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Roaccutane

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I've been referred to the hospital after I took oxytetracycline for 7 months and it actually made me twice as bad (not a happy bunny). Anyway, I was wondering how long people have had to wait in between getting the referal from the doctors and going to the hospital? I was referred in July and still haven't even heard from the hpspital, let alone gone there. And then when you do go, do you get given roaccutane (if tats what they decide) on the day or do you have to wait again? The doctor says they're sure I will be put on it because my skin is really bad, not so much spots although I do get my share, but inflamed,bumpy, and generally not very nice. I feel like shite and its left me with bugger all confidence. I know I have a nice face underneath it, but that in a way makes it even more depressing. Cheers for any info.
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Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    All areas are different with their waiting times for specialist appointments.
    It would probably be a good idea to phone the hospital department you have been reffered to and ask if your name is on the waiting list and how long they estimate the waiting time to be.
    The specialist will normally see you and then write to your Dr advising of treatment, then you see your Dr for a prescription. Sometimes they give out a hospital prescription, which you can get on the same day, but again its different in different areas.

    Sorry Im being so unhelpful:confused:

    What county do you live in? someone from your area would be best to give you a bit of 'insider' knowledge.:)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hi Museman,

    Depends on how bad the acne is, and how greasy your skin is. It's most likely that they will try you on topical retinoids first. These are creams or gels containing a Vitamin-A-like substance, and are usually pretty good.

    Roaccutane is serious stuff, and they don't give it out unless they absolutely have to.

    Try doing a search, I think there was a thread about it a few months ago with lots of people telling about their experiences.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Roactane

    I was on this stuff for about 7 weeks! Really works! But is not the nicest stuff to be on. Really dry's your lips and skin up. BUT IS DEFO WORTH IT!

    Russ
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Yikes. Has anyone been on www.roaccutaneaction.com? Go on it and read the guestbook. Having been on other sites too, some of what I have read has scared the living daylights out of me, theres even some kind of a thing about it in US congress in December. What other things might the dermatologist suggest? Roaccutane sounds dangerous.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    yeah i was on it too, it took about 4 months from being referred to actually getting an appointment, but its well worth the wait, evn if mental illness and possible attempts at suicide are in the list of side effects ;)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I was on Roaccutane lastyear, my skin specalist put me on that. First of all it was for about 6 months, roaccutane worked but the doc wasnt really happy about it, so i had to be on it for another 3 months.
    I really got sore, dry lips, pimples of my back and peeling skin and really swollen lips.
    What can i say it did hurt (I was taking like 3 Roaccutane tablets aday) but it is worth it.
    Now I do not have any acne
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    hey, does anyone know what the roaccutane cream is like? i've been on minocin for a while but in a couple of months my doctor might put me on this cream so i was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with it?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Back when I was 17 I was on roaccutane for a long period of time. I think it was a bit experimental back then as basically everything was listed on the possible side effects. It works tho, I had bumpy skin which would blister and all sorts and it really made a lot of difference. Didn't get many side effects, just the dry lips and eye lids, had vertigo once.

    Can't say how long I had to wait, if it's a big problem go private.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Right not that i want to scare you or anything, but believe me males do NOT want to take this drug. It is deadly as it is only meant to be used in conjunction with the female metabolisim. It is designed for females with very serious acne, not males. Look it up in a medical dictionary, infact anywhere you like and you will find the same write up about it.

    I really dont want to scare you, but as soon as i read your post my heart nearly stopped. My mother fed my father this for months in his food. We never realised what she was doing to him, but when we saw what was happening to him (the side effects) they were so horrific (hair loss, shingles, internal bleeding etc) that we had it checked out and it was confirmed what she had been doing to him, and the drug that had been used. So i speak from past experience, even being a female myself i wouldnt touch it. I would rather find another way of clearing my skin up, than risk what i saw happen to my dad. Sorry if ive rambled, but guys out there, it really isnt worth it!! :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Right not that i want to scare you or anything, but believe me males do NOT want to take this drug. It is deadly as it is only meant to be used in conjunction with the female metabolisim. It is designed for females with very serious acne, not males. Look it up in a medical dictionary, infact anywhere you like and you will find the same write up about it.

