Accutane and Depression: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Emm...
• February 20, 2017

For Acne "Overall, I used the drug for 10 months. In 3/2016, my doctor tried me on a low dose for my weight, which was 40 mg, and I only lasted for 3 weeks. The drug gave me anger management issues. More alarming was that by the end of the 3 weeks, I was depressed - life wasn't worth it. It took several days after I stopped it for that to go away. The drug made me very paranoid. I took myself off of it and then went back on Accutane 10 mg in June and worked up to 60 mg by January. I stayed on it another month on 40 mg before ending the drug. Accutane helped my acne significantly, but I bled when I pooped, had trouble with bowel movements, slept excessively, threw up constantly, was paranoid and angry. Not sure it was worth it."

• Kmc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2015

For Acne "I've been on Accutane for 3 months now. I've had persistent acne since I was in middle school, and nothing has worked besides this. Right now, I'll get occasional acne, but it's clear for the most part. My whole body has gotten dry because of it and is often very uncomfortable. But the worst side effect is these mood swings and depression Accutane has caused me. It has really affected my relationship, and I cannot help it. I'm on 40 mg, but it was worse when I was on 60. Even though this is a difficult side effect, I am amazed at how clear my face is so far."

• per...
• March 1, 2018

For Acne "I started taking this in the summer of 2016, and it worked very well at removing my severe acne after about 6 months. But during this time, I started feeling very low and anxious, and it gave me depression and anxiety, and I had to leave university because of this. It worked wonders on my skin, despite not completing the full course, but I would truly, truly urge anyone to be very aware of this drug's side effects and to stop taking it if they begin to feel similar to how I did."

• Cam...
• September 10, 2015

For Acne "I am starting my 4th month, and it is worth it. It got rid of all my back/chest acne, but I still have some on my face. It has helped a lot, but the side effects suck. I'm playing football, and sometimes I have the desire to do nothing. Sometimes I don't feel good for no reason, like depression. Also, the chapped lips get me mad because everyone asks why I am putting chapstick on 24/7. If you are going on this, beware of side effects, but in the end, it will be worth it."

• Anonymous
• January 17, 2010

For Acne "Accutane is a miracle worker! Although it's such a hassle to get the medication, what with the restrictions and blood tests and questions, it is completely worth it. I did experience some of the common side effects, those being extremely dry everything, and the occasional headache... and depression. But beyond that, it is worth it to no end. I also would suggest not drinking while on Accutane. If you plan on drinking, drink in moderation. The first time I drank on Accutane, the next day my face broke out and I got a rash on my arms."

• Dic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2019

For Acne "Yeah, this thing is rubbish. First of all, it can give you depression (which I had before taking this, and it made it worse). Also, my acne is still fondly growing on my face, and I'm pretty sure it made it worse. I'm starting to get small zits, but also very big cysts that are developing under the skin. It's like you could do a mountain bike race on my face. I also have acne on my chest and back, so all Accutane is doing is drying my lips instead of doing the thing it's supposed to."

• RJS...
• September 20, 2010

For Acne "After spending more than a small fortune for years on products and medication prescribed by my dermatologist that did nothing, I demanded Accutane. I told him I was no longer going to the dentist or the hair stylist, etc. because I was too embarrassed and wanted something that was going to work. He said it had too many side effects, including depression, to which I replied, no, THIS (pointing to my face) causes depression. FINALLY, he agreed to give me the script. I still can't believe how well it worked-the excess oil was gone and my face was so clear. The only side effect was dry lips. But my acne returned the same as before within a few months of being off of it. Wish I could get a lifetime script for it-it's the only thing that ever helped."

• Gin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 21, 2022

For Acne "This medicine did wonders for my acne. However, this result was nowhere near worth the mental anguish I went through with the side effects. Horrible night terrors, depression, and several antidepressant medications after I completed the medication. It all around changed my personality. No one under the age of 18 should be legally able to decide if they are ready to face these very real and serious side effects."

• Acc...
• July 5, 2011

For Acne "When I was 10 years old, I was on every acne medicine available over the counter and prescription, nothing worked. My doctor then prescribed Accutane as a last resort, and I have not had acne since, and I am 38 years old now. I use Proactiv twice daily, and my skin is great. I would only use Accutane as a last resort due to the side effects. Looking back at that time, I did have depression as a side effect, but at that age, you do not know how to verbalize those kinds of feelings, so be extra careful with children. Thanks, Accutane!"

• Anonymous
• May 27, 2011

For Acne "Accutane cleared my acne up after nothing else could, but some of the side effects were almost unbearable. It made me very tired, and about the fifth month I was on it, it started making me very depressed. I lost about 15 lbs and just looked sickly most of the time. I would recommend this medicine if nothing else has worked for you."

