% or Lower: [LIST] [*]arthritis [*]blood in diarrhoea - stop taking Roaccutane and seek immediate medical advice if you have blood in diarrhoea [*]blurred vision [*]bone problems [*]bronchospasm [*]cataracts [*]convulsions [*]diabetes [*]dry throat [*]eye or eyesight problems - seek medical advice if you have problems with your eyesight [*]facialerythema [*]feeling dizzy [*]feeling drowsy [*]gastrointestinal problems including inflammation or bleeding [*]general feeling of being unwell [*]hair overgrowth [*]hair problems [*]hearing problems [*]hoarse voice [*]infections including infections around the finger or toenails [*]inflammatory bowel disease [*]intolerance to contact lenses - if you usually wear contact lenses you may need to wear glasses instead of contact lenses while you are taking Roaccutane [*]kidney problems [*]liver problems [*]lowering of bone mineral density [*]lymphadenopathy [*]metabolic problems [*]nail problems [*]nausea [*]night vision reduced - this may occur suddenly [*]over-sensitivity or fear of light [*]pancreatitis - this may be fatal [*]photosensitivity skin reaction [*]premature epiphyseal closure [*]problems with colour vision [*]raised intracranial pressure - stop taking Roaccutane and seek immediate medical advice if you vomit [*]skin colour changes [*]skin problems such as erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis - seek medical advice if you develop any signs or symptoms of skin reactions while taking Roaccutane [*]sweating [*]tendon or ligament problems [*]vasculitis - this may occur with easy bruising of the skin or mucous membrane [*]worsening of acne [/LIST] [/quote][URL="http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineSideEffects.aspx?condition=Acne&medicine=roaccutane&preparation="]Source[/URL] I think people are overstating the risks here. I'm not advocating accutane for everyone will acne by a long shot, but if you have a serious case it does seem to outweigh the downsides.
Well it seems like everyone thinks "chance of" means "likely" in this thread. If you take Accutane, you can probably get melanoma. Is it likely? Hell no, and just because it's POSSIBLE doesn't mean it's LIKELY. Risk versus benefit.
If you're in the UK, you'll find it pretty hard to get this on prescription anyway. So here's a little bit of advice from someone who's been through all the hoops with a dermatologist on the way to getting this stuff. If you go to your local GP, they won't just give you this. They'll probably start you off on Doxycycline, which is an antibiotic. They'll probably give you a cream/gel with this too, probably Differin or something similar. This will also contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which are also available over the counter and just dry the skin out basically. They can also make your skin feel like it's burning, which is pretty irritating (no pun intended). You'll get stuck on that for and told to come back in 2-3 months. It can literally take that long to start having any effect, so it's pointless to go back to your GP within this time. If that didn't work, they'll try another similar treatment, maybe Tetracycline, rinse and repeat for this stuff, another 2-3 months at least. You'll go through several of these antibiotics, if they work, great, carry on taking them. If not, and if your skin hasn't improved enough for you to be happy, they'll refer to you a dermatologist. They will really spin you around on different antibiotics for a long time before they do this, for me it took around 18 months. When you get your referral, they make an appointment with the dermatologist for you (which depending how fucked your local hospital is, could be for maybe 4-6 weeks later than the date you booked it). Once you go to see them, they'll look at what you've had so far. Then they'll give you something a bit stronger. Nope, still not Accutane. Dermatologists are permitted to prescribe drugs that GPs aren't, so you'll get something off of their list, whatever they deem most appropriate. For me, that was Trimethoprin. This stuff should give you a tiny taste of what the side effects of Accutane can be like. For me, it caused very painful headaches, blurring of vision amongst other thing. Fun fact, they also use this medication to treat STIs, it's a bit of a blunt weapon really. Anyway, just like with your GP, you'll get stuck with this for a while, maybe 4 months this time. They might also give you another cream/gel (oh and by the way, which they give you depends how oily your skin is: I think for oily skin it's a cream and for dry skin it's a gel but that might be wrong, can't remember off hand). They also may give you a questionnaire, but more about this later. Lastly, they'll book you in for a blood test, because Trimethoprin can fuck with your blood cells and leave you with a very low blood count. Many of the other ones they can prescribe can have similar effects. Once you've used this for the 4 months or whatever, and you're still not happy, they MIGHT give you Accutane. It's not a case of "I want Accutane, give it me". It's up to your dermatologist, they decide whether you get it or not. On your first visit to the dermatologist, they'll might have given you a questionnaire. If they did, then they'll take this into consideration now. They ask questions that try to determine how much the acne is affecting your life. They do a bunch of statistical analysis on your responses to generate a percentage and a confidence level (whether they think you were bullshitting on the questionnaire or not). If they think your case is serious enough and affecting you enough to give you Accutane, then you'll get it as this point. However, you'll only get short courses of it, and you'll have to go back and see your dermatologist frequently. Lots more blood tests etc to check it's not fucking your body up. If they don't think it's affecting you enough, you'll get another cocktail of drugs and rinse and repeat until you're happy. They have lots of choose from, you'll be there for a while. Oh, and it's STRONGLY ADVISED you do not buy it off the internet. I'm aware that you can, and usually it will be the real deal, but they're not joking about the side effects and so it's really best that you're prescribed it so that they can keep an eye on your health and make sure it's not fucking you up inside. If you've any questions about this whole process feel free to ask, I've know quite a bit about it. Essentially, if you're actually going to get Accutane, it's probably going to take you at least 2 years for them to give it to you. Unless your local primary care trust is fucking lax, in which case you might find it easier, but this is just my experience. This stuff only applies in the UK, in the US they'll hand it out like candy. [editline]16th June 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Protocol7;30460197]I never understood how anyone can have more than a few zits unless you have terrible hygiene. So, there you go, OP. Clean up better, get a different kind of soap, something. Shower daily, wash your face before you go to sleep, place a fresh towel on your pillow every night and your acne will disappear in no time. Stay away from stressors and things that make you angry, that won't help acne. Also, don't touch your fucking face. I swear to God, don't do it. Your fingers are always greasy no matter how much you wash them.[/QUOTE] You could do all these things and still have acne. Some people are just genetically more likely to have it than others.
