<p>We went from Manuel Noriega (before) to Kim Kardashian (after) quality skin… The thing is a wonder drug and then some. Expensive, but worth it.</p>
<p>The family member that underwent treatment (that shall remain nameless :-)) had lots of friends ask about what miracle treatment was used, and who was the dermatologist that supervised it…</p>
<p>Although it does clear acne very well, I would certainly monitor your behavior during treatment and make sure you are not going crazy or getting depressed. I’ve heard absolutely terrible stories of kids whose mental health severely endangered their and their peers lives.</p>
<p>-------------------------------------------If it is to be, it is up to me…</p>
<p>I was on Accutane when I was 15 (11 years ago). My dermatologist prescribed me other topical and oral medications for my acne but none worked. I believe I took it for six months. It made me have horrible mood swings and severe depression. It also made my skin unbearably dry. My lips would bleed from dryness and my arms were constantly itchy. I also had to take the pills with milk or my stomach would get upset. Not sure if that’s common. While it did greatly improve my skin, I still have occasional flare-ups of acne. 3 or 4 years ago my derm. wanted me to take Accutane a second time because she thought it would help but I was too nervous about the bad side effects. </p>
<p>Having bad acne is uncomfortable and I wish your son luck with whatever he decides.</p>
<p>This is so timely for us. S just started on Accutane last month. His acne wasn’t horribly severe, but after years after different treatment (different types of antibiotics, many different topical things) it was getting worse. He had two dermatologists recommend it in high school but he wasn’t ready. Now, in college, he is. I think for him its not just the disfigurement as much as the stress of the other treatments. Both the topicals and antibiotics are restrictive (no sun, food at the right time…, one cream morning, one night, and they stain), and he felt like he needed to pay constant attention to what to use when. On top of the stress, they stopped being effective, and its not good to be on antibiotics for too long.</p>
<p>So far so good. He has dry lips but that’s most of it. He’s aware of the depression possibility, in case he feels anything (and I talk to him regularly). But frankly, although I’ve heard distant horror stories, everyone I know who has used it hasn’t had a problem and thinks its the best thing they have done. I’m happy for my son that he is doing it, because it could be the end of a multi-year saga that’s felt pretty-much like handling a chronic illness.</p>
<p>Oh, and as for cost and such - through his college health there’s a $5 copay for the blood test and with my insurance $5 copay for Accutane (generic). So it doesn’t have to be pricey. This is so much cheaper than the topicals that were up to $75 copay, and I think a few hundred dollars without coverage. They’re always coming out with some new cream that has no generic, and of course that’s the one the dermatologist prescribes.</p>
<p>I think accutane has its’ place in the treatment of acne. However, if you have a family history of IBd/Colitis/Crohn’s be extremely cautious about using this drug and do your own research.</p>
<p>friend’s son developed ulcerative colitis, after going on accurate. He’s okay now,but there were some scary times, and I believe he still occasionally has issues.</p>
<p>The claims that Accutane triggers depression and suicide are pretty ridiculous if looked at closely. First of all, this is an age when depression and suicide tend to hit anyway. Then the fact that the kids who take accutane have had very severe acne puts them into a significantly higher risk group. There have been a number of studies showing that adolescent acne is strongly correlated with depression and suicidal ideation.</p>
<p>Quite honestly, if your kid has terrible acne, you are probably putting them at greater risk of mental illness by making them tough it out rather than letting them receive the therapy that will clear up their skin.</p>
<p>When kids commit suicide, it’s really natural for families to look for explanations and pointing the finger at a prescription medicine is a great target. JMO</p>
<p>I’ve used it and it does work very well.</p>
<p>Well actually, it’s very useful just to check your emotions after putting anything new into your body, as you may have an allergic or mental reaction. And I do think there are more than enough cases to think that accident might effect some peoples personalities drastically. I really do not want to go into the worst story I’ve heard from this from a family member. It was just terrible. But I don’t know, maybe it was marshmallows or something.</p>
<p>-------------------------------------------If it is to be, it is up to me…</p>
<p>Has anyone heard of cases of closing growth plates, or permanent hair thinning in a boy coinciding with accutane? Are there dietary adjustments that can lessen risks or side effects?</p>
