Welcome to our community. Please fill in the following template as a way of introducing yourself, and helping others to understand your background and situation.
Where are you from (country)?
canada
How did you find this forum (Google search – if so, what search terms? Via link from a forum or website – if so, what page? Other?)
googled acutane long term effects
What is your current age, height, weight?
32/5.9/140
What specific drug did you use (finasteride, dutasteride, saw palmetto, isotretinoin/Accutane, fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, leuprorelin, etc…)?
accutane
What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
i cant recall
What condition was being treated with the drug?
zits
For how long did you take the drug (weeks/months/years)?
a couple months i think i cant remember
How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start the drug?
14 or 15
How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
15
How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
cold turkey
How long into your usage did you notice the onset of side effects?
a month
What side effects did you experience that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
Check the boxes that apply. You can save your post first, then interactively check/uncheck the boxes by clicking on them. If your symptoms change, please update your list.
Sexual
[x ] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[x ] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[x ] Loss of Morning Erections
[x ] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[x ] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[x ] Watery Ejaculate
[ x] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability or Difficulty to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility
Mental
[ x] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[x ] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[x ] Confusion
[x ] Memory Loss / Forgetfulness
[ x] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[x ] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[x ] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[x ] Severe Depression / Melancholy
[x ] Suicidal Thoughts
Physical
[ x] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[ ] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[x ] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ x] Muscle Wastage
[x ] Muscle Weakness
[x ] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[x ] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[x ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[x ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[x ] Tinnitus (ringing or high pitched sound in ears)
[ ] Hearing loss
[ ] Increased hair loss
[x ] Frequent urination
[x ] Lowered body temperature
[x ] Other (please explain)
DEREALIZATION/ VISUAL SNOW/ EITHER TOO HOT OR TOO COLD/ SEVERE DRUG, SUBSTANCE SENSITIVITY
What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?
been on ton of meds over the years
If you have pre or post-drug blood tests, what hormonal changes have you encountered since discontinuing the drug (please post your test results in the “Blood Tests” section and link to them in your post)?
very low T confimed waiting on more results
Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience?
Tell us your story, in your own words, about your usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
ill keep it brief. i took accutane cause i had bad zits as a kid. a month or so into my treatment i developed horrible depression (which i had never felt before) and derealization where everything seemed unreal and was so horrifying that i quit cold turkey.
that was almost 20 years ago and my condition has deteriorated to the point i can no longer function or really take care of myself half the time. i cant eat anything wiithout spiking my symptoms. i am almost skin and bone yet still have constant bloating and GI issues. have always had issues with libido and keeping it going. it comes in waves and i have slept with my fair share of chicks but i have zero confidence at this point. cant hold a relationship because my brain is so warped from this. mood swings, derealization, depression, feelings i cant even describe. all waxing and waining over the years but it is indeed getting worse and i fear i wont be able to take this much longer i have been though so much hell i cant even begin to describe.
i do accomplish things (play in some bands, work at a record shop once a week, try to be social) but im never really fully here even on my good days. and all progress is short lived. anything that brings me relief (taurine being the latest) is always over ridden by this horrible condition. i get a window into normalcy then poof its gone. its heart breaking.
i dont know what love is. i have an idea but i am so blunted and warped i just cant feel anything. a warm breeze, the closeness i used to feel with certain people, the things that mattered to me. its all just been robbed or severely altered. reading all these stories my heart truly goes out to you all. i feel like im doomed
i want to feel life, i want bang chicks, i want to truly love someone, i want to love myself. but i cant. i am a damaged individual who desperately needs a break. its like my mind and body are punishing me. i seriously cant take much more of this as i waste away. this truly is hell and i want OUT
