Accutane before starting T

[meh]

Hey I've been on accutane for a little over a month now and I'm pre T, but will be starting T in January. I never got acne through puberty, but started developing hormonal cystic acne in my early twenties.

I am wondering if there's anyone out there who started accutane before T also and how did it effect further acne development? Did you have to do another round of accutane after starting T?

[LordKAT]

Accutane is linked to some serious stuff and being sued. Are there other meds that work for acne? TV ads say Crohn's disease. Liver failure was listed also. T affects Liver function as it is.( I don't know what crohn's disease is but something not good I'm sure.)

from: http://www.accutanelawsuit.net/

Side Effects

The way Accutane effectively treats acne causes side effects such as weak skin, Alopecia, depression, suicidal tendencies, birth defects, miscarriages, back pain, joint pain, dry mucus membranes, pink eye, dryness of the eye, vision problems, ringing in the ear, psychosis, liver damage, anaphylaxis, erectile dysfunction, aggressive behavior, bone loss, heart attack, stroke, seizures, lowered white blood cell count, inflammatory bowel disease, and allergic vasculitis. This has sparked much controversy over the drug and caused many lawsuits against medical professionals and Hoffman La Roche as well.

[ilanthefirst]

LordKAT, the actual risks are on the consent forms.  Doctors do not give it out like candy, and it's insulting to assume that someone on it would be totally unaware of the (not insignificant) risks, not to mention that sites like your source are fear-mongering to get business from anyone who has ever taken the drug.

Shayne, regardless of whether the possible side-effects are news to you, you should definitely talk about this with whoever prescribes your Accutane and whoever is prescribing your T.

[Farm Boy]

I took Acutane a few years back for my bad acne, but I thought that it was no longer being given out because of the previously mentioned issues.  I actually saw it on a list taped to the wall of medicines to NOT be given out at my pharmacy recently.  I'm not saying this to insult you, as I'm sure LordKAT wasn't either, but unless the problems with the medication have been resolved it probably wouldn't be a good idea to take it.  You should definitely talk to your doctor, unless you already have.

Crohns disease is in my family, possibly linked to Acutane, and it's a problem with the digestive tract/intestines that can lead to them actually having to be removed.

I don't know what effect, if any, it would have on future acne development, but it's something I'm curious about myself. 

[insideontheoutside]

I was about to say the same thing about the lawsuit, etc.

It's great to be able to fully believe that the drugs that are approved are safe and all, but there's a lot more than meets the eye going on in the pharmaceutical industry. And it is true that some pharmacies are not stocking drugs like Acutane anymore because of the new found data and the major lawsuits.

What's insulting to me is that anyone who has bothered to do research or be aware of side effects, drug lawsuits, how the pharmaceutical industry operates, is called an ignorant fear monger.

If someone is aware of side effects and wants to take the drug anyway and it's still legal, hey, that's their business. If someone else shows concern for another human being simply by stating information to be looked at, they shouldn't always be shot down.

[Brendon]

At the risk of being redundant, I'd say try to switch to something else if acutane really is linked to crohns. My brother recently had part of his intestines removed because of crohns. He was in and out of the hospital for a couple of months, had an IV in for over a month, and was in a lot of pain in general. The medicine for it tends to be on the expensive side, and the disease itself is not pleasant. We figured out he had it because he was in so much pain after a car accident that he thought he had internal bleeding. This is obviously something you want to avoid if possible 

As to the original question, I've never been on acutane so I can't help you much. Hope somebody has a good response for you.

[meh]

Side effects that are common are: Chapped lips (90%), Dry skin and itching (80%), mild nosebleed (80%), Irritation of the eyelids and eyes (40%), Joint and muscle pains (15%), Temporary hair thinning (10%), Rash (7%), Intestinal symptoms (5%), Urinary symptoms (5%), Headache (5%), Increased sensitivity to sun (5%), Decreased night vision (<1%), Depression, thoughts of suicide (<1%).

Accutane may increase the level of blood fats, sometimes to risky levels. This reverts back to normal when the drug is stopped. Occasionally it may affect the liver. That's why regular blood tests are necessary during Accutane treatment. There is little risk of any damage if these precautions are followed.


Yea, I'm aware of the side effects and the percentages listed don't look too bad, but it's something I'm willing to try since my face is starting to scar. The only side effect I've experience is dry lips so far and I have my blood and liver checked every 30 days as well as a pregnancy test -.-

I'm taking the generic version btw. The generic versions are still being dispensed. I do know that the real version accutane was pulled in 2009 for profit loss reasons not because of lawsuits.

Oh and I have tried everything before resorting to accutane. I'm allergic to the "cycline" type antibiotics they prescribe for acne so I had to stop taking those and the creams and that sort of thing don't work on hormonal cycstic acne.

I'll ask my Dr. who'll be prescribing me T and my derm about this though. And I will check back in about being on accutane and T later for those who might be curious.

I'm also curious about this bit " Accutane blocks formation of dihydrotestosterone". What does this mean for me since I'll be starting T. o.O I'll ask about that too.

[SnailPace]

I was on accutane about six years ago because of my first puberty and the ridiculous acne throughout.  The results have been great, and I'm glad I risked the side effects because, although I still have the occasional zit, my acne has pretty much disappeared.  They definitely make the side-effects quite apparent, even the packaging is covered in warnings and my doctor made me promise to be abstinent while taking the medication for risk of birth defects.  (This wasn't too hard because I was in grade 7 at the time.)

As for the actual POINT of this thread, I can't help much because I'm not on T yet.  I am curious to see if my acne comes back once I'm on HRT though.  (Who will win? Accutane or T? PLACE YOUR BETS!)  I would think that taking both of these medications, especially at the same time, would heighten the chance of shared side-effects like liver problems.

I have to say  that the skin sensitivity is pretty lame on that stuff.  I remember when my mom brought me in to get my eyebrows waxed (my first and only time).  Instead of just taking the hairs out, the wax actually peeled off all of the skin with it!  I had huge scabs under my eyebrows for a week or so.  I must have worried that poor cosmetician girl!  So yeah, if you wax, I would suggest NOT doing it while on accutane. 

[meh]

Oh ouch, yeah my derm said to not go get waxed or even to exfoliate. I have exfoliated though, I had to my face was kinda peeling. -.-

I'm not too worried about the liver issues since I will be getting my levels checked every 30 days or probably more often, between both the derm and reg dr.

[Lee11]

Accutane is a very harsh and nasty drug....in my opinion only those with severe/scaring acne should use it....you can easily get away with a course of antibiotics if T makes you break out....something like Doxycycline works very well if used for periods of ten to twelve days....

[meh]

Accutane is a very harsh and nasty drug....in my opinion only those with severe/scaring acne should use it....you can easily get away with a course of antibiotics if T makes you break out....something like Doxycycline works very well if used for periods of ten to twelve days....

Unless you're allergic to all the "-cycline" type of anti-biotics, which I am unfortunately.

The "harsh and nasty" side effects of accutane are rare, besides fetal development: it will absolutely cause birth defects.