Roaccutane may be prescribed in a once or twice daily regime.
Roaccutane treatment usually lasts for 14 to 24 weeks, but this may be shorter or longer according to your response to treatment.
11 responses to “Length of treatment”
Louise
2nd Apr, 09
Does anyone know how to work out the cumulative dose that I should be on overall?
I weigh 57kg.
I started on 14th Feb and was put on 20mg a day – then last saturday (28th March) my dose was upped to 40mg a day.
I just want to know when I will be off!!
I had very mild acne for 1 year – I was never without atleast 2/3 spots, the roaccutane is working well, I have no spots and haven’t had any that deserve talking about for weeks.
Hi Louise,
i’m about the same weight as you and also have mild acne, i was just wondering how bad did your breakouts get during the course of roaccutane? as i am apprehensive of starting!
was there anything special that you used or did?
thank you
Hi Louise1, the normal cumulative dose is 120mg / kg weight, so your cummulative odse would be:
120 x 57 = 6840mg
your first month you took 20mg so it total that was 20 x 28 = 560mg
the next months you are taking 40 mg, so that is 40 x 28 = 1120mg per month,
therefore as an estimate, if you stay at 40 mg your course is likely to be around six months, so you should be off by the end of august!
if i give up two thirds of the way though – can’t stand the side effects much longer! – what is the percentage likelihood of acne recurring?
has anyone tried taking the minimum dose, say 10mg a day, for a protracted time so as to get to the cumulative total? and on this low dose, are the side effects likely to be much lighter?
In some cases people do take very low doses, for example, if the liver enzyme or serum lipid levels are increased too much by a higher dose, and a number of studies have shown that a course of 20mg for 6-8 months can be as effective as a short higher dose course. In these cases, the side effects were much milder, and once the cummulative dose was reached, there wasn’t any difference in the recurrance of acne between those on a low or high dose.
If you can’t stand the side effects, then perhaps a reduced dosage would work for you, it would be such a shame to stop the course midway, because if your acne returns, you will always wonder what if…..
I was on 80mg per day for 16 weeks 2 years ago, my skin was perfect for 1 year but it has come back with a vengeance.
I am now starting a 2nd course but instead of a high doseage over a short period I am having 40mg a day for 6 weeks then dropping down to 40mg a day for another 6 weeks then will be on 20 mg a day for 6 weeks then for a further 3 months I will have 20mg every OTHER day in the hope that this time it goes away for good!
hi my name is tara, im 21 an have bin on Roaccutane for 7 days now. my skin as gne evan worse,mre spots, rashes,dryness everywere. its spread on to my chest goes up my neck an all over my face. have to keep moisturizing all the tym an puttin chap stick on my lips. im used to moisturizing from having eczema for most ov my life, but the pain from all the spots is bad, i no that it gets worse before it gets better but my face looks awfull nw.im on 40mg a day at the mo an i no its gna take tym but dse any1 no how long it will take before my skins stars to get a little better.
I started roaccutane a few days ago and also have experienced real dryness of the lips and around my nose, also breaking out into more spots. My friends that have been on it tell me it can take about 2 months for it to calm down. Im thinking of the end result and slapping on blistex every 30 mins!! Fngers crossed for everyone on this ‘wonder’drug! (My brother had very severe acne, big pustules all over his face and since being on it hasn’t had bad skin at all!)
I am in my 4th month now, and though I have found an improvement in my skin, its not what I was expecting, I still have the odd new spot coming up on my face and shoulders. I did 2 months at 40mg a day and since mid December I have been on 70mg a day. I have had really dry lips almost since day one, dry skin on my arms and hands, and havent been able to wear contact lenses my eyes are so dry all the time. I didnt find hat the side effects got any worse with the increased dose though which surprised me. I will be going back to the hospital mid Feb and although I was told at the start it would be a four month course, Im half expecting them to extend it another month, after what the nurse said last time. For what is billed as a wonder drug, it hasnt been as effective as I thought it would!
ok so 3 months have passed so quickly..
ive had my majour breakout and now i have no spots left on my face, maybe one or two.
but i have red marks on my cheeks and im wondering if theyll go.. if they do, how long will it take? will they go as long as i continue the medication?
Louise
2nd Apr, 09
Does anyone know how to work out the cumulative dose that I should be on overall?
I weigh 57kg.
I started on 14th Feb and was put on 20mg a day – then last saturday (28th March) my dose was upped to 40mg a day.
