Lyris Lite :: Ambulance-chasers and why Roaccutane is the best thing since pie

And now, a brief detour from all the AV and gaming-centric posts that I'm normally known for, and for something that's sure to bring in the "CHEAP VIAGRA HERE $$$" spam-bots: a rare one-off post about medicine.

Since January, I've been on a drug called Roaccutane (Accutane if you live in the US and/or Canada). Roaccutane is a drug that has an astonishing success rate in wiping out annoying skin blemishes (read: spots). Although I was never very spotty to start with, there is a huge difference between "spot-free" (which I now am, I kid you not) and "almost spot-free", especially when you're as visually hyper-observant as I am. Fortunately, I was one of the ever-increasing amounts of people without severe spottyness to be given the drug.

Roaccutane is controversial because it has a fairly long list of side effects that everyone is made aware of before they take the stuff. If women take it and get pregnant, then the resulting baby will almost certainly have severe physical defects (solution: don't get pregnant). It also tends to makes your skin dry while you're on it so you need a good supply of moisturising cream to stop looking too flaky. My joints also hurt a little bit for the first week of being on the stuff.

Some people try and claim that the drug makes you depressed, and there's a whole group of people trying to get the stuff banned, despite the fact that no solid link between taking the stuff and feeling down has ever been proven! It's like all the goons that thought the world was going to explode at the stroke of midnight when we reached the year 2000, or that internet shopping is unsafe.

Roaccutane is heavy duty stuff. I've heard that if you live in the US, the stuff costs $900 a month. It cost me absolutely nothing thanks to the National Health Service we have in the UK (although it took a 4-5 month wait to get prescribed the stuff, but that's OK). So, for 16 weeks it was detox, no drinking alcohol at all, avoiding strong sunlight (not very hard during wintertime in Scotland), and having needles stuck in your arm every so often for blood tests. It was definitely worth it, because the quality of my skin has been improved to an almost ridiculous extent; in fact, taking this drug has been one of the smartest decisions I ever made, right up there with selling my Xbox and buying a GameCube instead (yeah, that good). And after about a week of no longer being on the drug, I think it seems safe to say that the problem has not returned and the stuff has worked.

Was I depressed whilst on the stuff? Nope, never, the worst I got was a little bit irritable because itchy (you'd a bit irritable as well if your arms were itchy as well, trust me). It's a cliché, but it needs to be said, the only thing I regret is not taking the stuff sooner and even beginning to take idiots like the ones I'm about to talk about seriously.

Yes, now with my own overwhelmingly positive experience out of the way, we can concentrate on the Ambulance-chasing promises I made in this post's title. The goons at accutane-injuries.com, a web site set up either by or on behalf of "Levin Law" want to squeeze as much money as possible by basically re-iterating and exaggerating the list of potential side effects you are GIVEN and made aware of when you take the drug. Basically, they seem to be a money-leeching service for people who can't RTFM. Here's a quote from their page:

What sort of country's legal system actually allows an individual to sue a pharmaceutical company for giving them a nosebleed? (Don't answer that question). I just find it astonishing that there are people as shameless as this who'll try to squeeze money out of a company doing so much good.

So, if your skin is annoying you and you're browsing the web and wondering whether or not to take this stuff (like I was almost a year ago), then here's my advice: do, and ignore the likes of "Levin Law". As I said at the start, this is the first time I've ever talked about medicine on my web site, but how could I not given the improvement it made?

I guess they heard the name enough, saw that it costs 900 bucks a month in the states, and got dollar signs on their eyes. Avaricious bastards. Suing for side effects already noted.. And doesn't your doctor and/or pharmacist inform you of that too?

"My Viagra gave me an erection! It wouldn't go down when I got an unexpected visit from my mother in law! Time to sue!" (Sorry if the V word brings unwanted ads, but since you already have it written, might as well jump on the band wagon.)

Looks like intresting stuff, i'm in scotland too, how did you get your hands on the stuff?

Why my doctor, of course. Well, they referred me to a dermatologist, thanks to the controversy, "normal" doctors aren't even allowed to prescribe the stuff.

hmm, I see, cheers for the info..

Lyris, I would seriously consider stopping the Roaccutane.

A member of my family took it for mild acne, and whilst it solved the skin problem, it gave him mental problems.

A couple of years after his treatment was over, and he was displaying character changes, I started seeing reports of Roaccutane causing mental health issues. It has actually made some people feel so depressed that they have committed suicide.

From what I've read, it's a serious issue, and not one to simply ignore. What's the point in having better skin , if you feel like killing yourself?

I heard that the best cure for acne is 'Pantothenic Acid'... Bodybuilders use it to stop acne. I personally get mild spots now and then, so I researched, and it seems that a lot of people are saying Pantothenic works, and is much better and safer than Roaccutane.

It's a vitamin(B5) .... The amount you need to solve a skin complaint varies. Some people need 1gram, whilst severe acne can take 10grams. Research it Lyris. I hear the only side-effects can be a bit of a dodgy stomach.

Take Care

Leon.

Hey Lyris

I did my last post in haste. I didn't read that you had finished with the Roaccutane.

I was speaking to my mum, and she mentioned that her Doctor said that she wouldn't prescribe Roaccutane again, after one of her patients got liver-damage from it.

I hope you are one of the lucky ones. I personally wouldn't take pharmaceutical drugs, unless it was a serious situation.

I hope you let people know that the drug isn't without risk. I'd say it's best to seek a safe alternative, if someone only has a few spots.

Leon.

Hey Leon

Thanks for your concern, I hope my post didn't come across as too obnoxious given the fact that it's caused someone close to you harm.

The liver damage was a huge concern for me, and in fact they're still taking blood tests to double-check that's all OK (they've been absolutely fine so far).

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