Stopping course early

sarah r
 

sarah r

Wednesday 05 November, 2008

Posted in Frequently Asked Questions, Roaccutane

Hi all

I’ve not posted before but have been keeping up to date with everyone’s progress and think this is such a great site.  I wondered if anyone could help with my question.

I’ve been on roacc for 12 weeks now.  My skin wasn’t too bad before I started because I’ve been on Dianette for so long.  Last time I came off Dianette though my skin got really bad quite quickly so the derm was prepared to let me have a course of roacc (I want to come off Dianette to try for a baby but was dreading what would happen to my skin after last time).

In the first couple of weeks on roacc my skin got worse but then cleared up and has been totally clear for about 8 weeks.  I have all the dryness, rashes on hands, chapped doesn’t even describe the lips etc and have been having headaches too so am wondering if I’m actually getting any benefit by staying on roacc when my skin is clear anyway.

My question is that now I’ve had clear skin for a good while, what would happen if I stopped my course a couple of weeks early?  I was planning to take it for another couple of weeks (so would be 14 weeks in total) but then stop, hopefully lose (or reduce) the side effects in time for xmas and then start trying for a baby in the new year.  On the other hand I’m worried I’ll undo all my good work by stopping it early and not getting the full dose.  I’m on my max dose (50mgs per day - I weigh 50kgs) and have been for 10 weeks (first two weeks was on 30mgs).

Does anyone have any idea about this?  I can’t find a thing on the internet.  Much appreciated if there is any advice.

Thanks, Sx

6 Responses to “Stopping course early”

#1 Ash says...

hi there

id keep taking it the derm took my off roacuttane to early and about 6 weeks after stopping it my skin went back to the way it was so im now back on for god knows how long thanks to being undermedicated so my advice would be to keep taking it till they say to stop.

hope this helps

November 5th, 2008 at 7:25 pm

#2 andy says...

Hey Sarah,

All I can suggest is that you calculate your ‘cumulative dose’ - this is the total amount of Roaccutane you take. Some derms believe that if you reach (or come close to reaching) this total, it is less likely your acne will return in the future. The cumulative dose most physicians try to achieve with their patients is equal to 120mg per every kg of your body weight. So as you weigh 50kg, yours would be 6,000mg (120mg X 50).

So from what you say in your post:
10 weeks = 70days X 50mg = 3,500mg.
+ 2 weeks = 14 days X 30mg = 420mg
TOTAL = 3,920mg

Hope this helps!

Andy

November 5th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

#3 eider says...

All above sounds like the best advice! But I’d also add that I’m sure you know you have to wait a while before becoming pregnant to get it out of your system/ let your liver recover. It tells you on the leaflet but I think a few months to be sure.

When I was pregnant/ breast feeding my acne cleared up completely - the only time without medication that it did.

Good luck
Eider

November 5th, 2008 at 10:05 pm

#4 sarah r says...

Thanks so much for your comments guys and working out my cumulative dose Andy. I see I have to keep going for a few more weeks to get the full benefits. Have come this far I suppose!

Roche say wait for one month after the last day of roac before getting pregnant but my derm says wait two months to be on the safe side. Will be taking absolutely no chances as the risks are so awful.

Thanks to all and good luck!
Sx

November 7th, 2008 at 1:09 pm

#5 Amaris says...

Hey Sarah

According to what Andy worked out, your cummulative dose is pretty close to mine, i’m on 40mg p/day and weigh 47kgs.

I have been on this treatment over 21 weeks [haven't posted in awhile and lost track], but just like you I experienced really clear skin early on and wanted to quit the meds as well.

However, my derm and also the advice of many others on this site have convinced me not only to continue until i reach my cummulative dose but also to do a little extra. Everyone is of the opinion that it reduces the chance of the acne coming back the longer you take it.

So at the very least, try to hold on until u reach the cummulative if you can- as you said, you’ve already come this far.

Wishin you the best, whatever you decide :)

November 7th, 2008 at 2:21 pm

#6 T says...

All depends on how long the Roacc takes to leave your system… they say approx 2 weeks with antibiotics but Roacc is a lot stronger. Give your body enough time to expel all the toxins.

My other thoughts are that you shouldn’t stop right now… With medication such as antibiotics, you need to finish the course to ensure the illness doesn’t reoccur. Maybe just give it a few more weeks on Roacc to ensure you’ll be acne free, and then try.

Keep us all posted!

T X

November 17th, 2008 at 7:22 pm

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