I’m documenting my journey on Acctane to treat cystic acne. I’ve registered with iPledge and I should be able to fill my script sometime next week. Nervous about the side effects but excited about the results. Right now my acne is the absolute worse it’s ever been and it has been downright scary looking at times. I finally decided that enough was enough. I’m tired of avoiding mirrors and having to pile on the makeup. I want to not have to wear makeup at all anymore as I love the way I look without it. Just for special occasions and going out. Having that option alone, would change my life tremendously. It’s been a long, emotional journey with this acne, over 20 years. I’m tired but I’m so happy I’m finally giving this a try. Updated on 14 Mar 2019: This is a bit unusual but I’m starting my review of Accutane at about 7 weeks in. My very awesome dermatologist prescribed 30mg 2x/day. So, 60mg a day. I’ve been feeling disenchanted because I just have not been seeing positive results at all. I was deep in the throes of a bad, painful, deep beneath the surface, cystic breakout when I started treatment; but I could clearly tell when the initial breakdown aka “purge” aka “flare up” began. Adult acne struck my already oily, acne prone face very aggressively about 4 years ago (at the age of 30) and I’ve been struggling with it off and on ever since. While on Isotretinoin, my face breaks out in places it typically never would in the past. Just the purging is completely driving me insane right now. My acne never used to effect me that bad psychologically. I just didn’t like it and it was an inconvenience. But in reality, it was impeding my ability to live a normal life because I would avoid many social situations if I couldn’t cake on the makeup. Anyway, dermatologist said to be patient and that I should start clearing soon. Next week, I go for my 2nd month visit and last month all of my levels were normal so I hope it stays that way. I do not regret this decision to go the Accutane route at all. I’m just impatient but I’m confident it will (eventually) start to work for me. Updated on 19 Mar 2019: My skin is progressively getting clearer and softer but I still have quite a ways to go. My face and lips are still really dry and peeling a lot. I actually enjoy the dryness and I choose not to opt for any of those heavy moisturizers because I’m afraid of more breakouts. I had been occasionally using lubriderm (contains mineral oil) and some off brand cetaphil lotion (contained macadamia oil) because I needed the oils to conceal the flakiness I was experiencing but now that I might be starting to emerge from this initial breakout, I don’t want any setbacks. Like some other users of Isotretinoin, I too have the rashes on the tops of my hands. There were red, itchy bumps and dryness that has left me with hyperpigmentation but that’s beginning to improve as well. So, not very many changes since the last time I posted, I’m just relieved to see that things are at least headed in a positive direction. I was starting to feel like my acne was refusing to budge. Updated on 19 Mar 2019: Correction Updated on 24 Mar 2019: So my skin does this thing where one day it looks and feels as if I’m well on my way to being clear and acne. Then all of a sudden, I’ll look in the mirror and there’s red, angry cysts that in most cases, will quickly produce a head. It can happen within a matter of hours. I can never seem to see any consistency. I want to scream and cry. My head is constantly pounding without let up these last few days, so I’m popping my migraine pills twice a day. I’ve had the flu/bronchitis for about three weeks and was bed bound for almost one week (I’m attributing this to Isotretinoin weakening my immune system since I can’t even remember the last time I was this sick) I thought my acne was getting so much better. I feel frustrated and defeated. It’s like my acne is resistant and refuses to subjugate itself to even this aggressive medication. I’ve been taking in lots of fluids and eating healthy, especially since I’ve been sick. I really don’t get what I’m not doing right. An issue has come up with our health insurance so hopefully it will be resolved by the time I go for my (rescheduled) appointment this coming Thursday. If not, lol have to pay $200 out of pocket for my Isotretinoin instead of the usual $25. I don’t care, I’ll pay it because I NEED to see the results. I’ve come to far to give up even though at this point, giving up seems to be the best way to preserve my sanity lol. Updated on 7 Apr 2019: I am so pleased to report that my skin is finally, FINALLY getting with the program. My pores are almost nonexistent, no more extreme flakiness just ashen looking around my mouth and cheeks without moisturizer and large areas of my face are clear, smooth, soft, glowing and just pretty. I see the potential, hopefully, of how my skin will look once I’ve completed my course. I still have a few cysts but my breakouts have decreased dramatically. As for the other side effects, brain fog has me, well, in a fog everyday lol. I’m pretty much out of it mentally but that doesn’t really bother me because in my opinion, I’m calmer as a result and can still function normally. Im just real low key and a little more confused than normal lol. I have trouble sleeping at night and oooh does my right knee hurt! It alternates between being swollen, feeling swollen and aching. My hair is dry like hay so I purchased a professional steamer to use along with deep conditioning treatments and I try not to manipulate it as much so it won’t be as prone to breakage. No other changes to my hair besides that. My eyes are really, really dry at times. My hands were healing and now they’re more dry, itchy and scabbed over then ever. My appetite goes through major changes from me being ravenous to only wanting salads and fruit. My levels were all still normal at my last derm visit. I expected something to be out of wack by now but I guess not. I feel positive and I hope the good results will continue! Updated on 19 Apr 2019: I wanted to show how my face looks with makeup right now. My pores are no longer “hanging wide open”, as I like to say and no oil slicked skin by the end of the night. After having my makeup on for 5 hours, it still looked the same as when I first applied it. I’ll take some pictures without it soon. Updated on 13 May 2019: I know that the automatic timeline that shows up is off but today is day 108 (I think lol) I do know for sure that I’m in my fourth month. Last month I reached a point where I was almost 100% clear and then by the time my period was in full swing, I’d noticed that I had quite a few breakouts. 