Click Here to Visit our Sponsor
|
 HealthBoards Bulletin Board
 Acne
 Accutane diaries
|
 Email This Page to Someone! |
next newest topic | next oldest topic |
| Author | Topic: Accutane diaries | Page views: |
|
SPH Member  Posts: 44 |
posted 01-18-2003 12:22 PM
  
SO here goes my first day on accutane...just popped the first pill. I'm taking 20mg 3x a day...does that sound like a normal dose? my derm told me not to take any supplements at all. Is anyone taking any supplements? I wish you guys could see my face, i'd post a picture if i could, but trust me when i say, it looks horrific. People have actually commented on it. I ran into one of my mother's friends who said, "So what happened to your skin?" (my skin hasn't always looked like sh*t)Comments like that make me want to bury my head in a hole....like i didn't realize i had acne and needed someone to bring it to my attention!!! Geeeez, Well i just needed to vent to people who understand. If anyone else is starting accutane, please post your progress. And for those who've already taken it, feel free to warn me of any side effects you experienced. Thanks guys, I'll be posting regularly to update how things are going  IP: Logged |
|
Bama37 Senior Member Posts: 77 |
posted 01-18-2003 01:01 PM
Hi...and congratulations! I am on day 10 of accutane. I am taking Vitamin E (400 IU's daily) because I read that it helped folks with contacts continue to wear them while on 'tane. So far so good. I am taking 60 mg's too...but I take a 40mg in the am and a 20mg in the pm. I have the dry lips...which started almost immediately and have small little flakes of dry skin on my face but nothing unbearable at this point. Based upon my derm and other users, I am using the cetaphil moisturizer and am happy with that. It does not leave my skin feeling greasy. I also read on the boards that Nioxin shampoo and conditioner prevents the hairloss side effect...so I went and bought that pronto. (Just in case that side effect would occur...I am into prevention! LOL) I was a bit weirded out about the initial breakout...and I think it might be starting. I woke up with three adorable whiteheads. However, on a poistive note, compared to the two or three cystic monsters I normally get a month...these whiteheads are beautiful! They are very small and tiny. I am trying to keep a positive attitude for the next 5 months...I hear the side effects can be a drag but it's all worth it in the end! I just can't wait till the end. In regards to what your Mom's friend said...people can be so crazy! When I was in college I worked in a mall and I had this male customer (real jerk) tell me I should be a cover girl for Clearsil! Nice, huh. I wanted to crawl in a hole too! Oh, well...who needs people like that. Everyone has problems...ours is just really visable! Can't wait to hear how thins are going with your treatment...kepp us posted! IP: Logged |
|
Sparkle0036 Veteran  Posts: 436 |
posted 01-18-2003 04:14 PM
I am in my 2nd week of Accutane, at 40 mg a day. This medication is one of the surest things there is for acne treatment. Be prepared for your face to get worse first, for example, right now all the small pimples (and there's quite a few) are rising. On Wednesday I will start at 60 mg. (Starting at the lower dose was to help prevent a severe initial breakout. However, some patients have breakouts at lower doses too.) I take Vitamin E because I wear contacts, and Vit. E helps keep your internal moisture up. Unless you wear contacts, I would suggest that you follow your doctors advice and not take supplements. Your doctor is probably concerned about you taking a multivitamin, which contains Vitamin A. Vit. A is related to Accutane and would make your side effects worse. Good luck with your treatment! Keep us updated. IP: Logged |
|
SPH Member Posts: 44 |
posted 01-18-2003 05:09 PM
Hey guys, thanks for your input. I'm a little nervous about accutane because of the ample amounts of literature regarding the potential serious side effects that come with it,but i'm sure all of our acne is bad enough that it's worth the risk or it wouldn't have come down to this. This is seriously my last resort and I REALLY hope it works or i'm destined to a face full of acne forever! I am afraid of losing my hair though, i have very fine hair and not a lot of it. I've also heard of Nioxin shampoo. Does anyone know where you can buy it? Bama37...as for the gentleman with the covergirl clearsil comment... I agree that he probably has some less obvious problem..like an std or something, hee hee. I hope we all have beautifully clear skin by the time this is all over. Does anyone know when we might see an improvement? I heard up it may take up to 6 months! Hang in there and let me know how it's going IP: Logged |
