Comments on: Treating Rosacea with Low-Dose Accutane http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html Where the rosacea community meets to support each other Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:45:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: john t http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html/comment-page-2#comment-80704 john t Sat, 24 Dec 2011 07:52:39 +0000 http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html#comment-80704 I am in the UK so can't help with a dermatologist. All I know is I tried the lot - the dermatologist photographed the contents of my brief case - he couldn't believe it. Loook at the responses above everyone tolerates the Roaccutane differently - I was ok although I didn't like the dried lips but I came off it and back came the Rosacea - it was then he put me on to Finacea and it's been great. Twice a day in the area where it used to flare up and nothing now - nice clean healthy skin. Cleanse;Finacea;sunscreen/moisturise. Easy. I urge you to try it before going down the Accutane route. I am in the UK so can’t help with a dermatologist. All I know is I tried the lot – the dermatologist photographed the contents of my brief case – he couldn’t believe it. Loook at the responses above everyone tolerates the Roaccutane differently – I was ok
although I didn’t like the dried lips but I came off it and back came the Rosacea – it was then he put me on to Finacea and it’s been great. Twice a day in the area where it used to flare up and nothing now – nice clean healthy skin. Cleanse;Finacea;sunscreen/moisturise. Easy.
I urge you to try it before going down the Accutane route.

]]> By: Caro http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html/comment-page-2#comment-80655 Caro Sat, 24 Dec 2011 04:34:19 +0000 http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html#comment-80655 Thanks John. I have been reading up on the use of low dose Accutane. There are dermatologists that openly recommend low doses for acne as well as rosacea. When Roche was developing a new formulation back in 2000 one of the papers detailing the rationale for the formulation made a number of assertions that the current (then and now) dosage recommendations for Accutane were too high. I am still not sure my doctor will open to a long term low dose solution. If anyone knows of a dermatologist in Australia that would be open to a long term, low dose solution I would love to hear from you. A supportive doctor would be a great Christmas gift! Thanks John. I have been reading up on the use of low dose Accutane. There are dermatologists that openly recommend low doses for acne as well as rosacea. When Roche was developing a new formulation back in 2000 one of the papers detailing the rationale for the formulation made a number of assertions that the current (then and now) dosage recommendations for Accutane were too high.
I am still not sure my doctor will open to a long term low dose solution.
If anyone knows of a dermatologist in Australia that would be open to a long term, low dose solution I would love to hear from you. A supportive doctor would be a great Christmas gift!

]]> By: john t http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html/comment-page-2#comment-80262 john t Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:10:10 +0000 http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html#comment-80262 Before you do it try Finacea - it worked for me -it takes about 4 weeks to kick in. Much better bet than Accutane. Before you do it try Finacea – it worked for me -it takes about 4 weeks to kick in. Much better bet than Accutane.

]]> By: Caro http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html/comment-page-2#comment-80253 Caro Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:21:20 +0000 http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html#comment-80253 I was treated with Roaccutane about 20 years ago for acne. I stopped my treatment early because the medication exacerbated my rosacea. I was left with flushing and some acne and it was only in the last five years that the flushing subsided. Unfortunately my acne and to a lesser extent my rosacea has returned. I would like to try low dose Accutane as antibiotics are no longer effective. I am prepared to take a low dose long term. I have weighed up all other options and this seems the most attractive option and I would like some quality of life back. My dermatologist is talking about starting me low and working up which I know will cause the flushing to and sensitive skin to return long-term. My question is how do I convince him of the long term low dose option? I desperately want a better outcome than the one 20 years ago. I would appreciate views and any ideas I was treated with Roaccutane about 20 years ago for acne. I stopped my treatment early because the medication exacerbated my rosacea. I was left with flushing and some acne and it was only in the last five years that the flushing subsided. Unfortunately my acne and to a lesser extent my rosacea has returned. I would like to try low dose Accutane as antibiotics are no longer effective. I am prepared to take a low dose long term. I have weighed up all other options and this seems the most attractive option and I would like some quality of life back. My dermatologist is talking about starting me low and working up which I know will cause the flushing to and sensitive skin to return long-term. My question is how do I convince him of the long term low dose option? I desperately want a better outcome than the one 20 years ago. I would appreciate views and any ideas