I just want to know when I will be off!!
I had very mild acne for 1 year – I was never without atleast 2/3 spots, the roaccutane is working well, I have no spots and haven’t had any that deserve talking about for weeks.
Thanks
atLouise
6th Jun, 09
Hi Louise,
ati’m about the same weight as you and also have mild acne, i was just wondering how bad did your breakouts get during the course of roaccutane? as i am apprehensive of starting!
was there anything special that you used or did?
thank you
sparklypickle
6th Jun, 09
Hi Louise1, the normal cumulative dose is 120mg / kg weight, so your cummulative odse would be:
120 x 57 = 6840mg
your first month you took 20mg so it total that was 20 x 28 = 560mg
the next months you are taking 40 mg, so that is 40 x 28 = 1120mg per month,
therefore as an estimate, if you stay at 40 mg your course is likely to be around six months, so you should be off by the end of august!
Sparks x
athel18
15th Jun, 09
if i give up two thirds of the way though – can’t stand the side effects much longer! – what is the percentage likelihood of acne recurring?
has anyone tried taking the minimum dose, say 10mg a day, for a protracted time so as to get to the cumulative total? and on this low dose, are the side effects likely to be much lighter?
atsparklypickle
15th Jun, 09
In some cases people do take very low doses, for example, if the liver enzyme or serum lipid levels are increased too much by a higher dose, and a number of studies have shown that a course of 20mg for 6-8 months can be as effective as a short higher dose course. In these cases, the side effects were much milder, and once the cummulative dose was reached, there wasn’t any difference in the recurrance of acne between those on a low or high dose.
If you can’t stand the side effects, then perhaps a reduced dosage would work for you, it would be such a shame to stop the course midway, because if your acne returns, you will always wonder what if…..
Sparks x
atMelanie
18th Jun, 09
I was on 80mg per day for 16 weeks 2 years ago, my skin was perfect for 1 year but it has come back with a vengeance.
atI am now starting a 2nd course but instead of a high doseage over a short period I am having 40mg a day for 6 weeks then dropping down to 40mg a day for another 6 weeks then will be on 20 mg a day for 6 weeks then for a further 3 months I will have 20mg every OTHER day in the hope that this time it goes away for good!
tara
9th Jan, 10
hi my name is tara, im 21 an have bin on Roaccutane for 7 days now. my skin as gne evan worse,mre spots, rashes,dryness everywere. its spread on to my chest goes up my neck an all over my face. have to keep moisturizing all the tym an puttin chap stick on my lips. im used to moisturizing from having eczema for most ov my life, but the pain from all the spots is bad, i no that it gets worse before it gets better but my face looks awfull nw.im on 40mg a day at the mo an i no its gna take tym but dse any1 no how long it will take before my skins stars to get a little better.
thanks tara x x x
atAnna
17th Jan, 10
Hi Tara,
I started roaccutane a few days ago and also have experienced real dryness of the lips and around my nose, also breaking out into more spots. My friends that have been on it tell me it can take about 2 months for it to calm down. Im thinking of the end result and slapping on blistex every 30 mins!! Fngers crossed for everyone on this ‘wonder’drug! (My brother had very severe acne, big pustules all over his face and since being on it hasn’t had bad skin at all!)
Anna x x
atRachael
24th Jan, 10
Hi
I am in my 4th month now, and though I have found an improvement in my skin, its not what I was expecting, I still have the odd new spot coming up on my face and shoulders. I did 2 months at 40mg a day and since mid December I have been on 70mg a day. I have had really dry lips almost since day one, dry skin on my arms and hands, and havent been able to wear contact lenses my eyes are so dry all the time. I didnt find hat the side effects got any worse with the increased dose though which surprised me. I will be going back to the hospital mid Feb and although I was told at the start it would be a four month course, Im half expecting them to extend it another month, after what the nurse said last time. For what is billed as a wonder drug, it hasnt been as effective as I thought it would!
Rachael
atiheartfashion
16th Mar, 10
ok so 3 months have passed so quickly..
ive had my majour breakout and now i have no spots left on my face, maybe one or two.
but i have red marks on my cheeks and im wondering if theyll go.. if they do, how long will it take? will they go as long as i continue the medication?
thanks to all.. x :)
atsydelle
24th Jul, 10
Lord jesus i dont have bad bad acne. i hope my face does not get worse well
oxoxox
at