Correction: should be: If so, what have you experienced?

accutane was a piece of cake compared to getting more cysts on my face ... only side effects were dry skin (which for me was like heaven) and chappyed lips. I got a little achey from time to time as well. Just keep chap stick with you and you'll be good

Hi, I was on Accutane way back when I was 15 years old LOL...I'm 33 now. Accutane was my miracle drug! I experienced the sun sensitivity, chapped lips, and very dry skin. To me it was WELL worth getting rid of all the cysts!!! I've considered taking another round of it once when I had some cysts show up out of no where, but I took some minocycline and it took care of that flare....so I keep that on hand now.

SoarinEagle: What is "minocycline?" About accutane, I haven't used it but I've heard it's risky for women who want to have kids later. Also, I've heard it can cause severe depression (even suicidal thoughts). True?

SoarinEagle: What is "minocycline?" About accutane, I haven't used it but I've heard it's risky for women who want to have kids later. Also, I've heard it can cause severe depression (even suicidal thoughts). True?

~Minocycline is an antibiotic.
The risks with Accutane and pregnacy are severe defects while ON the medication. That's why it is so regulated by the government now, and the paper trails and such the dr's have to go thru to prescribed are set in place for this reason. There are no effects on child birth after it is out of your system. I didn't have my children until I was 24, I did not have any problems nor do I have any problems now. But I took Accutane in my teen years, I was 15.
They do say it causes depression...that it has been liked to suicide in teenage boys primarily. I however never experienced anything but JOY b/c it made the cystic acne go away!! Never had one thought of depression or suicide while on the meds or after. Hope that helped answer your questions.

Oh my goodness. I used it for 6 months as a teenager. I used to 'come to' at the foot of my bed, holding my head and screaming for the pain in my skull. Only 1% of all users at that time had migranes. I soaked in hot baths. Messaged. Converted pain points... I had to stop taking it. I still suffer head aches today, 23 years later, that I believe are worse than they should be due to the accutane. If you suffer head aches. STOP IMEDIATELY AND CALL YOUR DOCTOR. DON'T LET AN ANSWERING MACHINE GET THE CALL, KEEP CALLING TILL YOU TICK SOME ONE OFF ENOUGH TO CALL THE DOC!
Thank you for your consideration...
-Atty

Its great! Wish I had of used it ealier! No flair ups since. Drink heaps of water and only go onto it gradually I think that helps prevent side effects.

Hey! I just recently started Accutane. I was really scared about it too. I'm still in my first month, and I've actually seen some improvement already. My skin is looking better already! It is dry, and I use Cetaphil moisturizer for it. My lips are also dry and peeling, but I'm also hoping I don't get any worse side effects. I've talked to a lot of people that have had great success with it though! I'm hoping for the same. :)

I was on it for 2 months but I had to stop because it made me really depressed and gave me bloody noses. It's worked great for a lot of people, though, so I would still give it shot if you want to.

i read so much about accutane and im at the point where i am willing to consider anything! i read all these success stories and it makes me want to give it a try but then i hear about those people who have had bad side affects and still do. the side effects vary with everyone i wish i knew how id react. for people who had dry skin and lips, on a scale of 1 to 10(10 being worst) how dry were your lips and skin? and was it managable with moisturizers?? im just a little hesitant to try it, also i hear it can be very expensive?

The only side effects I can really think of are dry skin and dry lips... thats all ive been experiencing

I've been on tane for over two months. Today it was so warm and sunny, I got a sunburn! My skin, lips especially and eyes are dry. I use Eucerin night lotion during both night and day (plus SPF outside) and natural lip moisturizer. At first, my body was tired and achy but I think I'm getting used to the medicine. About two weeks after I started taking 40mg (my full dose is 60mg) I noticed a rash starting on my hands so kept applying a natural first aid cream and lotion to keep my hands from drying out. At times, I can be irritable. I had a very hard time deciding to start taking accutane but I am so glad I am on the road to recovery!
Accutane can cause severe birth defects so don't get pregnant while on it and for at least a month after finishing.
There are cases of people who took accutane and got depressed and/or had suicidal thoughts but I am happier and more hopeful! You must tell your doctor if you or a family member have "mental problems, asthma, liver disease, diabetes, heart disease, bone loss or weak bones, anorexia, food or medicine allergies."
In general I occasionally get bad headaches but have had no problem with them. If you have a negative effect, you can always stop taking it. Sorry about your pain Atty!
I also suggest gradually working up to you full dose.
leafs- The dryness is definitely manageable with good moisturizers, just apply as needed. I notice the dry dead skin mostly in the shower. I wash with gentle soap then moisturize right away. This way skin never feels too dry. My lips are worse. Sometimes they feel sore so I continuously apply a natural salve made of beeswax and essential oils.
It is very expensive. Hopefully you have good insurance. There are monthly doctors visits, the medicine is outrageous, and you need monthly blood tests but in my opinion it is worth it!

I am on my first month of accutane and very verrrry pleased. it's already improving. the cysts that pop up are way smaller and disappear in half the time. honestly, being a month into it, i'd be happy if THIS was all the improvement i'd see! i was a little scared, but i think it's because they make it such a big deal to get. basically, don't get knocked up! take with food. lotions. mineral oil works wonders guys! lots of lip balm. definitely reccommend trying because i know how this acne affects your self esteem and depression. ugh! try it!

Accutane saved my life! I suffered SEVERE acne for 17 YEARS of my life! I can't even tell you how many different things I tried to clear up my skin. From traditional methods, to alternative methods. Some things offered a small improvement, but would only work for a short amount of time before it seemed my skin would adapt to its powers and it would stop working (as was the case with both ProActive and Murad).

At age 30 in desperation I went to yet another new dermatologist and she immediately told me that she wanted to put me on Accutane. She said "Accutane is the biggest gun we have in our battle with Acne." So I was all for it. The only side effects I had was very chapped lips and once in awhile I'd feel a bit achey (which the doc said to just drink more water, cause this pill dries you out so much - it helped the aches to drink more water).

The side effects were NOTHING compared to the physical and emotional pains that having acne gives. It's been a year since I finished my doses of Accutane, and I am COMPLETELY ACNE FREE!!!!! I don't mean my skin has improved and I still get breakouts... No... it's entirely GONE!! I would highly recommend this to anyone suffering with severe acne. It's a pain in the backside dealing with the iPromise crap, but in the end... if you've suffered anything like I did for all those years... it's SO WORTH IT! Really.

Good luck.

Don't use it! I took it as a teenager and now at 36 I have been diagnosed with colitis and with psudeotumor cerebri and firmly believed this is related to the accutane I took as a teenager. Ridding the sever acne is not worth the devastating health effects you could suffer later in life. I am shocked this drug is still on the market.