jennifer: Jen & Accutane: Not all generics are created equal.
August 16th, 2009Hi everyone!
STATS:
Time on Accutane: 5 months + 1 month hiatus + 15 days
Time left to go: Only fifteen days, yay!
Total ingested: 8,700 mg
Target amount: 9,900 mg
Active blemishes: ZERO!
Evil spots lurking under the surface: One by my left eyebrow (and it has been hiding for MONTHS!)
Kitty lurks in the background! I'm wearing mascara, lipstick, and powder. The stubborn scar to the left of my nose has been there for weeks.
Sorry to tease you by hinting at this topic the other day. I didn’t have time to write all of this out before going to work. This is what I wanted to say: For the first five months of my course, I took a generic form of Accutane called Sotret. My doctor said he prefers Sotret because many of his patients experience fewer side effects with it. He said Amnesteem was okay too, and he refuses to prescribe Claravis because too many of his patients react poorly to it.
During my one month hiatus, Sotret became unavailable in the United States, so now I am taking Amnesteem. In 15 days, I have taken a huge amount of Amnesteem… 1,200 mg! It is a completely different experience. Here is a breakdown of the differences:
Sotret: Lethargy and depression, with small setbacks resulting in extreme pessimism. The skin on my face felt very tight, but it did not flake. I had to shampoo less, but did not notice any flaking on my scalp. Every time my dosage was increased, I broke out on my face. The skin on my lips peeled off in large sheets, leaving purplish raw wounded-looking skin exposed–ew!
Amnesteem: I am in a great mood. Small setbacks do not bother me at all. The skin on my face does not feel tight, but it is flaking. I shampoo my hair less often, and my scalp occasionally flakes. I’ve had a few small pimples on my arms, but they are barely noticeable. The skin on my lips flakes off in tiny white pieces. My mouth does not look like a gaping wound.
I love Amnesteem because it does not make me depressed. The flaky skin is manageable and not noticeable to other people. My mouth doesn’t hurt. A very slightly flaky scalp is better than extreme depression. I don’t have new acne, and the scars are steadily fading.
So if you are having trouble with side effects, perhaps you might do better on another form of Accutane. I thought that I had to accept depression as part of the treatment, but that isn’t necessarily true. I wish I’d thought to switch brands months ago. I hope you are doing well, feeling happy, and don’t need this information! But if you aren’t feeling good, talk to your doctor about switching brands. Ask if his or her patients seem to do better on another brand. My doctor always seemed to be in a hurry and didn’t volunteer this information, but when I asked questions he slowed down and seemed more willing to personalize my treatment.
As always, put on your sunscreen and take good care of yourself. I hope your treatment is going well and you’re feeling happy.
P.S. For the first time in my adult life, I’m wearing PONYTAILS. I’m not hiding behind my hair!! This is so much fun!
Vivi
16th Aug, 09
Oh you sound so happy Jen! You can really feel and sense the bubblyness through this post! Fantastic!
And thanks for the info re different brands. I’m on a generic one but not sure which other ones are available here in the UK. Will definitely enquire. My main problem is aching hips. I have lots of other side effects, but they don’t bother me as much. It’s the hips that get me.
Lovely to hear you’re doing well, thanks!
x
atsparklypickle
17th Aug, 09
Fantastic, Im so glad you have found a better vrsion of roacc or you because you seemed soooooo miserable on the other one a while back:(
and if you want to know what the difference between generics and roche roaccutane are…….keep your eyes on my diary later on this week
Sparks x
atnatalie
17th Aug, 09
Hmm thats interesting. I finished my course 6 weeks ago and boy my skin has gone straight back oily. No spots but oily. I was on Beacon but I’m in UK so brands are different here and I took well into my cumulative amount. I did some research and found out that the brand I took meant increased hair loss. My hair has gone from being really thick and healthy to paper thin brittle that snaps if I only look at a hairbrush. I swear my hair is half the thickness it used to be and its all tufty where it’s snapped all over. Bit of of a co-incidence???
I thought when I finished my skin would remain grease free as thats what most people say but I feel terribly dissapointed that my hair is ruined and I’m still mega greasy. I also heard from another member that her hair hadn’t recovered a year on.
So although I dont have any spots I feel really anxious they’re about to pop up because of the oil on my skin
Sorry to be a disapointment to anyone reading, hopefully I’ll remain spot free….
Natalie x
atjennifer
17th Aug, 09
Vivi, you’re right! Everything is sunshine and rainbows.
I’m sorry to hear that you’re achy. Does stretching help?
Haha Sparks, that is NOT FAIR! I can’t wait to read more…
I can’t believe we’re finished on the same day. I’m going to out out that day to have a drink. I’ll toast you and your lovely clear skin!
Natalie, I’m sorry to hear that the oiliness is back and your hair is breaking off. Your hair looks so pretty in your picture. When did it begin to get thin and brittle? Was that while you were still taking the pills? I’m so scared it’s going to happen to me, too. I hope your acne doesn’t return. Keep us posted on what’s going on, okay?
atsparklypickle
17th Aug, 09
Are you kidding jen? I was just copying you
well after my mammoth diary entry I thought I would be a bit much to put the roch vs generics blurb in there too, I mean, I know my writing is pretty rivetting, but there is a limit……I shall not drink for some weeks after treatment ends just to be sure not to get another hangover-from-hell-so-bad-i-have-to-have-the-day-off-work !!
Nathalie, I would not read too much into the side effects listed by Beacon. The drug is essentially the same regardless of which brand you take and presumably hair-loss happens rarely from other brands too, but perhaps it is too rare to bother listing on the paperwork. I’ m sorry to hear that you have had this problem though and hope it all sorts now that you are off the tabs. hope you stay clear
S x
atnatalie
19th Aug, 09
Hi Jen and Sparks,
Thanks so much for your kind words, really cheered me up.
Yeah my hair started breaking off about 5 months into the course (the pic is pre roaccutane on dianette when skin was perfect for a while). So yeah it is a lot thinner than then. But still, i’m trying not to worry over it. It true what you said about the perfect hair make-up thing and now your spot free your not fussed that your not groomed to perfection. I’m like that and I’m liking the no fussed approach!
I love reading both of your diaries, I wish i’d done one really but didn’t really have the time as training to teach takes up every minute but now its the holidays.
I hope you both stay on here when you’ve finished your courses, it will be good to see how you get on. Well so far i’m still spot free 7 weeks on. I can cope with some grease I dont want to grow wrinkly when im old! I had just one big spot come up but it came and went in a day. Really strange never had that before. And i’m really trying hard not to pick. So far so good.
Anyway, thank you soooooooo much, its nice to know some lovely people on here to pick you up when you feel a bit down
Thanks
Nat xx
at