Oral Medications for Acne

[Stern]

I am not trying to be a jinx here to pour wet blanket over people's successful result with accutane but I do find a need to share with all the people here that is taking accutane or thinking of eating this poison.

As you guys have seen my previous post, how badly my hair drops and is still dropping still. My hair was once so thick that barber always mention it and my friends are all jealous. Right now, it is dropping to the extent that I can see my scalp crystal clear.

I took accutane a year back because I had mild acne when I was only 18. I am a guy btw. I didnt think it was just my hormones raging and was undergoing puberty stage, the vain me just couldnt stop looking at the mirror and resorted to ask my dad to bring me to see a doctor.
I went to the clinic at Punggol area,

Let me warn people first who is thinking of going there because its cheaper compared to Orchard's dermatologist. The doctor there, a old male doctor, is extremely unethical. As we all know, we have to undergo regular blood test while on Accutane and he did not even bother with it. As a result, I did not have any blood test taken throughout the months of Accutane.

I was on Accutane for months, probably 5-6months. The dosage he gave was strange compared to what it should be. Usually people go through a period of constant dosage of the pill, but mine was weird. Sometimes he would tell me to eat it once every two day, then once every three days, or once a week. I couldnt remember it vividly as it was long ago but I am sure the dosage he asked me to take was strangely different.

Being the young naive me, didn't bother to research on anything and bother to ask the doctor about the side effects of it,I just took the drug dumbly. How I regretted it..
I went back to him constantly because the pill was working.
Experienced everything as people here did, dry skin, dry mouth and really clear skin. But only after a month or 2 of stopping the pills, my acne came back. Stronger than before.

Accutane is quite a controversial pill. Some people say their acne didn't come back at all after finishing a course, some are like me, acne was back. And at times I really HATE it when people post a review or comment on how well accutane works for them because they are obviously still on the course! Let me hear once you have stop the pills for months or years and judge if your face is still clear.. -_-

If anyone here who thinks that Accutane is a permanent cure, you're wrong. I read and researched that many people did have clear skin for 2years or so, but after that, their acne still came back. I hope that people can take time to invest on topical med instead of this drug as it will harm your body devastatingly and 10000x times worse.

How worse? Well, I will get things started now.
I was a healthy boy, played basketball, love jogging, love sports, healthy diet, drink at least 2 litres of water everyday and had no problem at all with my health.

After intaking Accutane, I suffered from IBS. I would get diarrhea almost thrice a week now regardless of what I eat. Sorry to be gross but my poo are light brown color even though I eat fruits and vegetables everyday. Regarding to that, it shows that my liver is unhealthy which doesn't have enough bile flow.
I am sure everyone knows why we have to take blood test now. Slow bile flow = unable to digest fat or fat soluble vitamins.
Since Vit A is fat-soluble, it might means I have yet to remove all the accutane in my body. And it is EXTREMELY tough to do that after doing tons of research on it. People still suffered for years with hair loss and other side effects after stopping the drug.

What else? Headaches EVERYDAY that last for 5-10mins. Everyday. I can basically know when the headache will come and will already prepare my medicated oil beside me now
Excess vit A does cause headaches.

Dry eyes. I couldnt sleep now with fan blowing directly at me because my eyes will get dry and it will itch and I will rub and rub until it is sore. Vicious cycle.

Hair loss. This is the most traumatizing one.. Everyone knows how hair can make a HUGE impact on people, make a person look better or unique or standout. Thick luscious hair.. I had that once. I mean why would the *** suddenly I'd be dropping 200++ strands of hair EVERYDAY? My shampoo is consistent, I did no hair dye and everything is the same before as Accutane, my diet my shampoo my hair spray hair gel are all the same. Tell me it's not accutane?
I can see gaps in my fringe now because the thinning of my hair is so drastic, my scalp is extremely obvious now.. Hair is so important and this drug is taking it away from me..

Sweat. I sweat PROFUSELY now. Don't tell me because global warming has worsen. NO. I can literally sweat in an air-conditioned room after being in it for hours. I flush every now and then.
My sweat glands are extremely active compared to before taking Accutane. I will sweat a lot.. I never flush in my whole life before except for those awkward situations but after Accutane, I flush almost everyday in any tiny little weird things and I can feel blood surging up my face.

Other side effects for me are slight depression, backaches, dry throat..

Some people have experienced worse side effects than me and I wonder how could people even actually go on a 2nd course?
Let me tell you something, all this side effects can happen even only after months you finished taking Accutane. I am a living example. Some people might experience the side effects while on it but I didn't but only after stopping it.

Some might tell me not everyone is that suay or unlucky as me. Well, if you want to risk this, getting headaches everyday and IBS and many other side effects just for a temporary clear skin, go ahead.

To those successful people with Accutane, "lucky you" is all I can say.

I not being a sore loser here and whine but I just want to inform everyone about this drug here.
Many young teenagers like me doesn't bother to do research and just take the pills naively without knowing how destructive the side effects would be.

Right now I'm still having acne after discontinuing that poison which was once my so called bestfriend, but I'm not going to resort back to it and am instead giving time to try topical med instead of it. The permanent side effects aren't worth it..

[LTC]

But only after a month or 2 of stopping the pills, my acne came back. Stronger than before.

Accutane is quite a controversial pill. Some people say their acne didn't come back at all after finishing a course, some are like me, acne was back.

If anyone here who thinks that Accutane is a permanent cure, you're wrong. I read and researched that many people did have clear skin for 2years or so, but after that, their acne still came back

QFT, My acne came back 8 months after i last completed 1-2 course of Isotretinoin A, they are just temporary cure for acne.