]]> By: April http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html/comment-page-2#comment-72014 April Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:27:04 +0000 http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html#comment-72014 Aleks, sorry to hear you are having some issues with getting the drug and some side effects. I am in the middle of the USA and here the drugs are very expensive and government controlled. I was lucky enough to go through the 5 month regime of 20mg 1st month daily and then 40mg daily for 4 more month's. I had some drying side effects and my skin became redder as the treatment proceeded, but within a6 weeks of stopping the drug my skin looked and felt amazing. As far as the cost here, 40mg daily for a month without insurance runs about $1,200 dollars. With Insurance I was able to pay $580. I had met my deductible on the insurance and they picked up the rest, so I only paid for 1 month. But the insurance here is expensive too. Here, very few pharmacists are chemists and they are not allowed to make the drug. The government has a I Promise program, we have to do testing every month, women have pregnancy tests and liver enzyme tests. an Dermatologist appt. Doc, goes on-line and reports test results and appt. then I go on-line and answer a bunch of questions about drug side effects and birth control. Then my pharmacist goes on-line and checks to see if all that happened before they can dispense the drug. This happens every time you get a prescription refilled. I hope you get relief soon. It was the best course for me and I firmly believe that the anti-histamine Zyrtec really helps with the flushing. Take Care. April Aleks, sorry to hear you are having some issues with getting the drug and some side effects. I am in the middle of the USA and here the drugs are very expensive and government controlled. I was lucky enough to go through the 5 month regime of 20mg 1st month daily and then 40mg daily for 4 more month’s. I had some drying side effects and my skin became redder as the treatment proceeded, but within a6 weeks of stopping the drug my skin looked and felt amazing.
As far as the cost here, 40mg daily for a month without insurance runs about $1,200 dollars. With Insurance I was able to pay $580. I had met my deductible on the insurance and they picked up the rest, so I only paid for 1 month. But the insurance here is expensive too. Here, very few pharmacists are chemists and they are not allowed to make the drug. The government has a I Promise program, we have to do testing every month, women have pregnancy tests and liver enzyme tests. an Dermatologist appt. Doc, goes on-line and reports test results and appt. then I go on-line and answer a bunch of questions about drug side effects and birth control. Then my pharmacist goes on-line and checks to see if all that happened before they can dispense the drug. This happens every time you get a prescription refilled.
I hope you get relief soon. It was the best course for me and I firmly believe that the anti-histamine Zyrtec really helps with the flushing.
Take Care.
April

