Isotretinoin and Nosebleeds: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Mat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2016

Isotretinoin for Acne "I am on month 5 of it, about to be on six, and my skin feels a lot better. The only downside is your skin will stay tinted red even without actual zits or bumps until the medication is out of your system. My acne was cystic, and now my face is very smooth but red. I highly recommend not drinking alcohol on this, you will get the worst hangover of your life. Carry a travel-size lotion and lip balm with you 24/7, as your skin and lips get extremely dry. I use Cetaphil lotion every day on my face and elbows so I don't get that 'flaky dryness' look. All in all, amazing product, bad side effects, i.e., abdominal pains, headaches, nosebleeds, blurred vision, and depression."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 3, 2019

Isotretinoin for Acne "I had my first round of Accutane when I was 14. The doctor put me on only 20 mg because I was young, so I was on the drug for 13 months. It cleared up my cystic acne like magic and not a ton of side effects except for dry skin, nosebleeds. About 2 years after, I started to get my cysts on my skin, especially on my back, neck, and jawline, and I am now currently on another round of Accutane, but this time 40 mg taken every other day. Fingers crossed it works this time!"

• Kjb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2016

Isotretinoin for Acne "OMG, I love Accutane. Best thing that ever happened to me. I have 2 months left of this medication, and I don't want it to end. Right now, my face looks so perfect and flawless, occasionally, a zit or two, nothing major at all! I'm so sad that I won't be on it and that my acne will come back! I didn't have awful acne before, 1-10, it was like a 4 or 5 (10 being the worst), but I suffered from awful blackheads. Not anymore, my nose looks perfect. I did get huge cystic acne as soon as I started the medication, and I had almost every side effect, from 20 nosebleeds a day to chapped lips to my hair literally coming out in huge chunks and extreme joint pain. But it was so, so, so worth it."

• ult...
• May 31, 2020

Isotretinoin for Acne "I’m excited that I finally joined this party. I was cycling through antibiotics and Retin-A/adapalene for all of high school and college, and it was fairly ineffective and miserable. I came to accept myself in college, and for a while, I thought it was immoral/dangerous to risk Accutane because I had depression in high school. However, over the years, I learned that several of my classmates and my own cousin had taken it and looked normal. When I started my first job while living at home right after college, I decided it was time to roll the dice with Accutane. I’m in a special category of people because I decided that I was willing to own the risk just for the chance to try this drug and see if it opens some doors for me. I also wanted the assurance that this was something I could recommend to my future child. In terms of symptoms, I got the dryness, a few nosebleeds, joint pain, itchiness, hazy eyesight, peeling skin, and I took 60 mg a day for 6 months."

• Liz...
• October 24, 2013

Isotretinoin for Acne "I was on Accutane for six months, and I couldn't believe how clear my skin got just in two weeks. I never had the beginning breakout. Over the months, almost all of my acne was gone. I used to have over a hundred bumps on my forehead and big, puffy ones on my cheeks. I am now done with the treatment and still have blackheads and scars on my cheeks, and I'm disappointed they didn't go away because it was such an expensive hassle to go each month for appointments and blood work and making sure you pick it up in the time frame. The side effects were severe chapped lips, nosebleeds, and depression. That was the worst, but I went through it, and it all goes away."

• Anonymous
• June 24, 2014

Isotretinoin for Acne "I’m a 23-year-old female who has had acne issues since about 12 years old. Topicals kept me okay through my teen years until I got put on an antibiotic called Solodyn when I began getting adult acne at 22. It worked great but is not a permanent fix unless you want to take that pill every day for the rest of your life, so I tried Absorica. 5 months was all it took to clear up my severe nodular acne and dry out the blackheads I've had for 10 years. I experienced no serious side effects, just dry skin/lips and nosebleeds. With Aquaphor and Vaseline on hand, it was easily manageable and just a minor annoyance. Completely worth the results. I highly recommend Absorica, so long as you've done your research and monitor your health on it."

• Kel...
• January 12, 2016

Isotretinoin for Acne "I was super worried about trying Accutane. I heard how strong it was and that it made your skin super dry, and the side effects of nosebleeds and soreness in joints scared me a lot. But I decided to do it because I had horrible acne on my back, shoulders, and chest and just about anywhere you can name. It was so embarrassing, and I had tried everything: peels, pills, you name it. Within the first month, my skin was the best it had ever been. No oil whatsoever. The only side effects I did have were a few nosebleeds, which freaked me out, but in retrospect, they were totally worth it. I did get a little depressed, but that didn't last for long. It changed my life, and I hope you give it a shot. I am so happy now :)"

• muf...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2014

Isotretinoin for Acne "This is the best treatment for acne! I'm 23 and still had acne, though I had it primarily on my back and arms. I would never take my shirt off in public and was extremely self-conscious about it. I'm 4 months into the treatment, and I have NO new pimples (marks still there). I just hope the acne doesn't come back after the treatment. Side effects are manageable, I've had dry lips, eyes, and nosebleeds throughout the day, but the advantages of the treatment outweigh the side effects by miles!"

