accutane/isotretinoin experience

half way through month two on 20mg/day so far minimal side effects and breaking out more but nothing that bad! what's your experience with it?

My experience has been really good, I’m currently on 30 mg for two months and I haven’t had any side affects (yet?) and my spots are the clearest they’ve ever been!

I’ve had numerous courses over the years.with the first course I had 90mg a day! The old regime was based on your weight. More recently I’ve done 20mg a day which works just as well, but you need to take it for longer. The first course worked really well and stopped the severe problems I was having, but within 6 months I started to get the odd spot here and there, so I’ve dipped into additional maintenance courses every few years to keep on top of it

Ah good to hear! How long did it take for you to start clearing up?

wow 90mg how did you find the side effects?

Very sore lips and very dry face. I had some bad cysts that just cleared up though - it’s amazing stuff. The 20mg a day regime is the way to do it. I haven’t seen a dermatologist for years, I just source my own supply

how do you get your own, just on the internet? is that hard?
Ive been on 20mg for almost 2 months now but hoping to get the dose increased soon. Any recommendations for moisturisers or anything like that?

I have my dermatology appointment this week after being referred by my GP and hoping to get put on accutane. So I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with the drug but also with doing it on the NHS?Ive read that some people would have to go back to the derm for monthly blood tests and pregnancy tests and I'm wondering if that's still what is done. Just as I'm hoping to go travelling for over a month but slightly worried they won't prescribe more than a months worth at a time!Any advice regarding side effects would be appreciated. Also if you experienced a bad initial breakout which I've read happens to a lot of people in the first weeks/months. I would say my acne is mild to moderate. However I've already tried the creams and pills give by my GP which haven't worked and this will be the second time going to the dermatologist. the last time I was given doxycycline and differin gel which also haven't really helped and Ive been using those for well over a year now.

My acne was classed as very severe acne and going on roaccutane was the best thing I ever did! I had to have a pregnancy test every month and I had to have a blood test before going on the tablets and for the first 2 months of being on them and the 6th month (my last). After the 6 months of medication, the scarring clears within another 6 (mine took about 8) and this is my 10th month being off them and I only have a tiny bit of scarring! Honestly, they’re the best! There are mixed reviews and everyone’s different but the only things that I had problems with were nose bleeds and extremely dry and cracked lips but it all pays off in the end!

Do you remember what dose you were on?

Yes Im having monthly blood tests which i don't really care about any more. So far skin is a little drier and getting nose bleeds but nothing bad... I'm only on 20 mg a day though so wasn't expecting too bad side effects.

About to finish month 2 and skin is the worst it has been in a while, hoping it'll get better soon but still staying positive. Seeing lots of positives outcomes like yours makes me hopeful!

I was on 60mg, couldn’t go any higher because of my weight. My skin was awful the first 3 months - never felt that insecure! But now my scarring is just about healed, I couldn’t be happier! As you go up in dosage the side effects get a tiny bit worse but doctors do all they can to make sure you don’t get any serious complications!

Yes with my weight I think the max I can go is 50/60 can't remember. Doesn't seem like they'll put me that high anyway the NHS seem really hesitant to do so, apparently because they had complaints with doing too high doses previously?

My acne has never been that bad but now its basically the worst its ever been (though just concentrated in an area) and I had thought this stage would've come a lot earlier and that coming into month 3 I'd be a lot clearer. I suppose that comes with the lower dose everything is happening a bit later. the two months have gone pretty quick so hopefully the next will and in a further two months my skin should be looking a lot better!