|
supa Member Posts: 27 |
posted 01-18-2003 06:15 PM
If you are afraid of losing your hair you should try taking Biotin while on accutane. I went through one course and had my hair start to fall out. I started taking mass doses of Biotin and it started to reverse the process.. I had to do another course(Almost done!)because the first time I was only on it for 4 months. But anyways I have been taking biotin since and it seems to really have helped me. Anyways do a search on it. I think the key is do take biotin WHILE on accutane not after. Accutane somehow decreases the amount of biotin in the liver... everyones diffrent but I thought I would share what is working for me IP: Logged |
|
Bama37 Senior Member Posts: 77 |
posted 01-18-2003 06:24 PM
SPH...your comment about the jerk cracked me up! Too funny. Nioxin has a web site and you can punch in your zipcode and local salons that carry the product will pop up. Glad to know we are all in this together...I enjoy coming to this site and reading up on things! IP: Logged |
|
openseason Veteran Posts: 301 |
posted 01-18-2003 06:34 PM
Vitamin A is not related to Accutane. Accutane IS synthetic vitamin A very concentrated, there fore do not take more Vitamin A when taking Accutane. You can overdose on Vitamin A. IP: Logged |
|
SPH Member Posts: 44 |
posted 01-18-2003 09:43 PM
Just about to pop the 3rd and final accutane pill of my first day! I'm feeling very optmistic about this although I'm sure a mood swing will come my way and I will be hell-bent about my acne again...uh oh...here comes the mood swing! (I didn't think it would be so soon) but I was messing with a zit near my lip and I just looked in the mirror and to my horror it's all inflamed so it looks like a big ol' herpe >cringe< Ah well, thanks for the advice everyone. Any idea how much biotin I should take for hair loss? Oh yeah, should we be avoiding foods high in vitamin A? (as I chomp on a carrot) sweet dreams everyone, I'm taking me and my fat herpe lip to bed! -SaraIP: Logged |
|
Sparkle0036 Veteran Posts: 436 |
posted 01-18-2003 11:06 PM
I don't think it's necessary to go out of your way to avoid carrots and such. I mean, when was the last time someone got side effects from eating carrots? Just don't make your diet full of carrots...in addition to lots of Vitamin A, you can turn orange from that...I've seen it happen. lol! Eat healthily, though, because Accutane can send your cholesterol levels up up up! And avoid alcohol, you don't want to overwork your liver. openseason is right about Accutane being a synthetic derivative of Vitamin A. I just didn't feel like typing that out, so I just put they were related. My apologies. By the way, hair thinning or hair loss occurs in less than 10% of people while on Accutane. I suggest using a deep conditioner (I've heard from some Accutane patients that VO5 Hot Oil Treatment is the way to go!) I have heard that Nioxin is helpful, but from what I recall, it's also expensive. I would reccomend using it if you find hair loss to be a problem. Good luck all IP: Logged |
|
supa Member Posts: 27 |
posted 01-19-2003 12:09 AM
I have used nioxin too.. I didnot have good results with it.. plus if u do have hairloss from Accutane it is just that from accutane not anything herditary. Also the thing that would cause your hairloss from accutane is the way it affects the follicles.. Your hair gets really brittle so don't wash as much and the moisturize!!! VO5 is good... I personally take 3 300mcg 3 times a day... This is just what i do and it seems to be working for me. Don't get scared about it, as said above, it doesn't happen often but it does happen.. just don't stress.. this can cause it too. Other than that accutane has done a wonderful job for me. I am alittle red but oooh sooo smooth.. IP: Logged |
|
supa Member Posts: 27 |
posted 01-19-2003 12:11 AM
ohh btw.. I am male 80mgs/day for over 6 months.. IP: Logged |
|
SPH Member Posts: 44 |
posted 01-19-2003 12:01 PM
my 2nd day on accutane!..so far so good, no changes yet and i've about to go out and invest in some of the products you guys mentioned. Does anyone take vit E? If so, how much? Supa: how long it it take for you to see improvement? sorry for all the questions. i did read all the literature i got with accutane but the derm didn't explain sh*t to me! Update on the big zit on my lip... no surprise-it's a red mess! just reminds me to NOT PICK! now i have to venture off into the day looking like i have herpes. I swear acne has to be one of the most humbling things. If we can walk around with our faces looking like warzones, then we can do anything! IP: Logged |
