What to make of all the accutane horror stories?

The fact is, accutane is a dangerous drug. Is clear skin worth the side
effects? It wasn't for me. Accutane made me very sick. And, it didn't
clear my skin up. So, heed the warnings and make an educated decision.

ar

"Schilling38" <bostonkid.DeleteThis@usa.com> wrote in message
news:661b8f2f.0312252105.2e78c9a5@posting.google.com...
> Hey guys
>
> I recently was prescribed accutane, and have been on 40 mg per day for
> 3 days so far.
>
> Me being the fool I am went and researched all these terrifying forums
> around the internet with all these people posting about how accutane
> made them lose their hair, even when they stopped treatment, how
> accutane has caused permanent joint and inflamation damage, how its
> ruined their vision and made everything blurry, how its taking their
> memory and concentration away, and how its still such a dangerous drug
> and not worth taking, even years after they have finished treatment.
>
> Reading all these websites has put me into a nervous, panic filled
> state. I don't want to feel this way!
>
> I am really hoping that these are the stories of the >1% of people who
> suffer rare side effects from accutane and are the ones posting all
> over the internet, while the other 99% are enjoying their lives away
> from message boards.
>
> Please folks, please help me get over these fears. I really hope to
> see responses in this thread soon .. I need to stop looking at these
> freaky websites!
>
> Scared,
> schilling38
 >> Stay informed about: What to make of all the accutane horror stories? 

I've been on 4 full Accutane courses (the 4th with a higher than
normal dose), plus a 2.5-year low dose course, and I've suffered no
long term effects that I am aware of.

During the early part of my 4th course, I did experience some hair
loss, but nothing significant (although I was briefly alarmed by it).
Also, during the last 3 courses I experienced some heel stiffness/pain
which did continue for sometime after each course. I found that gentle
exercise always eliminated the heel stiffness and pain.


bostonkid.DeleteThis@usa.com (Schilling38) wrote in message news:<661b8f2f.0312252105.2e78c9a5.DeleteThis@posting.google.com>...
> Hey guys
>
> I recently was prescribed accutane, and have been on 40 mg per day for
> 3 days so far.
>
> Me being the fool I am went and researched all these terrifying forums
> around the internet with all these people posting about how accutane
> made them lose their hair, even when they stopped treatment, how
> accutane has caused permanent joint and inflamation damage, how its
> ruined their vision and made everything blurry, how its taking their
> memory and concentration away, and how its still such a dangerous drug
> and not worth taking, even years after they have finished treatment.
>
> Reading all these websites has put me into a nervous, panic filled
> state. I don't want to feel this way!
>
> I am really hoping that these are the stories of the >1% of people who
> suffer rare side effects from accutane and are the ones posting all
> over the internet, while the other 99% are enjoying their lives away
> from message boards.
>
> Please folks, please help me get over these fears. I really hope to
> see responses in this thread soon .. I need to stop looking at these
> freaky websites!
>
> Scared,
> schilling38
 >> Stay informed about: What to make of all the accutane horror stories? 

On 25 Dec 2003 21:05:47 -0800, bostonkid RemoveThis @usa.com (Schilling38) wrote:

>Hey guys
>
>I recently was prescribed accutane, and have been on 40 mg per day for
>3 days so far.
>
>Me being the fool I am went and researched all these terrifying forums
>around the internet with all these people posting about how accutane
>made them lose their hair, even when they stopped treatment, how
>accutane has caused permanent joint and inflamation damage, how its
>ruined their vision and made everything blurry, how its taking their
>memory and concentration away, and how its still such a dangerous drug
>and not worth taking, even years after they have finished treatment.
>
>Reading all these websites has put me into a nervous, panic filled
>state. I don't want to feel this way!
>
>I am really hoping that these are the stories of the >1% of people who
>suffer rare side effects from accutane and are the ones posting all
>over the internet, while the other 99% are enjoying their lives away
>from message boards.

Thats probably exactly whats happening, but do you really want to risk
being in the 1%?
 >> Stay informed about: What to make of all the accutane horror stories? 