    I really dont want to scare you, but as soon as i read your post my heart nearly stopped. My mother fed my father this for months in his food. We never realised what she was doing to him, but when we saw what was happening to him (the side effects) they were so horrific (hair loss, shingles, internal bleeding etc) that we had it checked out and it was confirmed what she had been doing to him, and the drug that had been used. So i speak from past experience. I know you could argue that what my mother fed my dad was in unstable quantites, but think about it, a drug that does this kind of damage to your body and messes with your brain to the point where it can even induce vertigo...is it really worth it??

    Even being a female myself i wouldnt touch it. I would rather find another way of clearing my skin up, than risk what i saw happen to my dad. Sorry if ive rambled, but i would think very, very seriously before making a decision on whether to take roaccutane or not. Hope this has been of some help to you. :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You wouldn't want to take asprin if you'd seen someone who's overdosed on it. Any manufactured drug is going to have side effects if taken irrisponsibly.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by MWF
    You wouldn't want to take asprin if you'd seen someone who's overdosed on it. Any manufactured drug is going to have side effects if taken irrisponsibly.

    Yeah i agree but like i mentioned before, its meant for the female metabolisim NOT a males, so the damage is gonna be far more greater.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Okay, well I know a couple of guys who take it, and do you really think people would prescribe it to males if it did all that to every single one of them? I know nothing about this stuff but maybe your mum was giving him high doses or something.

    *shrugs*
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hey

    I used Roaccutane last year, it's a 3months cycle. My acne wasnt all that bad to start with but what it does is dry out the subaceous gland on top of your head so the grease isnt produced that causes the acne in the first place. The side effects differ from person to person but I didnt seem to experience any side effects when I took it and it certainly helped get rid of the problem.

    Get the odd flare up now and again and it's kind of still there but not as bad as before I went on it. If you have to go for it do, it's worth it. I had a mate on it at the same time as me and he was OK also although you need to stay out of the sun while on it so dont take it in the summer!!!

    Hope this helps a bit.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hi cheers for that, I go to the hospital at 10.55 tomorrow morning as it happens, and i'll see what goes on, thanks.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Right, Roaccutane it is then! I've got to go back on 4 weeks and see how its going, I'm not on too big a dose at the moment ie. I weigh about 68kg so I could take a maximum of 68mg per day, but I'm only on 35mg a day for the moment. Reading the list of effects is a bit daunting, but then again if you look into things, even simple everyday operations at the hospital have dodgy possible side effects, they just have to cover their backs by making us aware. I know people who have had fairly inocuous operations but when you look on the possible effects list there's all kind of things like impotence, depression and this and that. I'll be keeping everything crossed over the next few weeks, wish me luck!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hi museman.

    I'd love to know how you get on with this as im considering going for it myself. Ive been taking fecking minocin for about a year now with limited results, but my doc wants to keep me on this cos 'everyones spots are worse in winter'.

    i know the problems with having acne, if u ever wanna talk or anything just PM me.

    Good Luck mate.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    No problem I'll keep you posted, I know some people who were on minocin and it worked whilst they were taking it but as soon as they stopped it went back to being as bad as it was before again. I'd pester your GP to refer you to the hospital, they shouldn't have left you taking something for a year if it wasn't really working a great deal. My lips have already started cracking a bit and my skin's started going dry, wonderful eh. Oh well, as long as it comes good in the end. Likewise, drop us a message if you want to know anything or talk about it, cheers.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Just a quick question for those who have taken roaccutane before- how long was it before you started to see noticeable results? I was just wondering if there was anything to look forward to amidst the dry face and lips!!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I *used to* have acne i took loads of stuff for it but nothing ever worked then i was offered Roaccutane and i even went to the dermatoligist about it but when she told me all the side effects i was like "NO WAY!" Dry eyes, dry lips, dry skin, etc. I couldn't imagine going out looking like that, i'd have to stay in all the time! And with girls you are not allowed to wear make up but i dont leave the house without make up on so i couldn't do that but now i'm older the acne has cleared up with no scars or anything.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Look at the side effects of any powerful drug or operation etc. and there will be undesirable possible consequences, and at some point in your life you'll have to risk them, the thing is they have to cover every possibility. Anyway, what use was that as a response? I am aware of the side effects as was everyone else who took it, I dont want to hear anything negative, I was asking people who have been on it.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    jellygirl - Somehow I doubt you had serious acne to have that attitude towards the medication? You say you wouldn't have been able to leave the house because of dry lips, eyes and skin? Big deal! Surely if your 'acne' was so bad you'd have traded a bit of dryness for it :rolleyes:. When I was on roaccutane a bit of dryness was the sign of happiness as my acne started to deminish and I could go outside again.