]]> By: aleks http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html/comment-page-2#comment-71978 aleks Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:45:02 +0000 http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html#comment-71978 Sam, thank you so much. You have helped me a lot, should I decide to go on a third course in near future (which is very likely). Belconnen is in my neighborhood by the way, which is very convenient. I had wonderful results with 20 mg/day, although I'm convinced less is more when it comes to isotretinoin and rosacea for most people, although not for everyone. The results for me lasted only a couple of years, before things started going wrong again. This was accompanied by serious gastrointestinal problems that persist even today. I have no evidence of the direct link between my health problems and roaccutane, but I am otherwise very fit and healthy, and the evidence about the link between roaccutane and bowel-inflammatory diseases out there is quite overwhelming and disconcerting. In any case, I would go on a third course if needed, despite everything. That's the extent to which rosacea affects my self-confidence and quality of life - I'm willing to take huge risks. I'd rather enjoy life and take risks than be safe and depressed. I wish I had a more competent dermatologist though who could have first recommended a much lower dose to begin with (since I respond very quickly and very effectively to the therapy) and second would have advised me about maintenance doses once I finished the second course, which, based on the anecdotal evidence, work very well for so many people, helping them stay clear and redness-free for many years, if not continuously. Seeing a dermatologist (or other specialist) in Canberra is more difficult than seeing the prime minister. I had to wait long 6 months for my last appointment, only to be given 5 minutes of time by her when she finally saw me. Disappointing. Good luck and please keep posting on your progress. Sam, thank you so much. You have helped me a lot, should I decide to go on a third course in near future (which is very likely). Belconnen is in my neighborhood by the way, which is very convenient. I had wonderful results with 20 mg/day, although I’m convinced less is more when it comes to isotretinoin and rosacea for most people, although not for everyone. The results for me lasted only a couple of years, before things started going wrong again. This was accompanied by serious gastrointestinal problems that persist even today. I have no evidence of the direct link between my health problems and roaccutane, but I am otherwise very fit and healthy, and the evidence about the link between roaccutane and bowel-inflammatory diseases out there is quite overwhelming and disconcerting. In any case, I would go on a third course if needed, despite everything. That’s the extent to which rosacea affects my self-confidence and quality of life – I’m willing to take huge risks. I’d rather enjoy life and take risks than be safe and depressed. I wish I had a more competent dermatologist though who could have first recommended a much lower dose to begin with (since I respond very quickly and very effectively to the therapy) and second would have advised me about maintenance doses once I finished the second course, which, based on the anecdotal evidence, work very well for so many people, helping them stay clear and redness-free for many years, if not continuously. Seeing a dermatologist (or other specialist) in Canberra is more difficult than seeing the prime minister. I had to wait long 6 months for my last appointment, only to be given 5 minutes of time by her when she finally saw me. Disappointing. Good luck and please keep posting on your progress.

]]> By: sam http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html/comment-page-2#comment-71961 sam Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:55:09 +0000 http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html#comment-71961 Aleks some further info to try and help you track this dosage down. My local Terry White Chemist in Warwick (Perth) wouldn't give me the information when I asked but they did say there is a Terry White in ACT - Belconnen Level 1 (means nothing to me sorry) and a phone number 6251 5125. They should be able to get it for you and if they have problems they can call Warwick and get the distributor details from them. Hope this helps Aleks some further info to try and help you track this dosage down. My local Terry White Chemist in Warwick (Perth) wouldn’t give me the information when I asked but they did say there is a Terry White in ACT – Belconnen Level 1 (means nothing to me sorry) and a phone number 6251 5125. They should be able to get it for you and if they have problems they can call Warwick and get the distributor details from them. Hope this helps

]]> By: sam http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html/comment-page-2#comment-71878 sam Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:50:45 +0000 http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html#comment-71878 Hi Aleks, sorry to hear about your experience with your dermatologist. I was very lucky to find mine. Although he has no miracle cures or anything new to offer he is very open to the information I have found on this site and the experiences of others and has supported my choices throughout the last year. It was a different derm who actually put me on to Oratane 5mg. She warned me I would have to find a chemist who was prepared to ring the distributor as she had only just been made aware of it from a seminar she had been to over east. This particluar dosage didnt come up on their computers and one chemist said there was nothing more they could do. I found a Terry White Chemist near me who tracked it down. It came in within a week - a rep delivered to the store. The cost is $60 for a box of 60 which I didnt think was too bad. I have 3 repeats so I guess that is 8 months worth. I have heard everyone has different experiences even on low dosage. I have just developed a satff infection (very minor) on my shoulders just looks dry and scaly. The pharmacist said the roaccutane could cause it but hard to say. Just using a wash to kill the bacteria so should clear up soon. If you still cant find anyone to help you with sourcing the 5mg I will ask my chemist next time I am in who they get it through. Hi Aleks, sorry to hear about your experience with your dermatologist. I was very lucky to find mine. Although he has no miracle cures or anything new to offer he is very open to the information I have found on this site and the experiences of others and has supported my choices throughout the last year. It was a different derm who actually put me on to Oratane 5mg. She warned me I would have to find a chemist who was prepared to ring the distributor as she had only just been made aware of it from a seminar she had been to over east. This particluar dosage didnt come up on their computers and one chemist said there was nothing more they could do. I found a Terry White Chemist near me who tracked it down. It came in within a week – a rep delivered to the store. The cost is $60 for a box of 60 which I didnt think was too bad. I have 3 repeats so I guess that is 8 months worth. I have heard everyone has different experiences even on low dosage. I have just developed a satff infection (very minor) on my shoulders just looks dry and scaly. The pharmacist said the roaccutane could cause it but hard to say. Just using a wash to kill the bacteria so should clear up soon. If you still cant find anyone to help you with sourcing the 5mg I will ask my chemist next time I am in who they get it through.

