Roaccutane

[jojam]

I would be interested to know if any other IBS sufferers have taken Roaccutane for severe acne in the past & how long ago?

[LindaC]

Hi jojam

I didn't have severe acne, just troublesome odd inflamed spots (once in a while), but I have had a fleeting experience with Roaccutane.

I never had spots/acne as a teen but stoppped taking the pill (after 17 years at 34 y/o) and began to get these under-the-skin, inflamed lumps/spots.

Eventually, at 39 y/o I was referred to a dermatology dept: Roaccutane was prescribed. Took the box home, read the instructions/contraindications and took it back (in those days, I was not sure about using it, i.e. liver function tests were meant to be done - just for using this on skin - and there were potential side effects, such as nose bleeds etc, etc, that I didn't want to risk which just put me off using it.

At that point in life I was having a ball and really didn't want to use it... took it back in the box (because even then, late 1980's it cost £500 per unit). I still, rarely, get those spots and will never know what may have happened had I used Roaccutane (which is meant to clear it up completely after one, maybe two, full treatment(s)!

BUT a male friend of mine, whose partner was a doctor with bad acne used it (she had to have 2 lots for it to be effective) and it worked a treat for her.

Have you tried Retin-A, brand nameTretinoin(I find gel best but there is a cream, I think) at a low dose like 0.01%, alternating with 0.025% if required? (It is made in a higher dose.) Not only does this treat acne (needs to be used very sparingly), it is a fabulous anti-wrinkle treatment (actually scientifically proven to work... really it does but you may not require that!).

Apols that I can't say I used it, but hope the above is helpful. (Incidentally, I never got IBS until 6 - 8 months ago- had a gut of steel all of my life!)

Best wishes

LindaC x

[jojam]

Thank You both for your replies, Sorry I should have said that I do not have IBS myself but a family member has.

They had severe acne when younger which was treated by Roaccutane. This person has several years later developed liver problems & IBS. I am interested to find out if there are others who have gone on to develop IBS sometime after having taken Roaccutane.

Best wishes

Jo

[kiwimiwi]

I was first on roaccutane when I was 15, it was a very low dose over a year and a half because I was considered very young to be on it back 10 years ago. I went back on it when I was 20 as the acne had returned on my forehead and back and was on a regular dose for about 8 months I think. It was used in caution as my family has a history of digestive and liver problems (my mum has both IBS and NASH) and I suffered no ill effects other than the dry skin and eyes.

[suli]

hi, As an IBS sufferer, i took roaccutane for over 6 -9 months for my acne too a number of years ago. Due to its strong nature, did have to have regular blood tests to check for any adverse effects esp on the liver.

I already had IBS, so cant say whether they caused it, or say whether it was worse during taking those tabs. Sorry for that.

Hope other peoples contributions assist you further

[Hidden]

Hi

I took Roaccutane in the early nineties when I was in my early twenties. After the course ended (and I don't know how long after it was, maybe a while as I never made the connection) I had, what I would describe, as severe IBS aswell as other health problems. I didn't make the connection to the Roaccutane until many years later when I kept seeing my health problems added to the list of side effects of this drug. I was never diagnosed with IBS (or anything else relating to the problems I was having). My records at the hospital where I was given the Roaccutane have been lost so I do not know the dose I was given, the year it was and for how long I took it. I suffered with severe IBS for a long time and then it calmed down a lot (with no help from me or anyone else). I still suffer on occasion but I can cope with it. All I can say to help you is try not to take/eat anything that contains fibre (fibergel makes the symptoms so much worse and I can't believe GP's actually still prescribe this) and try and work out what foods trigger the symptoms. I found that lactulose was gentle enough to help with the constipation but the results were quickso be careful. I hope this helps. What symptoms is your family member suffering with? I am curious to know how long after the Roaccutane they have suffered these symptoms and I wonder if they have any other problems that may be related to the drug? I sympathise with them and hope they will get better soon. As I said mine eventually improved greatly by itself as did most of my other health problems. Best wishes to you and your family member at this difficult time.

[Hidden]

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[jojam]

Thank you all for your response & information. Sorry it has taken me a while to get back & reply to you all.

Best wishes

Jo

[Tarot1234]

Against my advice especially reading the potential side effects my son took Roaccutane for his severe acne which he had for years and it worked almost immediately BUT it caused severe him to have deep prolonged depression. He was in his early 20s then and had just left university. He was so depressed he had to leave his job, he refused to see his girlfriend, I was so scared I made him either stay with me or his grandmother so he would never be alone as I had read that young men around his age after taking this drug committed suicide. In the USA this drug is banned, bereaved parents here tried to sue the company that produces this drug. This all happened in the early 90s thank God my son survived and after 6 months began to improve. You have been warned!