Solutions to Accutane Side Effects

[goloco]

After trying the Naturopathic route for 1.5 years (through acupuncture, nutrition, supplements, etc.)...it seems I couldn't find a way to avoid accutane.

Ive been diagnosed with cystic acne and have been dealing with it since 13

From my 20-30s, the typical routine is I do an accutane cycle 1x per year, to combat a flare up I inevitably seem to have

At 5"11, I hover around 210lbs, I got the VA to refer me to community care to see a local dermatology clinic.

October 28 got approved for accutane starting at 60mg....with the intent to increase the dose to 80mg

I'm familiar with certain side effects and solutions

Dry lips = always have chap stick or Vaseline with me
Lethargy= do accutane before bed, injectable Carnitine+fish oil, glutamine

HOWEVER, it seems this cycle I'm running into a very achy lower back, NEVER have any back issues. I like to think I'm really on top of my back training, stretching, etc. to ensure this solid back base

Do you run into achy joints/muscles when using accutane? If so, what's your solution(s)?

SIDENOTE:
Haven't started the injectable Carnitine yet, I plan to start today; perhaps the carnitine might be the tool for my achy back as well.

 

[Zamun]

My solution is use a lower dose. I’m 240 lbs and I only take 40 a day. They wanted me to use a higher 80-120 a day dose, but why would I want to feel like shit?

Lower for longer is better in my opinion.

 

[goloco]

My solution is use a lower dose. I’m 240 lbs and I only take 40 a day. They wanted me to use a higher 80-120 a day dose, but why would I want to feel like shit?

Lower for longer is better in my opinion.

Good point

I thought I was going low with 60
But I can go lower and longer with 30... And probably reduce or eliminate these side effects

 

[traininsane11]

There’s some good videos on this topic by vigorous Steve on YouTube

 

[dieselbuilder]

I feel like around here this is echoed a bit: Why not start lower and see how it goes? Like 30mg. You can always go up. Perhaps you only need a little bit. You wont know unless you try it

 

[chooch]

When I did it years back, I only ran 20mg/day. Sides were minimum, and I still cleared up. Once I was clear, I stopped using it and I haven’t had any issues since. Obviously since you’ve used it before that won’t be the case for you but I’d try the lower dose and stop once cleared up to avoid putting your body through it.

 

[Ber_tren]

Ya same here I ran it one time at 20mg a day for around 4 to 5 months an it worked at that dosage, I personally would only see the dry lips and skin for side effects thats about it

 

[Black Beard]

After trying the Naturopathic route for 1.5 years (through acupuncture, nutrition, supplements, etc.)...it seems I couldn't find a way to avoid accutane.

Ive been diagnosed with cystic acne and have been dealing with it since 13

From my 20-30s, the typical routine is I do an accutane cycle 1x per year, to combat a flare up I inevitably seem to have

At 5"11, I hover around 210lbs, I got the VA to refer me to community care to see a local dermatology clinic.

October 28 got approved for accutane starting at 60mg....with the intent to increase the dose to 80mg

I'm familiar with certain side effects and solutions

Dry lips = always have chap stick or Vaseline with me
Lethargy= do accutane before bed, injectable Carnitine+fish oil, glutamine

HOWEVER, it seems this cycle I'm running into a very achy lower back, NEVER have any back issues. I like to think I'm really on top of my back training, stretching, etc. to ensure this solid back base

Do you run into achy joints/muscles when using accutane? If so, what's your solution(s)?

SIDENOTE:
Haven't started the injectable Carnitine yet, I plan to start today; perhaps the carnitine might be the tool for my achy back as well.

Use as low a dose as possible. Once you knock the acne down, maintain it with very low dose. 10 mg daily if possible. Maintenance takes a lot less once the acne is gone.




Also supplement that with tazarotene topical cream 0.1% which is extremely potent against acne. It's a newer version of accutane but topical and more selective for acne and skin health.

 

[Siggy]

I had great results on just 20 mg for 3 months.

Repeated the process a few months later and havent needed it since, been about a year. Removed 90% of my back acne.

Be careful, this stuff is supposed to be harsh on your liver.

The only side I got was the dry lips, it took a long time but it eventually went away.

 

[Knight9]

In 2010, I ran 20mg for 6mos and it worked well. I remember this idea first being proposed by Ulter and Macrophagealpha on AFBoard in 2006.
in 2016-17, I ran accutane for about 7 months...4months at 20mg, 2months at 40mg, 1month at 60mg. I'm not entirely sure upping the dosage did me better than I would have done if I had maintained 20mg.