4 on each side of my face to be exact. They’re red, hard, deep, noticeable and don’t show any signs of going away any time soon. I was just starting to go makeup free more and more. Now I’m back to hiding behind my makeup :-( My doctor agreed to raise the dosage to 40 mg twice daily so I’m excited about that. He says that it’s best to stay the course until there are no more breakouts so we’ll see what happens. Updated on 24 May 2019: I’m super happy that my skin has completely cleared again for now. I’m really loving the results. I feel so confident going out without any makeup on now. Many of the side effects have subsided like the dryness and peeling on my face, I have a lot less headaches and my eyes are not nearly as dry as they were in the beginning of treatment. Ive continued to experience body aches and the occasional mild headache. Another reviewer mentioned that it was hard to lose weight while on Accutane and I agree. I’ve been struggling with my energy levels and my appetite. The mental fog is still there and that doesn’t help in terms of motivation lol. Anyway, I would much rather have that extra 20 lbs to get off then to struggle with horrible, stubborn, unsightly cystic acne. Updated on 24 Jun 2019: So I’ve been off Accutane for over 2 weeks now due to insurance issues that have been going on for the last four months. I refuse to pay out of pocket again so I decided to wait until the issues were resolved. Anyway, I’m going to the dermatologist tomorrow because my coverage will be reinstated and I can see my doctor and fill my script in peace lol. This will mark the start of month 6 for me. My doctor said he wants me to go a couple of more months (2, maybe?) Its my most recent understanding that doctors want a patient to have received at least 9500-10000 mg of Isotretinoin before a course can be considered completed. I’m at about 8000. So I hope to go back on my 40 mg twice daily tomorrow. I started my period today and I have two tiny little cysts on either side of my face. That lets me know I definitely need to complete my course as planned. I’m so ready to be off this medication. I’m just tired of the side effects. Being off of it for this long, I’ve been slowly starting to feel like myself again. My lips are no where near as dry. But to possibly be able to say farewell to acne forever...I’d do it all again in a heartbeat! Even with the exorbitant out of pocket costs that I really couldn’t afford. We had to make some sacrifices but we worked it out financially. I absolutely cannot begin to describe how much better and more at peace I feel. Previously, my face seemed to always feel inflamed even when at times it looked calm and clear on the outside. I told my husband I could almost feel the acne brewing beneath the surface, working hard to rear it’s ugly, cystic head once more lol. I recognize myself in the mirror now. I can see my little moles better( which I love and wish I had way more of), I look younger and my eyes look brighter...Yeah, let’s keep this going until the end! Updated on 9 Aug 2019: Last month I woke up one day and decided that I was sick and tired of being on this medication. I’d tired of the side effects and the whole routine involved in staying on the treatment. I was ready to finally be free lol. So two and a half weeks ago, I saw my derm and she agreed that I could be done with it. She informed me that due to my acne being hormonal, I should not expect to be 100% clear 100% of the time because Accutane does not treat the hormonal aspect. I guess that makes sense. I have noticed over the last month, tiny little bumps that will pop up and disappear within a day or two. I just extracted a small white head pimple this morning that emerged from down inside one of my new smile lines a few days ago lol. So many people report having had not a single pimple for months or even years post treatment. I’m not experiencing that same storybook ending to my Accutane course so far but I’m still happy I did it and I’m extremely pleased with the results. Proudly running around town with no makeup on is something I do regularly now and with every bit of confidence I have when I do wear it. My Mom saw me bare face and thought I had on foundation. Yayyy!! That’s all a lifetime acne sufferer could ever ask for. Updated on 12 Sep 2019: Skin is still clear. I do still get the occasional bump here and there but it’s always gone the very next day. Still Happy I did it! I even got my natural lip color back lol. I’m on my period so there has been some activity but it’s very mild. Isotretinoin has truly even a lifesaver for me.
I had some acne in my teens, not a ton, my dermatologist basically prescribed Accutane to anyone with pimples in general. My brothers acne was much worse than mine (it cleared his to this day too) but we were both prescribed the same dosage and length of cycle which was 6 months. I did not take my full six month cycle I only did 3 months, the highest dose, twice per day. The side effects I got were just being incredibly, nothing will work, dry. Not only my skin was dry but my hair and every mucus membrane. I got one or two nosebleeds because of it. I dealt with that by carrying a tube of a&d ointment everywhere I went. I got an initial flare of acne which made my skin look the worst it ever had and still has to this day! It was red, itchy, flakey yet greasy looking at the same time this from about a week in until a month later. It was sure embarrassing to go to high school looking like that and carrying a jumbo Vaseline, no one made mean comments surprisingly enough. I don't recall any of the other common side effects so if I had them they must not have been too bothersome. After that flakey dryness stopped my skin was perfect. Before Accutane my skin and hair looked greasy a few hours after washing, after it was just normal until I got to be about 21 and as time progressed I slowly got more oily and still am now. My acne has never come back regardless of the oil production level I was at. I have always had large pores and still get a pimple a couple times a year but I think that's pretty good for 14 years later I consider it the best thing I've ever done for my skin as well as self esteem. Some people say it's too aggressive or dangerous, I see this as a miracle drug for those who need it and the benefits for self esteem far outweigh the risks. I suffered from clinical depression at the time I received Accutane and didn't notice it getting worse. If anything I felt better about myself afterward. I realize I can't speak for everyone and their safety but if my own child had the option and the need to take Accutane I wouldn't hesitate to let them be on it as long as the monthly blood and pregnancy tests are still a requirement.
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