by Anna vA.
Month 1-2: Okay, I think I've gone mad. I keep re-reading the potential side effects list to a) count the symptoms I seem to be collecting like pennies, and b) make sure none of the said symptoms result in death.
SYMPTOMS: severe headache, extreme mood swings (but mostly swinging on the rage end), MORE acne (oh, come ON!), chest pain, fatigue, EARS RINGING, insomnia from ears ringing, joint stiffness, dry eyes, and cracking lips (which I affectionately dub my zombie lips).
The most disconcerting of all these symptoms is the rage. I can only describe it as that sensation at the height of PMS, where you feel like murder is a defensible offense. Times ten. It is also pretty depressing to wake up every day with a new blemish to conceal. I feel incredibly lucky to have several friends in my life with Accutane street cred. Each day I pounce on them with my growing list of deformities and emotional drivel, and each day they assuage my fears.
After the first month my dermatologist, Dr. Gorgeous, decided that my rage was a bit intense, and opted to keep me on the 30 mg start dose. Most patients ease into the medication with a low dose, then jump dramatically in the second month. I was grateful that I would be able to settle into my 30 milligrams of crazy pill for another month, and sure enough by week 6, I was feeling substantially more calm. The other symptoms are easing up as well. With a total of 5-6 months required for the medication to take full effect, I can tell you that at month 2, I am not feeling good about the experience. At this point, it almost doesn't seem worth it. Fortunately, I am vain and curious - a good combo for this adventure.
Have no fear Anna, Accutane DOES work. But you’ve just got to go through the sucky symptoms first! Take it from a girl with Accutane “street cred”. The worsening skin wasn’t even the worst part! It was the dry lips that killed me the most. Oh, if I didn’t have a blob of Vaseline-ish medicated ointment on them at all times, they’d burn like fire! One time, in a job interview I was talking so much that my lips were getting dry and starting to burn so bad that I couldn’t stand it any longer. It become distracting – all I could think about was my firey lips – not how I was going to be the best thing since sliced bread for this company! I even had to break out my plan B Chap Stick (medicated ointment always plan A) mid-interview as my interviewer looked on. P.S. I got the job.
One positive side effect to the burning lips is the beautiful, pouty, naturally red lips you have! I never wore lipstick or any kind of gloss because anything non-moisturizing or sticky was going to be a major no-no. But I didn’t even need it! My lips were like, Angelina hot! I even had a friend ask me if my burgeoning pout was natural or if I had Accutane to thank! HA!
A few months into Accutane my skin was P.E.R.F.E.C.T. In fact, I consistently had people complimenting my skin when I was out in public. Total strangers – not people who knew my former zitty self. I almost felt like a fraud in the beginning, like I couldn’t claim responsibility for my skin. I’d tell people that I was on Accutane. My mom quickly told me to cut that out and just say “thanks!” I swear; there is nothing better than perfectly clear skin. You even start to take it for granted and forget your past life.
My only gripe about Accutane is this: it doesn’t last forever. At least it didn’t for me. I get zits now and it drives me nuts. I’m as self-conscious as always about it. But whaddya gonna do? Who knows though, you might be one of the lucky ones…!
Posted by: Courtney | 17 May 2010 at 03:54 PM