depression and accutane

[shamrock]

bandaidgirl

thanks for all the info. Luke I am in quandry here I have big cystic sores on my head and no hair is growing there. I have been to three doctors and they all have told that if it is curable only accutane will help. We all bodybuild to enhance our physical bodies. wouldn't I be shooting myself in the foot if I didn't do something about it? bandaidlady, how did your friends feel while on the drug mentally???

 

[bandaidwoman]

thanks for all the info. Luke I am in quandry here I have big cystic sores on my head and no hair is growing there. I have been to three doctors and they all have told that if it is curable only accutane will help. We all bodybuild to enhance our physical bodies. wouldn't I be shooting myself in the foot if I didn't do something about it? bandaidlady, how did your friends feel while on the drug mentally???

They weren't friends..... I know them from my professional relationship with them. Psycologically, they felt fine. However, they were older (not teenagers) adults in their twenties and thirties. (Remember, the most problematic group with regards to this question of depression usually involve teenagers.)

 

[shamrock]

i am 32 years old

i am 32 years old but feel like a teenager!!!

 

[Paynne]

I had acne from age 13 - 40. Nothing worked well. I took accutaine for 5 months. Acne is still gone completely two years later, I take nothing for it now. I had no depression or any other symptoms exempt for cholesterol rising a bit but it went down to below what it was originally when I had it checked a few months after finishing accutaine. In other words, it worked perfectly

 

[Luke9583]

That's a good story

 

[clemson357]

I don't really care about the side affects. That may sound stupid, but there really isn't much that could be worse for me psycologically than acne.

its like my face will completely clear up for about 1 week at a time, just to give me a taste of what it is like to look normal. then, it will break out again. I don't have the kind that looks really red all over, I get several big ones sporadically around my mouth and chin.

I have literally considered blowing my brain out.

The worst part, I can't get in to see a dermatologist in my new city for months. I saw my dermatologist at my permanent address, where my parents live, and she said she would definitely perscribe it to me except she can't unless I can come back once a month to check for side affects. I live 7.5 hours away, and I am in graduate school, so that isn't possible.

 

[njc]

accutane

I don't really care about the side affects. That may sound stupid, but there really isn't much that could be worse for me psycologically than acne.

its like my face will completely clear up for about 1 week at a time, just to give me a taste of what it is like to look normal. then, it will break out again. I don't have the kind that looks really red all over, I get several big ones sporadically around my mouth and chin.

I have literally considered blowing my brain out.

The worst part, I can't get in to see a dermatologist in my new city for months. I saw my dermatologist at my permanent address, where my parents live, and she said she would definitely perscribe it to me except she can't unless I can come back once a month to check for side affects. I live 7.5 hours away, and I am in graduate school, so that isn't possible.

Hey bro, know how it feels. i had horrible face, back , chest, and the worse leg acne imaginable. A lot of people warned me about the side effects of accutane before going on it. I told them the same thing, that the side effects of my horrible acne were far worse than what could be seen with accutane. I say take it by all means. I took 80mg a day for 5 months and have been 95% clear the past 3 years. This shit was a fuckin miracle it ,saved my life. I was diagnosed with depression before going on accutane, and dont feel that it made it any worse. I am actually now near depression free. DOnt wait for your Derm. go to another one. But make sure that one prescribes accutane as many derms do not.

 

[LittleKid]

Knew somebody at my old school that comitted suicide while on accutane.

 

[njc]

knew someone

knew a couple of poeple from my high school who killed themseles while not on accutane.

Seriously guys/ i did and unbelievable amount of research before taking this stuff, read numerous accounts. Amd i believe its all garbage and hype. read the first page of this thread, i cant remember who posted the stats of suicide whilst on accutane but i was constantly getting the same info in my research. If poeple are getting depressed while on accutane, it may be a placebo effect. all they hear about is that there gonna get depressed while on accutane , so the mind being as powerful and in control as it is subconsciously follows suit.

 

[LanceM]

I've taken accutane. I have good results. I was never depressed. I was more happy that my acne was going away than anything. Your face will be dry as hell though

Lance

 

[njc]

yeah

I've taken accutane. I have good results. I was never depressed. I was more happy that my acne was going away than anything. Your face will be dry as hell though

Lance

amen to the dryness. i had a 5 month case of chapped lips. In the summer time!