    Anyway what is the point of your message? Are you trying to make people feel bad or something? Are you saying the people on here taking roaccutane shouldn't feel they can go out because their dry skin looks so bad because that's ridiculous.

    Well done you didn't take it and now your acne has cleared without scars, I bet it was really bad :rolleyes:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Mine was really bad actually, i was just trying to warn people about it. I used to get bullied so bad about it. Why do people ALWAYS take my posts the wrong way, try reading it without a negative attitude and u might get somewhere.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    LOL turning yourself into the victim for a change :rolleyes:

    Face it if you had actually had acne you would have jumped at the chance of getting rid of it for the sake of dry lips. You are just insulting the true sufferers by saying that.

    Bullied? We've all been bullied honey, I was picked on for years and I'm sure others on here are right now. Some how I think they'd put up with dry lips to stop it :lol:

    Do you want to see my scars JellyGirl and then tell me you had it oh so bad?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    MWF, it's OK to disagree with people, but lay off the personal attacks. It's not appropriate.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Sorry, I am a nasty little goblin this morning.

    JellyGirl - Nothing personal, just concerned that your comments about dry lips and skin looking bad might but someone off roaccutane or upset someone using it. I had really bad acne and it did me the world of good.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Richy and Judy are having a special about this right now!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Damn I missed it, what were they saying about it? I bet it was all the usual stuff about mental problems and things. You will find that most people who have suffered problems with it were usually prescribed too much by their dermatologist, or were not blood tested or checked before they started taking it. If I find myself struggling with it I shall go back to the hospital and if need be stop taking it, but at the moment I am on a low dose and I'm ok.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    It was a bit of scare mongering really, typical one sided journalism. They had a mother on who's sun had suffered severe mental problems after taking roaccutane, also in the studio was a lad who had a quite severe lip condition and his dermotologist. I missed an earlier interview with a mother who had lost her son after he commited suicide.

    The lad with the lip problem I felt particulary sorry for, although he looked close to normal his lips looked sore, he was a good looking lad too so it must be driving him nuts! The dermotologist they had in was his and he explained that when he first met the lad he was having to wear a mask it was so bad. His condition ment he couldn't drink a hot drink without his lips turning into mush. He had to apply cream and peel the remains of his lips off in the morning.

    The other cases of mental problems leading to suicide were a problem of bad doctoring than anything. They should simply never have been given roaccutane.

    The item made few conclusions other than that like any drug roccutane can cause nasty side effects if prescribed incorrectly. The only really concerning thing mentioned, and this was by the dermetologist is that an alarming number of people are depressed when taking it. He was saying that most patients he speaks to are depressed but he also gets a huge number of letters congratulating the treatment each week. He seemed confused by it and said more research and analysis needs to be done on patients taking it.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Just thought I'd let you know that I've been on roaccutane for a week now, and I know it's early on and I have a way to go, but I cannot believe the difference I have seen in the course of a week. I know very few people who have got results so fast, but for the first 4 or 5 days I noticed nothing, then I woke up on tuesday I think it was, and a load of my spots and lumpy areas had just turned into dry skin, which came off when I washed my face and they were gone. I can now already actually run my hands over my face without feeling a series of big lumps and the like. So I'll let you know what happens from here, all I can say for now is that the difference in a week is remarkable, the doctor didn't even think it'd work that fast, in fact sometimes the first 7-10 days your acne can flare up a bit but *THUS FAR* I have been fortunate. Cheers.
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