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Thread: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

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    Featured Member Mindy Bares All's Avatar
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    Default Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    Anyone had any experience with Accutane or its generic siblings? Cost with and without insurance? How do you afford it without? Side effects affect work? Before and after pics?

    I'm seriously considering it, but I think I need some ecouragement. I know there are a lot of girls on here with acne, but I'm surprised that so few have posted anything about it- using accutane that is. One would think if you could afford it, you'd use it.
    Quote Originally Posted by lagirl View Post
    Those housewives need to stop being vain lushes and making us look like criminals

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    Senior Member cocoabuttasaki's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    Hey Girly,

    I was talking to a nurse at work the other day and I do believe this is the acne medication we were discussing. Anyways, she said something about it being so strong that woman using it need to a get a monthly pregnancy test because if pregnant they will HAVE to get an abortion cause this stuff is so strong, she also said people are on suicide watch when using this medication.

    Anyways, Ive used lots of acne medication but the stuff that worked for me was Cetaphil Face Wash and also my doctor prescribed me with some benzol peroxide lotion which dried my face and when I stopped using it my skin peeled off and my face was clear of all those scars and stuff I use to have.

    Good Luck,

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    God/dess J.D.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    Quote Originally Posted by cocoabuttasaki View Post
    Hey Girly,

    I was talking to a nurse at work the other day and I do believe this is the acne medication we were discussing. Anyways, she said something about it being so strong that woman using it need to a get a monthly pregnancy test because if pregnant they will HAVE to get an abortion cause this stuff is so strong, she also said people are on suicide watch when using this medication.

    Anyways, Ive used lots of acne medication but the stuff that worked for me was Cetaphil Face Wash and also my doctor prescribed me with some benzol peroxide lotion which dried my face and when I stopped using it my skin peeled off and my face was clear of all those scars and stuff I use to have.

    Good Luck,
    Yeah, that's true, but it WORKS! VERY WELL! your skin will look like porcelain, you won't even need makeup!

    I WISH a doctor would prescribe me Accutane, but my skin is not bad enough. I HIGHLY recommend it! It basically shuts off your oil glands, so you have no pores, no greasy face, no acne, just perfect skin.
    Quote Originally Posted by AznExtasy View Post
    LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    You can say that again.. not just on here but men in general. Guys are so damn lame, the only way they can halfway make up for it is by opening their wallets.

    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Tools

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    Featured Member Mindy Bares All's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    ^^^ JD are you kidding me, your skin already looks flawless! (Or is that makeup?)

    My doctor thinks my skin is bad enough that I need it. And I know about the birth control stuff and all of the regulations- I got the book/pamphlet. That's actually why I'm on bc now- not that I really need it for its original purposes...
    Quote Originally Posted by lagirl View Post
    Those housewives need to stop being vain lushes and making us look like criminals

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    God/dess carmen_b's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    I did it. Worth every penny. Spent 2k for medicine and doctor / testing over 6 months.

    Unfortunately ........ I had a terrible FIRST dermatologist before I fired him ( which in my early 20's .... I didn't know to do ). He finally put me on it after dicking me around and then PULLED me when I was exhibiting mental problems ( which the BIRTH CONTROL he put me on caused .... not the accutane ) .

    Anyway ........ I can answer any questions. I highly recommend doing this. I have a little bit of scarring on my left cheek from my first doc not doing a good job and it makes me FURIOUS when I see it ( can't see it low light / can at noon day light ) . I'm looking into getting the scars lazered or surgically fixed. My point is to DO IT before you have any scarring and same yourself the additional money.

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    Featured Member Mindy Bares All's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    Thanks. Though, I already have the scarring. I should've done it back in high school. I'm hoping that if I do the accutane, and it works, that maybe I get the fraxel laser done for the scars, after.

    Where you on Roche's Accutane, or a generic kind?
    Quote Originally Posted by lagirl View Post
    Those housewives need to stop being vain lushes and making us look like criminals

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    Moderator charlie61's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    Ladies, TRY SPIRONOLACTONE FIRST!!

    It's a blood pressure medication that has a side effect of lowering the hormone that causes acne. I seriously can't live without the stuff.