|
Sparkle0036 Veteran Posts: 436 |
posted 01-19-2003 02:05 PM
I take Vitamin E, 400 IUs daily. Never take over 1000 IUs a day. There are a lot of informational websites on the internet...there are also a lot of websites with rantings about how Accutane is terrible. Good luck! IP: Logged |
|
SPH Member Posts: 44 |
posted 01-20-2003 06:24 PM
Ok, here i am on my 3rd day on accutane...nothing's change except 2 new gigantic zits have decided kick back and relax on my forehead >CRINGE< I went to get Nioxon today and apparently there several different kinds...any advice? Now let's get to the bottom of this...does anyone use topicals with accutane and if so, which kind? IP: Logged |
|
Bama37 Senior Member Posts: 77 |
posted 01-20-2003 06:43 PM
The lady at the salon where I bought the Nioxin was really helpful. Based upon the fact that I had not started to lose hair yet...I went with the Cleanser shampoo and the conditioner is "something" strengthner. I am too lazy to run downstairs to my bathroom and look. LOL I will check in the am and post what it is really called. As far as the topical stuff...I KNOW we are not suppose to use any...but at night I have been spot treating with Queen Helenes Mint Julep mask. (I am so naughty) IP: Logged |
|
SPH Member Posts: 44 |
posted 01-21-2003 12:45 AM
Bama, you naughty thang..using Queen Helen and all! Shhhh, I won't tell... but where can I buy that stuff? I've also been using oil of olay total effects moisturizer and although it works wonders on my blemish-decorated face, it costs quite the pretty penny. Any advice on a good and cheap moisturizer? Well day 3 on accutane is just about over. I've got 2 new friends on my cheek now...in addition to the 2 I developed this morning, WOO HOO! IP: Logged |
|
Bama37 Senior Member Posts: 77 |
posted 01-21-2003 06:44 AM
SPH...thanks for keeping my secret under wraps! I read about Queen helens on this board...it's amazing. On top of that it's under 3.00! I got it at walmart and FYI...it's on the lowest shelf...closest to the floor...underneath all the pricey stuff! IP: Logged |
|
queenie_oz Member Posts: 22 |
posted 01-21-2003 09:14 AM
I have been on Accutane for 7 weeks now however my derm has put me on very low dose at 20mg/day. I weigh 50kg. His reasoning is that a lower dose and a longer period of taking Accutane means less side effects. At this rate I expect to finish my treatment after 7 mths. Anyway, at this dose the oil on my face and scalp has completely cleared up. It is great that I only need to wash my hair about 2-3 times a week compared to everyday. I have mildly dry lips. I had a horrible outbreak in the first 2-3 weeks and is only now starting to clear up. I thought my hair was thinning but I think it might just be an over-reaction. Another thing to look forward to is random pimples cropping up in strange places like eyebrows, necks and other areas that I never got acne before. I started using Olay Total Effects and after a few days my skin is extremely smooth and I think it is working on the red marks left by my previous pimples. I use Cetaphil cleanser but find my skin feels cleaner after washing twice at a time. Well those are my findings so far... IP: Logged |
|
SPH Member Posts: 44 |
posted 01-21-2003 11:06 PM
Thanks for all the updates. As for me, it's day 4 on accutane and my face is acting up again..booooo. I'm wondering when the initial break out starts and how long it lasts? I guess it takes a while for it to kick it. I just need the initial break out to hold off a few more days and after that my face can explode if it wants. It's my birthday weekend and the guy I'm seeing is coming from out of town to see me and I'd rather not look like I'm advertising Accutane R Us. Geeez,I wish I had control over this, sigh. Oh well, maybe we'll just have to spend more time in the dark. YEE HA! Keep me updated on your progress everyone. [This message has been edited by SPH (edited 01-21-2003).] IP: Logged |
|
Dutchman2 Member Posts: 21 |
posted 01-22-2003 10:41 AM
Just started accutane yesterday at 3 x 20mg/day. About the hair loss: I also am worried a bit about that. But if your hair gets thinner or hairloss does occur, is that only temporary or is there any risk that you will keep losing hair even after your accutane-treatment? IP: Logged |
All times are ET (US) | next newest topic | next oldest topic |
  |
|
|
home |
join free |
boards |
search |
about us | Copyright (c) 1998-2003 HealthBoards.com All rights reserved.
|
contact |
disclaimer |
board guidelines |
privacy |
Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46