Has anyone taken Accutane? Long term effects?

gimmefeedback · #1 03-05-2007, 07:11 PM

After fighting acne now for around 7 years (I'm 26), I'm still breaking out pretty regularly, and am sick an tired of it.

I've always had what's considered "moderate" or maybe even "mild" acne, but it's enough to make me feel like it's ruining my life. When breakouts are bad I hate going out in public, and pretty much will never approach a female.

Dermatologists have never prescribed it to me because my case wasn't 'severe' enough (you have to take blood tests every month, etc). I'm not worried about the depression issue, only about long term health effects.

So, questions are as follows:
- if you have taken it, how were your results? did you relapse?
- if you did have symptoms, how serious were they?

I'm most interested in hearing from people that took it years ago, and may or may not be seeing problems now.

Another thought - since I'm already 26, I imagine I probably won't have this for too much longer. It does get slightly more mild each year. Had I known it would last this long I would have gone on accutane years ago. Is it even worth it to do it now? Just wait it out?

Help!

guids · #2 03-05-2007, 07:15 PM

I never took accutane, a friend of mine did, and he had some bad sad effects, depression, super dry skin, etc. Im guessing if you just developed a routine with some salyic acid based face wash, an astrigent, adn some vitamen E (not necassary), after a week or two you should clear up. Just make sure to do it everyday. I had acne when I was younger, and will still get a zit or two if I go too long without using the products above.

Homer · #3 03-05-2007, 07:15 PM

I took it 9-10 years ago. I'm fine now. Maybe I would have been anyway, though.

Nicholasp27 · #4 03-05-2007, 07:16 PM

long-term accutane users have a higher rate of hair thinning/loss than normal...

i took it years ago for several years, but luckily i was bad about taking my medicine, so didn't get it consistently in my body, but it still worked great

i'd be hesitant to take it daily for a long time, tho

i took it off/on from 96-2000 i'd say

no side effects then or now, except dry lips then

bluef0x · #5 03-05-2007, 07:18 PM

[ QUOTE ]
long-term accutane users have a higher rate of hair thinning/loss than normal...

i took it years ago for several years, but luckily i was bad about taking my medicine, so didn't get it consistently in my body, but it still worked great

i'd be hesitant to take it daily for a long time, tho

i took it off/on from 96-2000 i'd say

no side effects then or now, except dry lips then

[/ QUOTE ]

Wouldn't daily for 6 months be less harmful than "on/off" for 4 years?

gimmefeedback · #6 03-05-2007, 07:21 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I never took accutane, a friend of mine did, and he had some bad sad effects, depression, super dry skin, etc. Im guessing if you just developed a routine with some salyic acid based face wash, an astrigent, adn some vitamen E (not necassary), after a week or two you should clear up. Just make sure to do it everyday. I had acne when I was younger, and will still get a zit or two if I go too long without using the products above.

[/ QUOTE ]

I pretty regularly use benzoyl peroxide (generic version of proactiv), and it hasn't helped much. I honestly don't use much else than that though, because my skin gets so dry that I feel like more face washes will only make it worse. I'm pretty sure these products have made no difference at all.

guids · #7 03-05-2007, 07:23 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I never took accutane, a friend of mine did, and he had some bad sad effects, depression, super dry skin, etc. Im guessing if you just developed a routine with some salyic acid based face wash, an astrigent, adn some vitamen E (not necassary), after a week or two you should clear up. Just make sure to do it everyday. I had acne when I was younger, and will still get a zit or two if I go too long without using the products above.

[/ QUOTE ]

I pretty regularly use benzoyl peroxide (generic version of proactiv), and it hasn't helped much. I honestly don't use much else than that though, because my skin gets so dry that I feel like more face washes will only make it worse. I'm pretty sure these products have made no difference at all.

[/ QUOTE ]

You need to keep using it, thats why I suggest the vitamin E, it will restore some of the moisture, but not the oil. Make sure you have something in it with salicylic acid.

DrewDevil · #8 03-05-2007, 07:25 PM

I took it for 5 months when I was a junior in high school. The side effects while I was taking it were pretty severe... dry, cracked bleeding lips, super-dry skin, thinning hair.

But after I stopped taking it, that all stopped (all my hair grew back), and I've had no long term effects.

It worked wonders on my acne, too. I had it bad and it basically cured me. I have an occasional zit now and that's it.

CharlieDontSurf · #9 03-05-2007, 07:32 PM

i took it three times....never get zits.

1st time was in high school n i was lazy n took it seriously for like a month then forgot about it.

took it again freshman year in college for the full 3 months or whatever...acne went away for good till like i turned 22 then started getting it again...took it once more...never had acne since.

have always had off/on depression problems but it runs in my family etc so whatever...I'd rather be somewhat depressed with no acne then not depressed with acne.

lippy · #10 03-05-2007, 07:49 PM

My brother took it and it worked wonders. He was literally crippled socially, as he is shy to begin with, by his acne. I really think the drug changed his life.

He didn't have any major side effects other than dry skin. He was always putting lotion on.