    I was considering accutane, but my acne wasn't bad enough. It just got annoying around my periods. I did a shit ton of research and asked my doctor about spironolactone.

    It's been a life-saver.

    PM me or request on this thread if you want more information. It's like $80/3 months for the generic brand if you have no insurance. I pay $20 for mine.

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    Moderator charlie61's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    I'm also on Trinessa (generic Ortho-tricyclene-lo)--definitely helps acne.

    There's some statistic that with the combination of birth control and spironolactone, upwards of 80% of women see a drastic improvement in their skin.

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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    If you think it is worth the possible side effects then go for it. I say this as a person who has/had really bad skin for 10 years and I'm pretty fed up with it. I cut out unnatural sugar from my diet and that has helped a ton.

    My sister was on it and she gets really hot easily now, especially when she works out. I'm pretty sure my friend, who is 23, has osteoporosis because of it. Despite using supplements and having a healthy diet. I'm not really sure how else that can be prevented. It would affect my work if that happened.

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    Featured Member nicole84's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    the only problem with spironolactone is that the hormone it helps block, testosterone, also is involved in your sex drive. it can kill your sex drive. to me, that makes it not worth it, lol

    im a seasonale (brand, not generic. the generic didnt have the same effect on my skin), which has a hormone in it that does a similar thing but not to a high enough degree to cause the low sex drive. I don't want to know what my skin would look like without it! its been a miracle for me.

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    Moderator charlie61's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    ^ Yeah, I guess some people have experienced that.

    For me though, spironolactone has upped my sex drive because I feel sexier. The most un-sexy thing to me was always my acne. So the hormonal trade-off might be made up for in self-esteem.

    After I mentioned it in another thread, another chick (Laurcon?) on this site started taking Spironolactone and hasn't mentioned anything about sex drive problems. So it might be a risk worth taking.

    And I'm pretty sure it blocks androgens.

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    Featured Member Mindy Bares All's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    ^^^^ Well, for me, I'm on Yaz. It's helped A TON. BUUTTTT. I break out all the time. Not just specifically on/around my period. I could justify spiro if it was just around my period and such, but it's all the time. Curse you, bad genetics.
    Quote Originally Posted by lagirl View Post
    Those housewives need to stop being vain lushes and making us look like criminals

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    Moderator charlie61's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mindy Bares All View Post
    ^^^^ Well, for me, I'm on Yaz. It's helped A TON. BUUTTTT. I break out all the time. Not just specifically on/around my period. I could justify spiro if it was just around my period and such, but it's all the time. Curse you, bad genetics.
    Have you gotten tested for consistently abnormal hormone levels? Cuz spironolactone would probably help with that too...

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    Featured Member Mindy Bares All's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    ^^^No. But I never really thought about it before. But that does make a lot of sense if Yaz (controls hormones) is helping...

    Where would one go to get tested? My gyno?
    Quote Originally Posted by lagirl View Post
    Those housewives need to stop being vain lushes and making us look like criminals

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    Moderator charlie61's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    ^ A doctor would probably be sufficient. A gyno if you're more comfortable. Pretty sure it's a simple blood test. It'd be a good thing to know!

    Either way, I'm pretty sure that spironolactone would help some. Definitely not on the level of Accutane, but...it's been hella nice for me.

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    Featured Member Mindy Bares All's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    ^ Thanks, I will definitely look into that.

    And I'm glad you've had such successes with spiro.
    Quote Originally Posted by lagirl View Post
    Those housewives need to stop being vain lushes and making us look like criminals

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    God/dess 4everresolutions's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    I've been on Accutane twice, and I still had acne afterwards. It doesn't always work. I think it really depends on the type of acne you have - mine is hormonal, and I after years and years and trying all different brands I've found a birth control that works to help control my acne; however I still have breakouts and my face is never what I could call 'clear'.

    I'd like to try Spiro, eventually. But just so the OP is aware, Accutane isn't the be-all-end-all.



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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    I am one of the girls here that Charlie got onto Spiro... OMG how many times can I say thanks Charlie!!!