 

[Arnold]

They say bodybuilders have no brains (just kidding guys.)

I know you said "just kidding", but I have found over the years that "bodybuilders" are generally smarter and more educated than the general population...interesting huh?

 

[Cold Iron]

I know you said "just kidding", but I have found over the years that "bodybuilders" are generally smarter and more educated than the general population...interesting huh?

I dont understand....

 

[SJ69]

I think people who need to take accutane have a higher than normal rate of depression due to the self image problems associated with having acne. I think it is just as likely more acne sufferers would commit suicide if they didn't have accutane. The study is inheritly flawed, too many variables. The accutane users aslo had severe acne (2 variables 1. acne 2. accutane) you can't get reliable results with two variables.
I've taken accutane 80-120mg ed for 4 months. The sides are a little rough, dry bleeding gums and ear lobs, achy joints but no depression for me. I felt fine mentally. maybe even felt better than normal.

 

[clemson357]

how long does it take to work, everyone here is saying "I took it for 5 months..." does it take 5 months to start working, or does that mean you took it for five months and then didn't have to take it anymore?

 

[SJ69]

1 week

 

[SJ69]

you'll notice it working in about a week. complete clear up? it depends...

 

[njc]

mine got worse for the first 2 and a half months. and i mean WORSE!!!!!!! Ive never had such hideous acne as what is refered to as the "work through period", subcateous acne is pushed up from beneath the skin and finally dried and expelled. By month 4 i was looking pretty good. Continued to get better through the entire five months. Actually was at my best about 2 month safter treatment, that was 2 years ago and its been good ever since. the shit saved my life.

 

[clemson357]

mine got worse for the first 2 and a half months. and i mean WORSE!!!!!!! Ive never had such hideous acne as what is refered to as the "work through period", subcateous acne is pushed up from beneath the skin and finally dried and expelled.

thats not sounding too hot, is that normal?

 

[njc]

thats not sounding too hot, is that normal?

it is normal. Most experience the "Work through" period but to varying degrees of severity. Then there are those lucky ones who dont.

 

[Stratosphere]

Ok Im about to start taking accutane this week. Now honestly I'm not too concerned about the depression issue cuz I have confidence in myself and I would never commit suicide. (trust me ive had some shitty times and still never crossed my mind). Im more concerned about other health risks that may be involved. Also I am taking a multivitamin that includes Vitamin A, which is practically what isotretonin is, so should I get off of the vitamin to not further pump my V-A lelvels?

 

[SJ69]

Skip the Vit A, it's fat soluble therefore cumulative and you could possibly build up to toxic levels while taking accutane. Get your bloodwork done monthly and adjust as needed. My triglycerides went up over 400, that's off the charts. Get Aquiphor, nothing else for your lips and ears, chapstick doesn't cut it.

 

[njc]

a

absolutely skip vit a supplementation.

 

[Stratosphere]

Well I've been on Accutane for exactly a week now, and I am already seeing results. My face is noticeably starting to clear up. The only side effects I have noticed so far are chapped lips, dry skin, and a little muscle ache. Although the muscle aches could also be because I just started working out regularly after a year away.

Does anybody have some reccomendations for treating the chapped lips and the dry face??

 

[bandaidwoman]

I've heard acuaphore ointment helps http://www.eucerinus.com/medicalsite/dermatology/conditions/chappedlips/chappedlips.html

 

[SJ69]

Aquaphor !!! see above

 

[SJ69]

Skip the Vit A, it's fat soluble therefore cumulative and you could possibly build up to toxic levels while taking accutane. Get your bloodwork done monthly and adjust as needed. My triglycerides went up over 400, that's off the charts. Get Aquiphor, nothing else for your lips and ears, chapstick doesn't cut it.

...

 

[Mudge]

I had zero depression problems on accutane, and I already have occasional anxiety/depression issues.

You get it, or you dont. The number of problem people is under 1% as I last saw statistically, they do NOT want to prescribe it unless they have to, or if you have a liberal dermo.

 

[Stratosphere]

Can you get Aquaphor at any convenience store, or do you have to special order it?

 

[SJ69]

Can you get Aquaphor at any convenience store, or do you have to special order it?

CVS has it I think, my derm gave me a bunch of samples, which are better bc they are pocket sized.