<p>Seeking input on this drug…were you or your teen on it and if so,what was your experience? Thanks!</p>
<p>Literally changed my life. Was on it in the early 80s. Now the monitoring and monthly blood testing is so much better. Son was on it as well in 2007. He had no serious side effects as well, except for extreme photo sensitivity. A good sunblock like Anthelios (water resistant for up to to 6 hrs) was a must as he was a swimmer. The dry skin was bothersome, but a small price to pay for the drastic results.</p>
<p>Good luck. Find a good Derm who has lots of experience with this powerful drug. For many it is a miracle, for others it can be scary. Depression, and even severe systemic reactions can occur. Monthly monitoring is key.</p>
<p>Began Accutane November 2013 and just finished my cycle February 2014. I wouldn’t describe myself as having sever acne, moderate would be closer. I was only put on Accutane because I simply wasn’t responding to any topicals or the multiple courses of antibiotics my physician prescribed. I was taking 20 mg capsules of Accutane twice daily.</p>
<p>My experience with Accutane was GREAT. I assume you’ve read about Accutane online and read the horror stories about depression, IBS, joint pain, etc. I talked to my doctor about these and he said they were very unlikely to occur, and that intestinal issues haven’t even been linked to Accutane. Joint pain is more likely than the other three but should dissipate when your course is over. I was blessed to have none of these side effects. You WILL get dry skin, you WILL get chapped lips on Accutane. The dry skin can last for a few months after your treatment ends also. I never had horribly chapped lips (buy Aquaphor, apply regularly) or dry facial skin. My worst side effect on Accutane was dry arms–I would get patches of skin that practically scabbed from the dryness.</p>
<p>It really comes down to how much you value have clear skin. For me the treatment was not much of a hassle and I came across no major side effects, only annoyances. The fact that I haven’t had a single pimple since Christmas is worth so much though. If your asking about Accutane than the chances are that your kid has a severity of acne that necessitates it (you’ve already tried other physician prescribed treatments to no avail). If you’re worried about long term complications or side effects for your son/daughter than a simple talk with your doctor should calm your nerves. Accutane is definitely worth the small risk (really every drug your doctor has prescribed you has some risk of long term complications) side effects for the end result however.</p>
<p>One thing: if your child is a girl, believe the warnings about birth defects. A woman taking Accutane MUST NOT get pregnant.</p>
<p>My teen used it. The key was monthly monitoring with blood work, and doctor visits. Our doctor would NOT write the next month RX without the bloodworm, and seeing the kid. My kid’s cholesterol went through the roof and he took Lipitor as well. Once off the accutane, he was fine. He had done every other treatment under the sun. It was well worth it!</p>
<p>P.S. There is at least one other lengthy thread about accutane use on this forum. Try a search…or maybe someone lease will link that other thread.</p>
<p>My son took Accutane and later my daughter took it. My son had dry eyes, lips. My daughter had no side effects, but, of course, she was better about keeping something on her lips anyway. Both ended up needing another round of the drug later. </p>
<p>Both would do it again without hesitation (well, did do it again without hesitation). It truly works wonders and does so quickly.</p>
<p>Find a doctor experienced with the drug. My two had different dosages and even those dosages changed over the course of treatment. We talked to the doctor about side effects and felt quite reassured. Regardless, I watched for side effects such as depression (since I’d read any and all warnings) but actually noted the opposite. As the skin cleared, self confidence came back. Both looked and felt good.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<ul>
<li>I do have a child who developed IBS in her 20s but NOT the ones who took Accutane, so it’s impossible to lay blame on the drug here. My two Accutane-takers are in their mid-to-early 20s now with no problems whatsoever. </li>
</ul>
<p>My son used it about 10 years ago, when he was 18. He had and still has dry lip issues but considers them a small price to pay for the excellent results he obtained with Accutane. He only needed one round. The change in his skin was remarkable.</p>
<p>To the above posters whose children have IBS, I am seldom one to tout OTC products, but know someone who had almost miraculous results with enteric coated peppermint oil.</p>
<p>I used Accutane a quarter century ago with miraculous results and no side effects of note. My S used it about four years ago and started to develop migraine headaches near the end of the treatment period. Our dermatologist told him to stop taking it immediately and he did and the headaches went away and did not return. Good thing the drug had already worked its magic and he has not had any need to consider taking it again.</p>
<p>My son used Accutane in 2011 for about 5 or 6 months while he was a freshman in college. He had tried all the topicals and oral antibiotics and had lots of side effects and no results. The only real side effect he had on Accutane was the dry lips and his cholesterol rose so he had to really watch what he ate, which wasn’t easy in the dorms. The hardest part was the monthly blood work and trip to the dermatologist. It worked great and he hasn’t had a problem with acne since. </p>
<p>D2 was put on Accutane when she was 17 by an overseas doctor. The doctor used lower dosage than US doctors normally prescribed and also put D2 for a longer period time (1 year vs 6 mons). D2’s had dry skin, lips, nose. She used a lot of ointments to keep them moist and also drank a lot of water. No alcohol while she was on the medication. </p>
<p>D2’s skin was starting to be like D1’s skin at that age. She was very self conscious of her skin. The result was excellent. Her skin now is perfect and it’s 2 years later. D1 said she wished she was put on the same medication because even at age 25 her skin still breaks out.</p>
<p>My son started taking it when he was 16. Right after that, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Accutane should NOT be used by anyone suffering depression or bipolar disorder, so he had to stop. His face cleared up on its own eventually.</p>
<p>We didn’t have it when I was a teen, but I bought all the hype and went to the dermatologist for light treatments and antibiotics. I had acne for about a year when I was 15-16. I should have just waited it out. All those antibiotics messed me up for a long time, and I’m now allergic to several classes.</p>
<p>Kids just ate well - much better than me! - with lots of salads and raw foods. Their skin has been fine with only the occasional breakout. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t do it, unless it was the most horrible, disfiguring acne. Even then, there will be consequences. </p>
<p>My brother was on it when he was 16-17. It made him very depressed. We weren’t sure if it was typical teen angst or the Accutane, but after he went off it, he was literally a whole new person. His skin looks much better.</p>
<p>I took accutane in the early 80s. I had no problems, underwent monthly blood tests. Cured my acne, was amazing! I had tried everything and this was the only thing that worked. Only side effect for me was dry skin, especially my lips.
