I thought I was the only one!!
I'm on a really low dose (20 mg per day), on my 7th month, and over the past mmm.... 3 months? I've gained 6 kilos!
I've always been quite a big eater and usually loose weight really fast if I want to, but since I've been on Accutane it has been impossible for me to loose this overweight!!
I've been 125 lbs for years- eating whatever I want. I just gained 9 lbs in 2 months while on month 2-4 of accutane. I didn't think it was the medicine but it won't come off even with dieting- and I didn't have to watch my weight. Reading these, I think my stomach pain- which I didn't realize was related until now-may have led me to eat more. It felt like hunger to me.
I also think something may be going on with my digestion. I have two more months- and my skin just stopped breaking out. I kind if want to quit after 4.5 months.
I am 17 and have been on accutane for 12 months although I have a really low dose. I started on 10mg but it did not clear it up fully and blood tests were fine. I was moved up to 15mg and then 20mg gradually and the difference was amazing. I went from having oily, pimple-prone skin to clear skin that needs no where near as much maintenance. If you are unsure, definitely talk to a dermatologists and inquire about low dosages. I don't know if it is just an Australian thing but the only side effects were dry lips and dry hands which only lasted a week. My biggest problem was that I have fair skin and becuase of the photosensitivity, I got sunburnt a lot if I forgot sunscreen. I mainly regret no stating it sooner becuase the benefits definitely outweigh the drawbacks.
I was on accutane (as well as birth control) my Junior year of high school. I received the desired results and all was well. No weight gain, no weight loss. My Freshmen year of college, my face again began breaking out and nothing would help. So I was prescribed accutane for a second time (still birth control). This time around, I gained 25 pounds in about 4 months!! Since my treatment with accutane has been done, I have lost 10 pounds fairly easily with a slight diet change and moderate exercise but seem to be struggling with the last 15.
Accurate does not cause birth defects unless you are pregnant while on it. That is why it is extremely regulated. (You have to take a pregnancy test one month prior to starting, every month during and one month after finishing along with monthly liver function tests.) I gained a lot of weight while on accurate but I'm not sure if it is because of that or the birth control I had to get on to take accutane. Abstinence isn't an appropriate answer for your primary meathod of birth contr according to the system they use to regulate it. As far as other side effects it Gave me pretty bad headaches and really dry skin/ chapped lips, and bloody noses. You have to increase your water intake a bunch while taking it. How severe your side effects will be will depend on your dosage and you as a person. They will start you at a lower end dose for your weight to see how you adjust and if you want you can bump up to take some time off of the amount of time you have to be on it. It is the ONlY thing that has worked for my skin. I went from having staph infections in my face, not being able to touch anything without my hands splitting open to clear skin and normal hands and arms. For me it was worth the side effects. My skin conditions were caused from chemical exposure in my line of work so I had extreme skin issues. I have to get back on it soon since I couldn't finish the time length for treatment here.
I am on my 4th month of taking accutane and i did not get any of the side effects from the pill besides dry face, body and lips and stomach pain. But now that i am starting to get near the end of my treatment i am getting VERY sore muscles and I'm tired ALL THE TIME. I have also gained 5 pounds but nothing some old-fashion exercise and healthy eating won't fix. I am also starting to get a lot of mood swings. I can go from being insanely excited to not wanting to talk to anyone in fear that i might scream at them for eating string cheese the wrong way. I think it will definitely be worth it as long you and me can remember that it is not actually what we feel it is just the drug.
I stopped a month early because i was getting depressed, rude and gained 10 pounds, which is unusual for me because i have always been skinny. I began exercising more and changed my diet to lose weight but i lost just 1 pound. Just stopped today, will see if i can lose 5 pounds off my stomach
I've been on Accutane for 3 months and have had a lot of side effects. I've got rashes all over my arms, headaches, tire, sore and joint pain. I'm dieting and exercising and my weight won't change. My blood tests have been bad since I started it. However, I'm so tired of acne (I'm going on 15 years) that I am trying to push through. Have any of you had the rash I am talking about? I moisturize and my doctor gave me a steroid cream to put on it but it will get better and then come right back. If anyone has any suggestions that would be great!
This is for anyone currently taking Accutane. STOP TAKING IT IMMEDIATELY. I took it 6 years ago and I am still suffering with the side effects: joint pain, muscle pain, digestive problems, pale skin, sensitive skin under sun or any artificial light, dry skin, dry hair, hair loss, tinnitus, poor night vision, weight gain, and so on. Some of these side effects started while taking Accutane and others started after stopping, but all of these side effects have gotten worse as time goes by.
Also, Accutane robbed me of my sexual desire. This one started early during the treatment and has only gone downhill. It is frightening how this drug ruins your body and mind. Oh, how I wish I could turn back time.
I am a girl of 25 and have been taking this medicine for 6 months. I think there is so much unknown about this drug and everyone is different. I eat healthily and exercise often and the only difference in my life is this drug. I belive it has caused me to gain weight. And can also see how some people feel about depressive feelings. I haven't been very effected by these negative feelings but low days are definitely harder to pull up from. I think it's mean for people to say some of the things they have on here. About depression being a character weakness and weight gain being due to fat people eating to much. I'm sure most of the acne inflicted reading and writing here have been bullied. We are on the road to recovery. Be nice to each other. Good luck out there x
Been on accutane for 3 months and have experienced extreme weight gain around the abdominal area, despite no change in diet or exercise. Also experiencing water retention in legs and seems like my face too.. like my face is puffy amd chubby looking.
Accutane was the only thing that would work for me. I cannot count how many times i got told to eat better or use a certain face wash. Accutane does have all those side effects, but at varying degrees and only whilst you are on it, and the doctors make sure you know not to get pregnant whilst taking the drug. I didn't experience the mental effects, but that would be the worst side effect i would consider, as i know two people who had to come off it due to depression or psychotic episodes. Accutane literally changed my life, i would never show my shoulders or back, and would use my hair to cover my face. i dont know what my life would be like now (ten years on) or how much more scarred my skin would be if i hadn't gone on it when i did (14 years old)
Not really I was on accutane for 5 months last year and I didn't have any problem whatsoever and it's very rare and not common. It's not like eveyone who takes accutane have these problems. It's very as I said very very very rare . It helped me in so many ways that my skin got clear without any problems and I mean my skin was bad before very bad . At first when ou take accutane you peel and you break out a lot , you have swing moods , accutane does change a person specially in the few weeks you start it , you will see a quick reaction of either depression or anxiety , not wanting to go out . I was so ashamed and scared to even go out the first month . Then it calmed down and got less and less and less .
I am currently taking accurate... I have been taking it for about 6 months now and I have noticed a little weight gain but nothing too severe. As someone else replied and stated, there are a lot of side effects, mostly involving pregnancy, but when on this medication you have to do a lot including blood work every month to check for pregnancy and if it were to turn out positive they would stop your treatment. Some of the other side effects I have not encountered any of them except the occasional blurry vision but that only lasts a few minutes and very little, maybe once every couple weeks. Everyone's body is different. The side effects that I may have will and can be different from the next persons. You have to go to the doctor monthly and answer questions. If the Dermotologist puts you on this medicine then he or she will explain everything and take every precaution. I hope this helps your decision