Accutane and Depression

[Bruhahnmist4]

Hi everyone, I am looking for advice about my 15 yo. sons acne treatment. He has been treated now for approximately 8 months. Here is what he has done:

Minocycline 100 mg. 2 x a day

then he changed to

Solodyne 135 mg. x 1 a day

he has also been using Cetaphyl for washing his face, tretinoin 0.05% at night, and erythromycin 3% and BP Gel 5% every morning.

After about 3 mos. his face greatly improved. In August about 5 mos. in his face started to get really bad again. The only thing that he changed was he started football practice (its hot here, lots of gear) He also did not get as much sun exposure on his face and back as he is a outdoor kid that goes shirtless,swims at the lake etc.

the dr put him on Doryx DR 150 mg. once a day about 3 weeks ago and he is seeing no improvement. It is redder, more blistery and ***** and very dry.

I am at my wits end. He is so upset. He wants to start accutane which I am fine with, HOWEVER, i have a history of anxiety/depression in my family. The dr.wants him to see a Psychiatrist before he starts the accutane. My insurance has paid for all of the tx so far ($35 co pay) but it will not pay for this appt. I cannot afford to pay it. I have a call into the dr. I am hoping they will let him go ahead as I KNOW all of the signs of depression. My son and I are very close and he talks to me very openly. I know him so well I would see changes. He would tell me too as he is so anxious to get this problem taken care of.

I guess I am just asking r there any other txs we should try on our own first?? Should we ditch the dermatologist?? My 27 yo.son took accutane when it first came out and he was fine on it with no mental health issues.. and it did work to fix his acne.

Any advise or help would be appreciated as Im not really sure what I am asking or looking for.. i just want to help him as I feelso bad for him. Thx so much, Beth

[Xasthur]

Bruhahnmist

Hey, sorry to hear that you're having problems getting Accutane for your son. I'm not a doctor but I can tell you that I have a history of mental illness in my family as well and I took Accutane back before it was so ridiculously regulated and it worked wonders for me. My acne is back and now I'm having to jump through hoops in order to get it, with no luck so far.

I don't have anything to back this up but in my opinion this garbage about Accutane and depression is junk science. In acne we're dealing with an ailment that is likely to cause lack of self confidence in anyone who has it, let alone teens who are prone to it anyway and THAT is where these problems stem from, not the medication. It's worth noting that a congressman's nephew or son or something like that got on Accutane some years ago and eventually killed himself, and regulation for the mental health stuff started shortly after that.

If your son has never been to see a psychiatrist before and your dermatologist is making him go to see one before getting on Accutane that is, in a word, ridiculous.

In my opinion you should find yourself a new dermatologist. Monthly visits, blood tests and limited amounts of the drug are to be expected but to force someone with no prior history of mental illness other than hereditary disposition to go to therapy to get on Accutane is something I've never heard of and I've been to see 4 different dermatologists during my 9 year struggle with acne.

Just my two cents. Perhaps don't abandon your dermatologist altogether but at least get a second opinion. Best of luck to you and your son.

[point08]

Bruhahnmist tell your son to quit drinking milk for a couple of weeks and I'll bet it clears up. A natural solution for the spots is put a dab of Oregano oil on it. Get it at the health food store. It will soon clear up.

[Xasthur]

I never drink milk, and I mean NEVER, and I have terrible acne. Never tried Oregano oil.

[Bruhahnmist4]

Originally Posted by Xasthur

Bruhahnmist

Hey, sorry to hear that you're having problems getting Accutane for your son. I'm not a doctor but I can tell you that I have a history of mental illness in my family as well and I took Accutane back before it was so ridiculously regulated and it worked wonders for me. My acne is back and now I'm having to jump through hoops in order to get it, with no luck so far.

I don't have anything to back this up but in my opinion this garbage about Accutane and depression is junk science. In acne we're dealing with an ailment that is likely to cause lack of self confidence in anyone who has it, let alone teens who are prone to it anyway and THAT is where these problems stem from, not the medication. It's worth noting that a congressman's nephew or son or something like that got on Accutane some years ago and eventually killed himself, and regulation for the mental health stuff started shortly after that.

If your son has never been to see a psychiatrist before and your dermatologist is making him go to see one before getting on Accutane that is, in a word, ridiculous.

In my opinion you should find yourself a new dermatologist. Monthly visits, blood tests and limited amounts of the drug are to be expected but to force someone with no prior history of mental illness other than hereditary disposition to go to therapy to get on Accutane is something I've never heard of and I've been to see 4 different dermatologists during my 9 year struggle with acne.

Just my two cents. Perhaps don't abandon your dermatologist altogether but at least get a second opinion. Best of luck to you and your son.

Hi, I just was reading your post and I find it very interesting..we are still in a quandry. I did make an appt.and we went to a "assessment" at a mental health clinic. The girl on the phone told me after we did this they were about 5 weeks out on appts. Well I called t his a.m. and it is more like 10! My son will be devastated that he has to wait so long.

I am also so fed up with it all. I am going on my insurance site now and look for another dermatologist and maybe make an appt. to see if they will prescribe it. This history is soooooo far in that it will not impact my son.. im sure. My other son who is 27 had no problems with the accutane and depression.. just chapped lips!!

I also am going to do what the other poster said and quit milk for a while. My son loves it and drinks it all the time! My other son who also had the acne was the same way and was a big drinker of milk as well. It cant hurt to try... thanks everybody,,,

Beth