]]> By: aleks http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html/comment-page-2#comment-71781 aleks Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:54:10 +0000 http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html#comment-71781 Hi Sam, I am from Canberra. I was not aware that roaccutane is available in 5mg dose in Australia. If you see this, could you please explain what did the chemist you contacted exactly do? Did he contact a supplier in the United States, Europe or where? What is the supplier's name? How long did you have to wait to get it? How large is your supply and how long will be your course? I have been twice on Roaccutane and was very happy with the results, but I'm very worried about some of the side effects that I've suffered. The 5 mg/day dose sounds like a good idea, as I'm sure it would work for me equally well as the higher doses I had to put up with. If I had known about it, maybe I wouldn't have experienced serious side effects. The dermatologists I've seen so far normally have 5 minutes for me, if I'm lucky. Maybe less, if they have too many patients that day. No chance to discuss issues more thoroughly with any of them, let alone latest research and advancements in the treatment of the condition. Coming from Europe, I can say Australia has one of the worst health systems in the world. The first dermatologist that recommended Roaccutane to me insisted 20 mg/day was the lowest dose available, and I stayed on the medication for a whole year. I've been through a lot as a consequence. Bunch of ******. Hi Sam, I am from Canberra. I was not aware that roaccutane is available in 5mg dose in Australia. If you see this, could you please explain what did the chemist you contacted exactly do? Did he contact a supplier in the United States, Europe or where? What is the supplier’s name? How long did you have to wait to get it? How large is your supply and how long will be your course? I have been twice on Roaccutane and was very happy with the results, but I’m very worried about some of the side effects that I’ve suffered. The 5 mg/day dose sounds like a good idea, as I’m sure it would work for me equally well as the higher doses I had to put up with. If I had known about it, maybe I wouldn’t have experienced serious side effects. The dermatologists I’ve seen so far normally have 5 minutes for me, if I’m lucky. Maybe less, if they have too many patients that day. No chance to discuss issues more thoroughly with any of them, let alone latest research and advancements in the treatment of the condition. Coming from Europe, I can say Australia has one of the worst health systems in the world. The first dermatologist that recommended Roaccutane to me insisted 20 mg/day was the lowest dose available, and I stayed on the medication for a whole year. I’ve been through a lot as a consequence. Bunch of ******.

]]> By: David C http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html/comment-page-2#comment-71358 David C Mon, 21 Nov 2011 01:47:27 +0000 http://rosacea-support.org/focus-on-low-dose-accutane.html#comment-71358 Hi Richard I'm no Dr but perhaps see your GP who you trust - maybe 20mg every other day would be better to start with. It does take the body a little time to adjust as I mentioned previously. Do see your GP regarding your concerns - they should know if the dose is too much for you. Good luck David C. Hi Richard I’m no Dr but perhaps see your GP who you trust – maybe 20mg every other day would be better to start with. It does take the body a little time to adjust as I mentioned previously.

Do see your GP regarding your concerns – they should know if the dose is too much for you.

Good luck

David C.

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