• G M...
• January 20, 2019

For Acne "Accutane changed my life. I am 24 and have had acne since age 11, first on my back and then in high school it spread all over my face. It was debilitating, and people looked at my skin rather than me. I felt terrible and invisible. Accutane works by preventing your oil glands from producing oil. My face was dry, but people started looking at me for me! My skin cleared right up, and I have literally had only minor problems since. My boyfriend also went on Accutane and had a different experience altogether. He was very depressed, had hallucinations, etc. He's also the type that needs to turn the lights off for two hours before bed, and if he drinks coffee at 3 pm, he'll stay up until 1 am because of it. His body is very sensitive, and yet his sisters had a great experience with the drug. Two years later, he still thinks his life is changed because of the two weeks he spent on Accutane. I know I would take depression and anxiety any day over how crappy I felt with my acne."

• Anonymous
• September 14, 2011

For Acne "I have really oily skin and would get the big cystic pimples all over my face since I was 12 years old. I was prescribed Accutane when I was 16 years old by my dermatologist. I noticed results after a month of taking it. I took Accutane for 6 months and my skin cleared up beautifully with no scars. I did get depressed, really moody, had some stomach aches, and really dry lips. But 2 years later, my acne came back with a vengeance! My skin did calm down after a couple of months, but then once again it came back badly, and now I have really bad scarring. I'm 21 years old now and I'm thinking about going on another round of Accutane because nothing else works for me."

• Anonymous
• March 7, 2011

For Acne "While I was on it: I was on it for one year. My skin was beautiful, it was dry, but I just used Cetaphil cream to help that, Chapstick for the dry lips. I did feel a little down (in mood) sometimes, but it was not very bad and I would get over it in about 5 days. After I was off it: The first month was okay, a pimple here or there. The second month was a little worse, maybe 3 or 4 every week. And then it was more to about 8 per week, and now it is back to about 10 to 15 pimples per week. I know it works differently on different people, for example, my brother was on it when he was a teen and his acne was worse than mine before he was on it, and now he has only had about 5 pimples total since he has been off (it has been 20 years since he has been."

• Chr...
• September 16, 2015

For Acne "I started taking Accutane because I wanted super clear skin, my skin wasn't bad, just had a few here and there. Accutane did help clear my skin, but something worse happened! I was a very confident person, outgoing, loved to talk to everyone, and always having fun on the weekends. In the middle of my progress with Accutane, I started getting really bad chapped lips. The worst side effect of this drug is that it made me depressed, I stopped talking to everyone, and I felt so self-conscious about myself. I felt like people were always talking about me. I'm still not the same to this day. I didn't even finish my cycle :("

• You...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2016

For Acne "Daughter, age 15, took an overdose of Accutane in an attempted suicide. Treated in the emergency room and admitted to a children's psychiatric hospital for one month. Treated by psychiatrists into young adulthood. There was no definitive linkage made and no investigation to find one. This took place in the early '90s, and the risk of depression and suicide might not have been well known. Anyone using this drug should be extremely vigilant, especially if the patient is a teenager."

• Azg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2015

For Acne "I was on this for 3 months and only got up to a 30 mg dose. My lips peeled, my face peeled, I got depressed, and finally, it made me want to die. I am a super positive person, and I don't think I could have felt so bad about myself. And on top of it, my skin did not change because I wasn't able to complete the treatment. Stay away."

• Cor...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 10, 2013

For Acne "1995-1996 I was on 40 mg of Accutane while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. I was a go-getter soldier, but being on light duty 24/7 due to sun exposure, I suddenly became depressed. I carried my depression out to the civilian world when I left. Depression developed anxiety. My facial sweating was and still is profuse. I'm 38 years old, the oldest grandchild of 54 grandkids and the only one without a child of my own, I blame Accutane. I have 10% service-connected tinnitus from use. And I just found out last month that I have glaucoma stemming from the ocular opacities from the use of Accutane. I've been bloated ever since I left service in 1997, we are in 2013. I have esophagitis and have been scoped 21 times, also a colonoscopy at age 27."

• Hij...
• April 6, 2017

For Acne "These will mess you up. I stopped after a round of treatment because my life was falling apart around me, I couldn't get up out of bed and was severely depressed and agoraphobic. Years after taking them, I still don't feel like myself and wish I had never taken these."

• Is ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 16, 2017

For Acne "This medicine nearly finished my life. I got so depressed and lost, and the experience was horrendous! Do not take this medicine - your skin will improve, but believe me, it will cause you severe depression and mental illness. It's not worth it! Trust me. You become completely severely depressed."

• Nc9...
• January 4, 2018

For Acne "Made my acne 10x worse. I now have horrible scarring that I would have never had without it. Made me depressed and really dark thoughts. Would not recommend."

• tc2...
• September 11, 2017

For Acne "My acne was cleared. Extreme depression began."