[QUOTE=Watevaman;30476760]Both my doctor and dermatologist told me diet isn't a factor, and I believe them. I've had acne for years, and last summer especially I was on a bit health kick. Ate a lot of fruits and vegetables, no fast foods, no oily/greasy/fried foods, and definitely no chocolate. On top of that, I was essentially stress free. Yet, my acne was some of the worst it had been in a long time. I wash my face with soap a minimum of 2 times a day and don't touch it, but acne is there. A lot of you guys in this thread seem to think acne is some magical little dwarf that's afraid of soap and water, but for most of the people that are even thinking of meds like accutane, it's a medical condition, and should be treated as such.[/QUOTE] This is true, diet and stress for the most part do not affect it. Hormones however, do affect it. People don't believe me when I tell them that masturbation can cause acne, but I tell you for a fact that this is true. It's really just common sense when you think about it. The reason teenagers almost always get some acne to an extent (even if it's just a couple of whiteheads) is because their bodies are constantly changing resulting in their hormone levels constantly being unstable. If adolescent acne is caused by hormones, and masturbation changes your hormonal level, then the link is just a no-brainer. That's why to anyone who has severe acne and masturbates constantly (even twice a week is damaging) needs to seriously consider cutting back/stopping completely if they're serious about getting clear. Masturbating multiple times a week will set your hormones completely off the charts, especially if you're a teenager, and can result in some serious acne developing under the surface of your skin, which is the worst kind you can get.
never take dangerous shit for cosmetics man. I definitely don't recommend it unless this acne is absolutely HORRENDOUS and painful. [editline]15th June 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=stepat201;30485343]This is true, diet and stress for the most part do not affect it. Hormones however, do affect it. People don't believe me when I tell them that masturbation can cause acne, but I tell you for a fact that this is true. It's really just common sense when you think about it. The reason teenagers almost always get some acne to an extent (even if it's just a couple of whiteheads) is because their bodies are constantly changing resulting in their hormone levels constantly being unstable. If adolescent acne is caused by hormones, and masturbation changes your hormonal level, then the link is just a no-brainer. That's why to anyone who has severe acne and masturbates constantly (even twice a week is damaging) needs to seriously consider cutting back/stopping completely if they're serious about getting clear. Masturbating multiple times a week will set your hormones completely off the charts, especially if you're a teenager, and can result in some serious acne developing under the surface of your skin, which is the worst kind you can get.[/QUOTE] out of personal experience this doesn't seem the case. just saying.
[QUOTE=Camundongo;30481555] I think people are overstating the risks here. I'm not advocating accutane for everyone will acne by a long shot, but if you have a serious case it does seem to outweigh the downsides.[/QUOTE] A 1 in 10 (or higher) chance of "blood problems" is quite serious, I don't think the risks are being overstated at all. [editline]15th June 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=stepat201;30485343]People don't believe me when I tell them that masturbation can cause acne, but I tell you for a fact that this is true. It's really just common sense when you think about it. The reason teenagers almost always get some acne to an extent (even if it's just a couple of whiteheads) is because their bodies are constantly changing resulting in their hormone levels constantly being unstable. If adolescent acne is caused by hormones, and masturbation changes your hormonal level, then the link is just a no-brainer.[/QUOTE] If the link was a no-brainer you'd be able to supply us with a scientific study that proves it, which you haven't, and which I doubt you can.
My dad, being an anesthesiologist, knows all about this kind of thing. He says 90% of those severe symptoms are utter BULLSHIT.
I have heard people who used it, and they said the side effects were worth it.
Look, You guys. I shouldn't be doing this since its against my etique. 99% of people have acne because they almost literially have shit on their face, If you would just quit being so lazy hobo you wouldn't soon find yourself crying over your hideous acne craters. Now lets go through some theory here before we take action: Zits don't come out of nowhere. Zits need certain conditions inorder to ruin your day from the start, THe certain conditions i am talking about is having a oily face. And this is where it all starts, With the oily face you'll have blackheads and bacteria. You see when you do your daily routine and all you get all kinds of bacteria to your face, Mainly by touching it. Most of the people with acne keep touching their faces without paying much attention to it. If you quit touching your face you're half way there. but you still got to take care of your personal hygiene. Accutane and other similiar products can help but i personally wouldn't take the risk for something that's this easy to solve. And now let's take some action: 1) Every fucking morning, wash your face with an actual product which is meant for oily skin. Never use cheap soap on your face no matter how hobo you are, You will regret it. 2) After this apply some moisturising cream on your face. 3) When you're going to sleep, Remember to wash your face. 4) To prevent using your pillow as a backup for all the shit you had in your face just put a fresh towel on it. Now about the blackheads, For a while you'll have to get rid of em manually but soon you'll notice that you no longer need to do this as often.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.