Claravis and Depression: What Users Say

• lll...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2018

For Acne "Isotretinoin (Claravis) changed my life. My only regret is not going on it sooner (I started at age 22). If you are on the fence, do it. The only side effects I had were dry lips, some back/tailbone pain, and some depression (though I think this was more so from the birth control). I wasted so much of my life hiding away because of my mild to moderate acne. Be patient, and this will work. It's better than being on antibiotics for long periods of time. I was on it for 4 months, and my skin keeps getting better after. It did not clear up my hyperpigmentation, but I know that will fade, and I can cover it up. Monthly blood work is so worth it to be able to wake up in the morning and not worry about pimples. Use Carmex lip balm (for me, way better than Aquaphor). And go out and live your life!!! If my acne comes back (praying it doesn't), I would be happy to take this again."

• Mon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 7, 2017

For Acne "I have been on Claravis 20 mg for 5 months. The flare-up has been so bad, my severe acne has never been so bad. For 5 months, I cry every time I look at my face in a mirror. I am depressed. I don't know if I should stop the treatment."

• Ljc...
• November 19, 2016

For Acne "I was on this drug for a little over 6 months, and boy, did it work wonders. I had always had bad acne, and nothing had seemed to work before: topical creams, birth control, other prescription pills. I had severely dry lips and skin, it sucked, but it was tolerable. The worst side effect I had from this drug was mood changes. My doctor decided to try to increase my dose, and boy, that was a mistake. I became depressed, suffered mood swings, and had some horrible, almost suicidal thoughts. If you have any mental illness, I would not recommend this drug. I had to undergo monthly blood and pregnancy tests as well. I am very happy with the results, but those were the worst 6 months of my life."

• Anonymous
• November 6, 2010

For Acne "I was on Claravis for 5 months for my moderate acne that only got worse with age (I am 26). It worked wonders. I have been off the medicine for 3 months - not one pimple and even the old scars cleared up. One downside, though, was that I started getting depressed and anxious, especially during the last month, so I stopped taking it. The depression went away, but I have trouble speaking in public forums and in interviews now. I know, kind of ironic to have less self-esteem now, even with the perfect skin. Just watch out for those signs, they could be dangerous if not controlled or even acknowledged. Overall, I am still happy I took the medicine."

• Anonymous
• March 28, 2011

For Acne "I started my treatment early 2009 and continued with it through October of that year. At first, I didn't see much improvement, complaining to my dermatologist for the first few months. What I did notice was the extremely dry skin, awful chapped lips, patches of what looked like eczema but wasn't, muscle pain, bloody noses, a tendency to bruise and bleed more easily, severe loss of appetite, and depression. Also, major sensitivity to all forms of light, especially sun, vision change, and fatigue. When starting my medication, both my gynecologist and optometrist advised against it. It was towards the end of my treatment when I started seeing results. My skin was flawless for about a year. After being off of it for 11 months, my acne is back."