Hmmm.. well it seems theres a couple here who feel that accutane is a
bad decision and one that doesn't. God this doesn't help my worried
mind much ..



take.TakeThisOut@control.co.uk (Blast Off!) wrote in message news:<3fec636b.4991968.TakeThisOut@news.nildram.co.uk>...
> On 25 Dec 2003 21:05:47 -0800, bostonkid.TakeThisOut@usa.com (Schilling38) wrote:
>
> >Hey guys
> >
> >I recently was prescribed accutane, and have been on 40 mg per day for
> >3 days so far.
> >
> >Me being the fool I am went and researched all these terrifying forums
> >around the internet with all these people posting about how accutane
> >made them lose their hair, even when they stopped treatment, how
> >accutane has caused permanent joint and inflamation damage, how its
> >ruined their vision and made everything blurry, how its taking their
> >memory and concentration away, and how its still such a dangerous drug
> >and not worth taking, even years after they have finished treatment.
> >
> >Reading all these websites has put me into a nervous, panic filled
> >state. I don't want to feel this way!
> >
> >I am really hoping that these are the stories of the >1% of people who
> >suffer rare side effects from accutane and are the ones posting all
> >over the internet, while the other 99% are enjoying their lives away
> >from message boards.
>
> Thats probably exactly whats happening, but do you really want to risk
> being in the 1%?
 >> Stay informed about: What to make of all the accutane horror stories? 

"Blast Off!" <take.TakeThisOut@control.co.uk> wrote ...
> On 25 Dec 2003 21:05:47 -0800, bostonkid.TakeThisOut@usa.com (Schilling38) wrote:
[severe side effects]
> >I am really hoping that these are the stories of the >1% of people who
> >suffer rare side effects from accutane and are the ones posting all
> >over the internet, while the other 99% are enjoying their lives away
> >from message boards.
>
> Thats probably exactly whats happening, but do you really want to risk
> being in the 1%?


It's still just <1%.
I took the "risk" over two years ago (with my derm saying it wasn't such a
risk as people make it). And right now I'm taking the "risk" again. Apart
from a dry skin, dry spots on my arms and the nose bleeds... all is fine...
again.
Greetz,

*tada! *
 >> Stay informed about: What to make of all the accutane horror stories? 

> > > [severe side effects]
> > >I am really hoping that these are the stories of the >1% of people who
> > >suffer rare side effects from accutane and are the ones posting all
> > >over the internet, while the other 99% are enjoying their lives away
> > >from message boards.

hi, (i'm 2 months into my accutane course), i think one thing is for
certain:- every person has a different experience on accutane. ranging
from the extreme to people that have noticed very little... 2 guys at
my work were on accutane when they younger and have no regrets, yes,
they got the dryness and bad flaking, but that stopped after the
course - along with the acne.

my derm gave his son a course with great results - think he was using
this as an example - reassurance for me, if he'd give it to his son
then he figures it to be 'safe'...

in my (2 month) experience with the drug i have no ground breaking
news or inside info, simple really, just like every other post i've
read - dry/flaky skin/initial breakout.

with regard to the 'horror' stories, i know myself that i bitch
loudest about things that have gone wrong! it's more attention
grabbing, 80% of the news (papers, TV) is negative - the 2 guys i know
(success stories) have never heard of newsgroups - let alone thought
to pass on to anyone their stories...

educate yourself as you see fit on the subject and decide - after all
it's your life...

all the best dude,
-z.
 >> Stay informed about: What to make of all the accutane horror stories? 

Thanks for responding - everyone else is welcome to add in their .02!

This really helps me out - Thank you.