    Four months ago I seriously thought I'd never be able to leave the house again without makeup. Now I do it everyday at Uni! Woo hoo! No makeup at all! I still get a random pimple here and there but nothing compared to the constant breakouts from before. I haven't noticed a decrease in my sex drive, Im not moody like I am on the pill, I even look skinnier (which I think is due to diuretic properties). The only one thing I can fault it on is occasional (maybe once a week) lightheadedness and irregular periods. But my period was irregular before so that part doesn't bother me too much. On spiro I get a period every 2 weeks but time its very light and lasts only a day or two and then the following one is more like a real period. Before I had no clue when my period was coming sometimes it was 6 weeks then 2, then 4. It was all over the shop. Now they are close together but at least I know its coming and how long its going to last. The pill with spiro fixes that I believe, but I hate the birth control pill now so I stay away from it.

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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    I was on Spironolactone for years and it cleared up my acne beautifully. However, I was unhappy because my sex drive was absolute ZERO the whole time I was on it.

    I finally found a derm who was willing to prescribe Accutane. So many docs won't, at least in my experience. I had to go on two rounds of it to stick.

    It's been 8 years since my last round of Accutane and my skin is still clear and beautiful. I recommend it highly. Just follow your doctor's orders to the letter while you're on it and DON'T GET PREGNANT and you'll be fine.

    Take care of yourself, and if it's what you really want to do, do it. It's well worth it, IMO! For those of us with moderate to severe intractable acne, it's the only long-term solution. Believe me, I know, and I tried EVERYTHING. Acne is no longer the bane of my existence.

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    God/dess Vyanka's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    If you decide to go on Accutane, go on www.acne.org There's a lot of good tips on there.

    I did it, & happy I did.

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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    ^ I'm an another person for whom accutane did NOT work, and I was on a fairly high dose. My skin was clear for while but in three or four months it came right back and it was not worth the side effects for me to do another round. As someone else said, it it not recommended for anyone with depression/ mental health issues and you cannot get pregnant because it causes birth defects, so you have to sign an agreement saying you'll use two forms of birth control while you're on it. Also, I had to have monthly blood tests to make sure my health was okay because it has some potential weird effects on your cholesterol levels (the prescription would not be renewed without the blood test.)

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    Featured Member Mindy Bares All's Avatar
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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    Well dang, that seems kind of scary for me. I mean, that it might not work. My mom didn't want me to do it for the longest time- still doesn't, and kept asking "what if it doesn't work?" to which my reply was "Mom, it works for EVERYONE- that's what the doctor said."

    Nice to see mother knows best?
    Quote Originally Posted by lagirl View Post
    Those housewives need to stop being vain lushes and making us look like criminals

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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    ^ Yeah, not to be annoyingly redundant here, but that's why I'd recommend trying Spiro first. Pretty much zero negative effects. True, your libido might go down a bit, but if it makes you unhappy, then you can just stop taking it. Accutane seems much more serious to me. And much more expensive!!

    http://www.acne.org/spironolactone-r...305/page1.html

    I don't mean to sound like a psychotic spiro representative, but that stuff has seriously changed my life.

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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    Accutane did NOT work for me and it cost a fortune. Spiro did wonders! I recommend Spiro.

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    Default Re: Accutane/ Isotretinoin?

    Mindy: I believe I was on the generic brand. I don't think it makes a difference. I think it depends on your acne too. I would get pea sized bumps that I could feel under my skin that would stay there for 2-3 weeks. My blemishes were not all that big ( but they ranged from tiny to those large painful pea sized ones ) . The reason I'm being so descriptive is that if you are getting those under the skin ones that area painful ( cystic ) , I can just tell you that all other medications ( including spiro ) didn't work to fix *my* skin. BUT .... after reading these other posters experiences with it ..... I may investigate spiro because I'm experiencing smaller breakouts now ( nothing like before accutane ) and the spiro might be a good way to maintain my skin.
    So .... I don't know ........ if you were my sister or good friend and you are getting those painful ones, I'd encourage you to do accutane since it does take 4 months or so to work. I'd hate to see you do something less effective , have that take 4-5 months, and THEN have to do accutane and not have good skin for 9 months!

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