I'd definitely recommend 20mg low dose over a longer period. The only thing that really sucks is sun sensitivity and potential things like wound healing and tattoos if you want any ink done during that time period. Dry lips and skin are noticeable but manageable with cetphil moisturizer and some lip balm one of the girls I know recommended me. It's been so long I don't remember. In 2017, during that second run of it...I did experience wild soreness and muscle tightness in my back and heels - especially when waking up out of bed.

 

[Jhotsauce7]

In 2010, I ran 20mg for 6mos and it worked well. I remember this idea first being proposed by Ulter and Macrophagealpha on AFBoard in 2006.
in 2016-17, I ran accutane for about 7 months...4months at 20mg, 2months at 40mg, 1month at 60mg. I'm not entirely sure upping the dosage did me better than I would have done if I had maintained 20mg.


I'd definitely recommend 20mg low dose over a longer period. The only thing that really sucks is sun sensitivity and potential things like wound healing and tattoos if you want any ink done during that time period. Dry lips and skin are noticeable but manageable with cetphil moisturizer and some lip balm one of the girls I know recommended me. It's been so long I don't remember. In 2017, during that second run of it...I did experience wild soreness and muscle tightness in my back and heels - especially when waking up out of bed.

Ran a similar duration and protocol as you. The cracked lips was one thing but the sun sensitivity was bad too.. and my nose would get so dry it would just start bleeding randomly. Muscle soreness too.

After that, I was good for number of years but then 5-6 years later had some reoccurring cystic acne and ran it lower dose 20mg for 3-4 months. I was good for awhile and then had to repeat the low dose run.

The low dose runs were night and day so much more manageable for me, for sides.

 

[Battousai]

I never really got side effects from accutane. Hydrate, carry around some chapstick, keep up your electrolytes.

 

[st114]

I tried accutane for my bacne and started planning my suicide a week later. 20-40mg a day if I remember right. I may try a lower dose or spacing it out EOD. Little scared to try it again though. But my acne hasn’t fully went away

 

[Karađorđe]

I took 40mg as a teenager and that was pretty bad. My joints were achy the entire time, skin was flaky, the whole bit. It worked well though. A decade later and I still get little to no acne when I was very prone prior.

I’d recommend using 10mg ED or EOD to mitigate side effects. A good moisturizer, fish oil, and NAC could help. I’m happy with the results but it definitely can wreak havoc on your body. If you don’t drink or use orals on it though, your liver will be fine.

 

[Karađorđe]

I tried accutane for my bacne and started planning my suicide a week later. 20-40mg a day if I remember right. I may try a lower dose or spacing it out EOD. Little scared to try it again though. But my acne hasn’t fully went away

It caused my bad depression as a teenager to get even worse. Lol, I’m not saying it happens to everyone or even most, but it can be nasty.

I remember people telling me when I was taking it about all the teenagers who committed suicide while on it. It sounded like fear-mongering, but in retrospect it’s something to note. My joints were crying too.

 

[gib68sg]

Run a lower dose until you get to around 150mg - 220mg per kg of weight. Thats the standard that has been around in dermatology for literally ever. No real point in running short “cycles” of it only to have to repeat it again. It sucks, but I ran the highest dose my doctor would allow (used online telemedicine) for a quicker way to reach that target. It becomes a “semi-permanent” to “permanent” cure as it literally changes your pores, oil producing glands and production of sebum.

 

[Siggy]

I tried accutane for my bacne and started planning my suicide a week later. 20-40mg a day if I remember right. I may try a lower dose or spacing it out EOD. Little scared to try it again though. But my acne hasn’t fully went away

 

[specter]

Used 20mg eod for 4 weeks and it worked wonders for my skin, only really sides i had was dry lips and ears canals.

 

[goloco]

Thanks so much for ALL the input!

The dermatologist is on the same page running low dose longer and maintenance dose of even lower, if necessary

Right now I dropped to 30mg

 

[goloco]

I feel like around here this is echoed a bit: Why not start lower and see how it goes? Like 30mg. You can always go up. Perhaps you only need a little bit. You wont know unless you try it

Yes, I'm switching to lower amount

I'm glad I went on here to check to see if my dosage were too high or too low... Definitely switching gears to 20mg or 30mg, I already contacted the Dermatologist to change the prescription

I have a bunch of people on here who live and do a similar lifestyle to relate to

The Dermatologist is a pencil neck and the obese staff probably do walks and dance classes for fitness