Anyone have any experience with Accutane?

Well, it looks like I've finally run out of other options. My dermatologist will start writing the scripts next month. I've talked to a few people about side effects, but I'm just curious about any experience anybody on here has had with taking it, either good or bad. Were there things you had to avoid (sun, alcohol, cold air, etc)? Did you have any side effects other than the skin-related ones? Specifically, did anyone's cholesterol get very high. Mine was borderline high a year ago, and I need to get it tested again within the month, so I'm a bit worried about that.

By the way, I'm 25, female, and I've had really bad acne since about age 11. I've been on most of the other usual suspects for prescription acne treatment, including 3 separate antibiotics, and a bunch of over-the-counter stuff too. None of it has worked.

Any insight anyone has would be much appreciated (especially from women who have also had adult acne.)

Thanks!

I'm 16. I was on accutane for 6 months. The only side effects I really got were dry skin and lips, perhaps some mild sensitivity to the sun. My cholesterol actually decreased when I was on accutane because I was so focused on healthy eating.

In regards to my skin, within 2 months it was cleared up and perfect. Beforehand I had painful cysts. It's been a year since I was on accutane and I only get the occasional pimple. The major problem now is scarring.

Accutane is really great. I didn't fret about the side effects when I was on it and I'd go on it again, should the need occur.

I was on accutane almost 6 years ago (I'm 22 now).  I had no idea why people used lotion until I went on it, and then I made liberal use of the stuff (body butter = awesome).  And definitely get your self some really good lip balm (I think I was using blistex ultra protection and the body shop hemp lip balm).  Though I could still peel off an entire layer of my lip at a time....

My skin was amazingly smooth by the time I finshed (six months) and I didn't even have to wash my hair every day.  Unfortunately those benifits faded, but now my skin is still much better that before.  It's a little oily and bumpy again but I don't get any more huge pimples, just a few small ones.  But I don't do much to try to get rid of those few pimples (just antibacterial face wash every night and face scrub with salicylic acid once or twice a week) so if I really tried, they may go away.  A couple of my cousins had to do two courses of accutane...it's a genetic thing.

I assume you're going to be having monthly blood tests like I did.  One month one of my liver enzymes can back slightly higher than usual.  My dermatologist said the difference was so small it was likely just a lab error but she still reduced my dosage for the last few months to be safe.   Other than that nothing horrible happened.

EDIT: I forgot to mention to be careful about getting cut/scraped/hitting things.  Your skin will be much more fragile, I have a couple little scars from scrapes I got when I was on accutane that I don't think would normally have scraped or scarred.

Thanks for the info!

I was on Accutane when it very first came out -- more than 20 years ago! At the time they didn't know much about the side effects, other than the fact that there could be serious birth defects should I have gotten pregnant while taking it.  I had really bad acne since I was a kid, especially on my chest and back (gross, I know) and to make it worse I would pick at it. Anyway, my experience was really good. I had super dry skin (the skin on my fingers cracked at first) but the acne went away -- permanently. I'm now 41 years old and people comment all the time about how great my skin looks.

My younger sister is 25 and she considered Accutane for her acne, but her doctor wouldn't prescribe it because at the time she was mildly depressed. Because her doctor had lost a patient who was depressed and was taking Accutane, and if I understood correctly one of the known side effects now can be increased depression in depression-prone people, the doctor didn't want my sister on Accutane. My sister eventually tried laser therapy which worked pretty well, but she still has breakouts whereas I don't.

My daughter took Accutane for 5 months a couple of years ago  (she was 21). She did experience the dry skin and stayed out of the sun like she was told to. It was like a miracle. Go for it, just be careful not to get pregnant.

I was on Accutane in the mid 90's. It didn't work for me at all! I had super dry skin and then when I stopped using it my zits came  back. However, I didn't have cystic acne to begin with - I think maybe that was the problem. Good luck!

I'm 19, was on that until about a year back, 9 months instead for the normal 6, only side effect was super, super dry lips. It's defiantly worth getting a good lip moisturiser balm, or else, much pain :( Blistex was also the only one I found that worked at all. No other side effects, to my knowledge. None of the depression/mood swings anyway, and none of the monthly blood tests showed anything abnormal.

Stayed away from alcohol when I was on it, not sure if you need to or not, but since I don't really drink anyway didn't really matter. Also it's worth staying out of bright sun as I burnt fair bad the few times I risked it. And yeah, as Tetra said, you might take longer to heal from cuts and stuff, hadn't occurred to me at the time, now I think about it it's true.

Anyway, good luck, and no worries! Tis ace having clear skin, well worth 6 months of it :)

Accutane was a life saver for me. I got adult onset acne when I was about 20 years old. It wasn't really bad but it was deep and painful and I worried about scarring. I went on Accutane for 6 months (maybe it was 5 I cannot remember) and my skin was PERFECT! My lips were dry as can be (I used so much vaseline to moisturize during those six months and wore no lipstick!)

This was about 13 years ago and my acne never came back.

My skin isn't still "perfect" as it was when I was on the drug, but I no longer EVER get nodular acne and if I do get a blemish it is gone in a day. However I do have super dry skin now and haven't worn lipstick since I went on Accutane as my lips are still partially dry.

Make sure to stay out of the sun. You can get severely burned (I did unfortunately). And Accutane causes severe birth defects so do not get pregnant under any circumstances.

Even so, it is so worth it, never to have to worry again!

Accutane was a life saver for me. I got adult onset acne when I was about 20 years old. It wasn't really bad but it was deep and painful and I worried about scarring. I went on Accutane for 6 months (maybe it was 5 I cannot remember) and my skin was PERFECT! My lips were dry as can be (I used so much vaseline to moisturize during those six months and wore no lipstick!)

This was about 13 years ago and my acne never came back.

My skin isn't still "perfect" as it was when I was on the drug, but I no longer EVER get nodular acne and if I do get a blemish it is gone in a day. However I do have super dry skin now and haven't worn lipstick since I went on Accutane as my lips are still partially dry.

Make sure to stay out of the sun. You can get severely burned (I did unfortunately). And Accutane causes severe birth defects so do not get pregnant under any circumstances until you are finished taking it.

Even so, it is so worth it, never to have to worry again!

Hey NYC Girl. Like some of the other people in this thread, Accutane worked out really well for me.

I was on 80mg/day for 6 months back in late 2004. I graduated college in 2001. I really wish I had started on Accutane earlier.

The side effects sucked, but the clearer skin really boosted my confidence within the first month.

My Accutane Journal might help you. I spent a lot of time writing about my experience.

Just be sure to stay out of the sun, drink lots of water, and use all sorts of moisturizing skin/eye/scalp/hair products.

Since my last pill in late 2004, I've been 99.9% clear. It was well worth the money and side effects.

Good luck!
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Paul Michaels
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Acne Treatment Journal