<p>The only thing I know of is not to eat carrots while on Accutane. It has to do with the vitamin A in Accutane.</p>
<p>D2 started having seizures in her sleep during the 4th month of accutane (she slept with her older sister, who reported it several times). So, she stopped the accutane (which did cure her acne forever), and the seizures immediately stopped…</p>
<p>D1 took it for a month, felt AWFUL. She stopped. (The acne has never gone away.) After that, her hypothalamus swelled, her estrogen disappeared, her cholesterol went up, she gained a lot of weight easily, her thyroid became inflamed… and she is still struggling with all these issues two years later. She has been on metformin and still is on thyroid supplements. Plus fish oil, enzymes, probiotics, vit B12. Now she is trying acupuncture and chinese herbs…</p>
<p>I guess I would say that these MAAAY be coincidences, but… caveat emptor, all.</p>
<p>Hmmm . . . son took it in fall of 9th grade, it cleared up the acne almost immediately, no side effects except very chapped lips. He’s 21 and it never came back.</p>
<p>We wished we hadn’t hesitated so long to put him on it.</p>
<p>Bringing this back up–DS has cystic acne. His skin was almost clear over the summer but has had an explosion in cysts since school started. Just got back from a new dermatologist who is pushing Accutane hard. We left our other derm because she was saying the same thing. We have a family history of various colon diseases, cancer, celiacs, etc. along with a lot of immune/autoimmune issues. DS had seizures at birth but none since. I have heard the horror stories as well as the good sides. Now that it’s a few years out for some of your kids, any long term issues? </p>
<p>The derm did give him some new topicals/oral antibiotics to try. We want to see if those help first. He did have good results with others in the past but not sure why this sudden change.</p>
<p>I’ve had colon cancer since 2007 and have participated on many cancer forums. People are often discussing whether or not there is a link between colon cancer and Accutane. Maybe you should do a quick Google search to see what’s out there about it. It would bear a strong relationship to the IBD- Colitis link. My son has acne and I would always fear the long terms side effects of something like Accutane.</p>
<p>My son has had horrible cystic acne and so we’ve tried a few things. One prescription method that worked reasonably well suddenly was no longer manufactured. Grrr. Accutane isn’t a good option for us so I began to really research other non-prescription options. </p>
<p>Turned out that the best option was the Oil-cleansing method. Sounds crazy, I know but this really gave the best results. It does not clear it up 100% but it makes a very noticeable difference. In fact, I can tell when he does it and when he is too lazy to do it. You make a mixture of Castor oil (available at most pharmacies - it’s not a prescription item) and some other oil (we use grape seed oil which I get from the grocery store, but you can use a few different oils). The ratio of the mixture depends on the kind of skin you are dealing with (oily vs. dry). It is quite simple and I am amazed and thrilled with the results. Oh yes, and it is cheap!! You can read about it here and many other places on the internet: [The</a> Oil Cleansing Method - A simple, cleansing facial massage for clear skin!](<a href=“http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/]The”>http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/)</p>
<p>His friend is using another option - a laser therapy called acleara. They are pleased with it but I have not personally looked into it. Just wanted to mention another option. It is done in the doctor’s office. Google it for more info. </p>
<p>And good luck! I know how frustrating this can be.</p>
<p>S has been seeing the same dermatologist since 8th grade. Every time I’d bring him in, he’d just prescribe Retin A or Duac and nothing helped, and I kept saying “it’s not getting better.” Finally in October (S is now in 11th grade) he put him on Accutane. It’s getting better, but it’s not gone. So far, the only side effects S reports are chapped lips.</p>
<p>Viewer–I told DS I would not make another appointment at the derm without him doing research on Accutane. I know it works but is it worth it. I’ve done a lot of research on it as well, which is what makes me NOT want to use it (but it’s not MY face). Some forums I’ve found said the same thing–they think the link between their colon issues is accutane. Of course both derm’s have said the same thing-it’s not proven. Well, then prove or disprove it then…</p>
<p>Ultimately the decision will be his but I don’t want that based on a bunch of photos the derm showed him of how well it works.</p>
<p>We started my 16-year-old on it, but a few weeks later he was diagnosed as bipolar so he had to go off of it. Maybe that was a good thing, from what I’m reading on here!</p>