I was lucky to have experienced mild side effect such as headache, bodyache, very dry lips(mine was constantly bleeding) which is quite common.

To those cotters who wish to take Accutane/Nimegen/Isotretinoin A for their acne treatment it is best to consult a qualified dermatologist(such as those from national skin centre) rather than GP clinics.

[Erica_bubble]

My lips are so dry when i was on this accutane medication too. So i always have to standby lip balm in my bag. Hair loss wasn't that serious, though i do drop quite a fair bit of hair during that few months. But not to the extend of seeing a doctor, so i guess i'm quite lucky. I have stopped taking for very long, sometimes my acnes will still come back again and that is pretty depressing.

[Stern]

You know I still have 12 tablets of Nimegen in my drawer? I actually had the urge to just pop them in and just get a clear skin even for temporary time because I feel so ashamed and low self-esteem because of my skin now. It is so shitty and look like mor beng when I actually had CLEAR skin for months.

But after seeing another strand of hair dropped off, I cursed that pill and cut open them and wash it down, hahaha!

I think oral meds that are generally safe are BCP, and only vitamins. Vitamins are good for overall health and you don't have to rely on them forever and get afraid if you stop, acne would be back cause vitamins can also be found in your everyday food.

Can anyone recommend me which omega oil and zinc supplement should I get? The specific brand?
GNC good or those assorted brands in Watsons?

Thank!

[Sarah4142]

I can recommend a reputable pharmacy (Accutane) - http://canadian-medshop.com I received the order and it was on time and the pills work great.

[cherry586]

I think the problem with accutane is that whenever someone has a bad experience with it, they'll blog about it, post on forums, etc etc. however those who achieve good skin don't find a need to rave about it (as much) online. This creates an imbalance of info out there, which I think gives accutane a very bad reputation.

In my case, I took accutane over 10 years ago in my teens. My acne was very bad and this drug cleared out my skin and gave me confidence I never had before. After stopping the course, my clear skin continued for 10 years. Only the last couple of years or so I have started to break out slightly. I'll be starting my 2nd round again and hope it goes well as the first round did.

The main side effects I had the previous time was dry skin, dry lips, dry eyes and some hair loss. But last time, I didn't take care of myself at all. So this time will be trying hair masks, deep conditioning good skin care regime, etc.

Most important thing if anyone out there is thinking of starting on accutane is that you are fully aware of all risks and make an informed decision.

[madbeautyfreak]

i have mild acne and tiny acne scars all over so i went to consult dr loke recently in january

(i used to go when i was younger but i stopped coz i was too busy with college so forgot to take meds all the time, last time he told me not to consume calcium (dairy products) 4-6 hours prior to taking the meds so sometimes i skipped if i had milk tea for dinner.. so the acne came back about 1-2 years after i stopped.. but not worse than before - just my regular mild acne - zits popping out, u squeeze and then there's scars all over my face)

so i took alprim & oroton as prescribed by dr loke

i start with 2 alprim a day, once in the morning & once at night (for 3 weeks) and oroton twice a week (for 10 weeks).

i finished my first round by mid march and came back for a blood test - my liver function is fine, thus dr.loke prescribed another round.

dr loke pointed out that oroton stays within my body up until 10 days so if i don't have any big pimple breakout, can lessen the dosage slowly, first round is 3/4 days apart so for the next round can do 5 days apart, then slowly to 7 days apart. he says don't have to consult anymore until next year, just continue take meds and control/checkup next year. i am 24 this year btw, he says my acne is caused by hormones, so depend when it stops..

so far i did experience dry lips, but i use lipbalm morning & nite so quite ok.. and dryer eyes, i use eyedrops (esp since i wear contacts)

no hair loss for me but i did feel joint aches but i try to exercise regularly and stretch so still manageable

i do notice the blackhead & whitehead coming out and i extract them manually once a week, then exfoliate..

i think that as long as u take oral meds prescribed by a derm who monitors ur usage and u are well informed that you should not donate blood or get pregnant during the course of medication, any side effects should be manageable

of course skincare is very important too (tho strangely dr loke never push any products to me.. he only say facewash, put his topical cream on big pimples, sunblock optional, his acne lotion at nite to prevent breakout)

but ever since my skin cleared up, i started to take care more, i use avene gel cleanance facewash, then tone with guardian rosewater + witchhazel toner, body shop vit e eye cream, olay regenerist serum, kiehl's ultra facial oil free gel moisturizer and kiehl's ultra light spf 50 sunblock in the morning, at nite i use dr loke's acne lotion after the serum. also put his topical cream when necessary. dr loke's lipbalm is good and cheap too tho no fancy yummy smell

i also moisturize my body using vaseline lotion.. i must say as of now i'm really happy with my results, my skin is clean, no breakouts, tho acne scars still apparent but faded, and due to the whitehead/blackhead, i just started using naruko oil our blackhead removal once a week before i exfoliate with body shop tea tree face scrub..

personally i think a good disciplined skincare regime on top of the right dosage/usage of oral meds as monitored by a qualified derm is the way to go.. as for skincare depending on your budget (i splurge on oil free moisturizer and sunblock coz i don't want to appear greasy/oily during the day)

as for serum as i am still quite young, an over the counter one that won't break your bank is good enoguh to prevent fine lines and wrinkles..

in addition, i always use sunglasses & uv-protect umbrella when out in the sun in the morning to get to work and in the afternoon getting lunch.. i also apply iS Clinical powder sunscreen for that additional protection.. and of course drink plenty of water and get 6-8 hrs of sleep each nite..

oral meds are not poison, you just have to find a good doctor who can prescribe you with the right dosage