Long term effects, I still deal with dry lips.
My daughter had bad acne and was one step away from using accutane. Luckily, she did not need to but I would have been fine with her using it. Accutane should only be used after everything else fails. </p>
<p>S used it about 5 years ago. He had tried all of the washes and antibiotics…nothing worked. He was beginning to get some scarring on his forehead, so we decided to go ahead with the treatment. It worked wonders. He did experience dry skin and joint pain.</p>
<p>My oldest is currently taking it. He started 3 months ago, age 15 (nearly 16).</p>
<p>His dermatologist tried a cycline-based oral (allergic!!!) first, then topicals. Nothing worked and he was starting to get some scarring at the jaw line.</p>
<p>So he started on 30mg/day. His dermatologist says she usually bumps the dosage up significantly after the first month, but he was having joint pain so she didn’t. When we were in a few weeks ago, he was still complaining of pain. But at this point we are exploring a particular form of arthritis as the source of pain rather than it being a side effect of the meds. He is still on the same dosage he began with, and may be on it for the entire course. It’ll just be a longer course.</p>
<p>Dry skin, dry lips. Hasn’t had an effect on his eyes (wears contacts). No depression.</p>
<p>It’s a scary drug, and he and I both read through the material given to us prior to getting the prescription filled. Anytime you have to give your social security number to get prescribed a drug, you gotta assume its nasty.</p>
<p>But it works.</p>
<p>Oldest was on it last year. His acne was persistent and pretty bad, but not yet pitting/scarring. He tried a course of every antibiotic and topical over about 1 and a half years. I did not want to put him on the isotretnoin. I was worried about the depression and gi problems. Dr. had lots of experience with the drug (1000’s on it) and said many of the problems were from using larger doses for longer treatment times in the past. Dr. also only wanted him on a specific brand Amnesteem. He said that one brand just didn’t work. It was manufactured in China and I can’t remember if it was Claravis or Sotret (I think Sotret?). He said he would see other Dr.s pt who had failed on the drug and it all came back to the brand. He would start them up on the other brand and their skin would clear up.</p>
<p>My kid started with a lower dose and then it was increased, I think to 80 mg after several months. He was supposed to go for 5 months but ended up increasing to 6. His skin steadily cleared up. And girls actually came up to him in the halls and asked if they could touch his face! He has been off the drug for about 6 months and his skin is still good. Occasional pimple but much smaller, non cystic.</p>
<p>He did have dry lips and got used to the chapstik and still uses it out of habit in the winter. He didn’t get depressed or have g.i. symptoms. Part of me wishes he started it earlier in high school because it helped so much. If you have any more questions, let me know.</p>
<p>My brother did two rounds in the early 80s, after enduring years of severe, painful cystic acne. While it did cure his acne, it was too late to prevent scarring. Fortunately, my children inherited their father’s good skin, but I always knew that if they had anything close to what my brother experienced, I’d get them on Accutane sooner rather than later. My brother really suffered.</p>
<p>My 22 year old nephew took Accutane when he was 16. He was diagnosed with stage 3C colon cancer when he was 20. There are studies suggesting a possible link. He was hoping to join the Marines, so he was in excellent health before he started to have strange symptoms. The cancer was ultimately found. He is doing well, but it was pretty scary for a while.</p>
<p>Needless to say, 20 is not the typical age for Colon Cancer. He has a number of siblings. His doctors did extensive genetic testing, and said that there was no genetic link. The only thing that they are thinking as a possibility is the Accutane. </p>
<p>Knowing that this could be a possibility, I would insist that the person taking it note any changes that could be bowel/colon related. If any problems continued, a colonoscopy would need to be done immediately. (One doctor had suggested he have one, but he claimed he was too busy with his classes to take the time to have one.) </p>
<p>This isn’t to scare people, but to make sure everyone knows that this is a possible side effect. </p>