I have made a lot of posts about Accutane, and when I took it. So Instead of writing more, I did a search and found some of my old posts. You can find a lot more info if you Google ""accutane" site:newschoolers.com"
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"Please stop saying it is linked to depression. This is FALSE. Ask your doctor about it. There is NO scientific link they can find to tie it in with any kind of depression. Ask your doctor and he will tell you this, or just go do some research yourself.
The only reason people think this is because some Senator's kid committed suicide while on Accutane. He was pissed and made it his mission to take it out on Accutane. The truth is that his son had a long history of mental problems, and had tried to commit suicide twice before he took Accutane. The Accutane was not related to his death...period.
I loved Accutane. I took it a few years ago for just over 5 months. I had terrible acne and it was amazing. I still hardly ever get any pimples to this day. I had a lot of side effects while on it, but I would do it all over again in a heart beat. Acne sucks... I had dry skin, lips, rashes developed on my inner arms and the tops of my hands, my lower back, hips and knees would get sore easily, I got constipated, and maybe some more things I can't remember. With all that it was still 100% worth it. After my great results, 3 of my friends took it after me and all had slightly less side effects, with just as good of results.
There is apparently some link they have found that it can lead to Irritable Bowel Disease. I can't say anything on this because I have been lactose intolerant and had IBS before taking Accutane. For me, actually within the past few months it seems my lactose intolerance and IBSare subsiding. So, who knows. You may develop stomache problems, for me, it made them go away...?"
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"You don't notice much right away. For me the first couple months didn't do a whole lot. Then the third month started to clear up. On the fourth I was pretty clear but my upper cheeks broke out pretty bad. After those went away I was at the end and finished at 5.5 months."
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"Accutane is the answer. I had horrible acne from about 6th-7th grade until 11th grade. I tried everything that exists. Proactiv and its knock-offs, all kinds of washes, prescription stuff, even this eBay stuff. Nothing worked. Then I finally got accutane. It is the best, and ONLY thing that worked for me. I was on it for 5.5 months. Yes, it was horrible. It was during ski season and my knees, hips and back would alwasy be sore because it messes with your joints. I had the worst dry skin. I would put lotion on 10 times a day. It dried the shit out of my lips. I was constipated a lot and shit. I got rashes on the tops of my hands sometimes, and the inside of my arms. There might even be more that I'm forgetting. BUT even with all that, I WOULD DO IT AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT. Because the shit actually worked. It's been over a year now and I am still fine. All my side effects went away within a few days. All I do now is wash my face with some regular cleansing face wash.
The only regret I have is that I didn't do it sooner instead of living with it on my conscience all those years. I would suggest it to anyone who has acne. If your doctor says you can take it, do it.
Also, about the liver stuff. I was always fine. I smoked, but held off on drinking a lot, and was fine. Two of my friends who also did it got wasted all the time and never had any liver problems."
I make it sound worse than it really is.
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"Well, hopefully one day youll get bad enough that youll need accutane, lol. I Honestly tried everything mentioned in this thread when I had acne. I had it i think from 6th or 7th grade. I tried ProActiv and every kind like it, eBay acne stuff, defferin, perscribd anti-biotics, retin-a.....EVERYTHING. Nothing worked at all, and it just made my skin dry, and with acne. I had it bad, but not monster bad. I always put off Accutane because I thought I would die from the side effect (mainly the joint problems, becase i didnt want it to effect skiing). Then my dad forced me to do it, and I gave in.
I was on it for 5.5 months. Yes it sucked, I had to use chapstick all the fuckin time, and my use lotion 20 times a day. It was in winter so i skied a lot. My hips, knees, and back would get sore a lot, but nothing major. I got this weird red rash on the top of my hands and inside of my arms that would come and go. I got slight roids when I shit sometimes cuz it dies out your intestines. I think thats it, maybe a little more.
But overall with all that crap for 5 months, IT WAS WORTH EVERY MINUTE! By 3 days after you stop, your skin does not need lotion, your lips get fine (I just use chapstick sometimes, which may be because of the dependence chapstick crates when you use it a lot). But I never get bad chapped lips. My joints are 100% fine. And I get about 1 SMALL pimple a month, and it will go away within 2-3 days. It has been about a year since I stopped, and I would do it again if I had to.
Well, that turned out to be a long post. If you dont need accutane, then good, but if you, or anyone, ever gets offered to take it by your doctor, or he says it would be ok, TAKE IT! Even if your acne isnt that bad, it will just mean you will be on the accutane for a shorter time. THEN ITS GONE FOREVER!"