*Staying Optimistic*

nabbed.RemoveThis@hotmail.com (nabbed@hotmail.com) wrote in message news:<920f05e9.0312261626.3201a8dd.RemoveThis@posting.google.com>...
> I've been on 4 full Accutane courses (the 4th with a higher than
> normal dose), plus a 2.5-year low dose course, and I've suffered no
> long term effects that I am aware of.
>
> During the early part of my 4th course, I did experience some hair
> loss, but nothing significant (although I was briefly alarmed by it).
> Also, during the last 3 courses I experienced some heel stiffness/pain
> which did continue for sometime after each course. I found that gentle
> exercise always eliminated the heel stiffness and pain.
>
>
> bostonkid.RemoveThis@usa.com (Schilling38) wrote in message news:<661b8f2f.0312252105.2e78c9a5.RemoveThis@posting.google.com>...
> > Hey guys
> >
> > I recently was prescribed accutane, and have been on 40 mg per day for
> > 3 days so far.
> >
> > Me being the fool I am went and researched all these terrifying forums
> > around the internet with all these people posting about how accutane
> > made them lose their hair, even when they stopped treatment, how
> > accutane has caused permanent joint and inflamation damage, how its
> > ruined their vision and made everything blurry, how its taking their
> > memory and concentration away, and how its still such a dangerous drug
> > and not worth taking, even years after they have finished treatment.
> >
> > Reading all these websites has put me into a nervous, panic filled
> > state. I don't want to feel this way!
> >
> > I am really hoping that these are the stories of the >1% of people who
> > suffer rare side effects from accutane and are the ones posting all
> > over the internet, while the other 99% are enjoying their lives away
> > from message boards.
> >
> > Please folks, please help me get over these fears. I really hope to
> > see responses in this thread soon .. I need to stop looking at these
> > freaky websites!
> >
> > Scared,
> > schilling38
 >> Stay informed about: What to make of all the accutane horror stories? 

"Schilling38" <bostonkid RemoveThis @usa.com> wrote in message
news:661b8f2f.0312261340.2c4855d4@posting.google.com...
> Hmmm.. well it seems theres a couple here who feel that accutane is a
> bad decision and one that doesn't. God this doesn't help my worried
> mind much ..


make it 2! I think it is great and it *literally* changed my life! My derm
didn't tell me about side effects so I never worried...
 >> Stay informed about: What to make of all the accutane horror stories? 

"Schilling38" <bostonkid.RemoveThis@usa.com> wrote ...
> Hmmm.. well it seems theres a couple here who feel that accutane is a
> bad decision and one that doesn't.


It's not just the one.
If you read previous posts there are several people with minor side effects,
some people who are on their 2nd or even 3rd course and some even who wish
to obtain Accutane without the doctor's supervision (!). You could also see
it as a silent majority that hasn't bad side effects just the 'normal' ones
versus a minority flooding messageboards, websites and/or newsgroups with
their bad experiences. A risk? Sure... but chances are low for it to go
really bad. Good luck.
Greetz,

*2nd course & ok*
 >> Stay informed about: What to make of all the accutane horror stories? 

For me, Accutane was worth the risks and the side effects. I would do
it again in a heartbeat if I needed it again. Luckily I have not
needed a second course. I took it for 21 weeks back in 1998. I
experience chapped lips and really dry skin. My lips would crack open
and bleed and my skin was very thin. Once when I plucked my eyebrows
it took up skin with the hair. However, the results were absolutely
amazing and to this day I get compliments on my complexion. I know
that accutane can cause depression but when I had bad skin I was
horribly depressed anyways. I'm not saying I was on the verge of
doing anything drastic, but acne was consuming my life. People should
not go through that when they can avoid it. I tell people that
accutane "saved my sanity." I wish you the best of luck.
 >> Stay informed about: What to make of all the accutane horror stories? 

>It's not just the one.
>If you read previous posts there are several people with minor side effects,
>some people who are on their 2nd or even 3rd course and some even who wish
>to obtain Accutane without the doctor's supervision (!). You could also see
>it as a silent majority that hasn't bad side effects just the 'normal' ones
>versus a minority flooding messageboards, websites and/or newsgroups with
>their bad experiences. A risk? Sure... but chances are low for it to go
>really bad. Good luck.
>Greetz,

Exactly
 >> Stay informed about: What to make of all the accutane horror stories? 

On 26 Dec 2003 13:40:42 -0800, bostonkid.DeleteThis@usa.com (Schilling38) wrote:

>Hmmm.. well it seems theres a couple here who feel that accutane is a
>bad decision and one that doesn't. God this doesn't help my worried
>mind much ..
Well just ask yourself if you mind being in that 1% or not. Personally
I would mind so i'll never take it but each to their own...
 >> Stay informed about: What to make of all the accutane horror stories? 

the people with the horror stories are just stupid people, ignore them, they're
ignorant morons with nothing better to do then scare people away. just ignore
those so called "horror stories" about accutane. just remember......the hell
with them, they're liars and ignorant people who want to scare everyone with
their most likely bullshit story. the truth is more serious than their
lies.....don't worry about them
 >> Stay informed about: What to make of all the accutane horror stories?