Encouraging Accutane?

[Anonymous]

My kids had to have monthly bloodwork during Accutane with their doctor. It is way easier to be a DS on Accutane than a DD due to the iPledge thing every month and the need to time everything just right.
Bloodwork showed increase in triglycerides/cholesterol on the drug but resolved when stopped it. One kid had to take a two week break when her cholesterol was too high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am sorry if your son has already tried this, but has he tried Tretinoin and/or Aczone? My 17yo uses these and it keeps the acne mostly under control. It still pops up occasionally (esp before her time of the month), but it is not an out-of-control situation like it used to be. I do commiserate about pimples in awkward please though: I swear my daughter kept getting repeat pimples right on the top of her nose all, year, long. :/ And even when they healed, it would still be a reddish mark there. :/

Yes, he has done both Tretinoin and Aczone (he uses Aczone now), as well as a topical antibiotic. Didn't help at all.

He actually came to me last night and said he wanted to do Accutane ("I can't take looking like this anymore"). But the comments about ulcerative collitis and cholesterol have scared me

[Anonymous]

My daughter used it and didn't have side effects. It mostly helped her acne. The pregnancy tests were a giant pain in the ass. A boy wouldn't have that issue. Might be worth a try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not that safe a drug, and a friend's kid had a serious long-lasting reaction to it and missed six weeks of school. I wouldn't pressure a kid who doesn't want to take it to take it.

+1