• Bri...
• August 17, 2017

For Acne "Okay, first off, I will say that this medication is not (at least for me) an instant cure. It's a process, and in the meantime, it's a very hard process. While checking your face every day for results, you will experience: dryness in your face, hands, lips, eyes, and nose (which causes nosebleeds, let me tell you). Your makeup will not sit right on your face, so don't even bother wearing any. You will break out worse at first before you start to see it clearing up. You will feel like it isn't working, you'll get upset, want to stop, but then, when your six months are almost up, it's like your skin is perfect. I went from severe, cystic acne to not having even one zit on my face. I can finally go without makeup for once in my life."

• Kat...
• February 25, 2016

Isotretinoin for Acne "I'm 23, and I never had acne in high school until I stopped taking my birth control due to health conditions. I started back on it, and acne came on with a vengeance. No matter what I did, if I was on or off BC, the acne never stopped flaring up. Some days were good, and my face and back were clear, but I was tired of battling, not looking in the mirror and being happy. I tried minocycline. I'm not going to say it didn't work because it helped. Acne was still horrible. First month, some dryness, second month, more dry, nosebleeds, and cystic acne popped up. I'm finishing my third month, and more of my friends say my face is looking amazing. Can't wait to finish treatment. Patience is key for this medication, for sure!!"

• Tin...
• September 5, 2020

Isotretinoin for Acne "This is my sixth and last month of taking isotretinoin (40 mg 2x/day at 145 lbs). From angry, red acne to faded marks, this drug has transformed my face. Side effects: - dry lips - you have to CONSTANTLY have your lips covered in a layer of chapstick or Vaseline (specifically for lips). Otherwise, your lips will immediately begin to peel and crack. If you're covered, you should be 100% fine. - dry eyes - after the second month, I would wake up 99% of the time with my eyes shut together. No crust or goop or anything like that. Just the rims of my eyelids shut together, and it sometimes would make them a little sore when I'd take my fingers to force them open. - nosebleeds - out of the blue, I have woken up coughing up blood from a nosebleed draining to the back of my throat. Usually, they would occur when I blow my nose or have some minor impact to my nose. Usually occurs every couple of weeks."

• Tr0...
• February 3, 2017

Isotretinoin for Acne "I took 60 mg of Accutane for almost 6 months, and I had moderate to severe acne. It did help my acne tremendously, and though once in a while I still get a little pimple here and there, it is not to the severity of before taking the medication. However, the side effects were brutal: very dry skin, nosebleeds, and a lot of hair shedding. I say the hair shedding was the worst side effect of the medication because I was shedding hair during the medication and even after I stopped taking Accutane, I developed telogen effluvium, which caused more shedding for three more months. Eventually, the shedding stopped and everything went back to normal. Yes, this medication is effective for treating acne, but be cautious of side effects."

• Anonymous
• November 16, 2011

Isotretinoin for Acne "I've been on Claravis for almost 2 weeks now. I have a severe cyst on my chin, but since taking this medication, it is bringing those down, even the redness is clearing up. I'm experiencing dry lips and had one nosebleed, but overall this medicine seems to work. My doctor said I will experience some breakouts first, and then my face should start clearing. My old pimples are coming out, but it looks like they are never going to come back. Good luck to all, and we shall see my results since I've got 5 months to go."

• Gru...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 2, 2012

Isotretinoin for Acne "Despite the high cost and the side effects - fantastic. Struggled through teens and then nothing until I hit 40! Suddenly, terrible facial and body acne again. Had to go for private treatment as the UK NHS would not cover the cost, but so worth the cost. Some discomfort, very dry lips, some nosebleeds due to dryness, joint pain in knees and back, hair thin and brittle, but no lasting effects at all and would not hesitate to do it again if required. It works. My skin is better now than it has ever been."

• Anonymous
• July 1, 2011

Isotretinoin for Acne "This product changed my life. I had terrible acne, and it made my life miserable. I tried SO many things, and not one thing worked. But I heard about Accutane and had to try it. I went to my doctor and got started. Within three weeks, my skin was almost flawless. I couldn't even believe it. I went on it for six months, and I didn't have one single pimple while on it. It's been a little over a year since I've been off it, and I get some zits here and there, but NOTHING compared to what it was before I started Accutane. It is a real miracle, and my life has changed so much for the better since. BEST THING EVER! Only side effects I EVER had were dry lips and two nosebleeds."

• bes...
• February 1, 2016

For Acne "Best decision I ever made! I'd suffered from really terrible acne for years and tried every single thing possible to try and clear it up. I'd heard of isotretinoin and thought of it as a last resort due to all the scary side effects I'd read about, which put me off for some time. But at last, I decided to try it, and I wish I'd tried it sooner! I went on the treatment over the holidays because I've heard the first couple of months are the toughest, and I could go days without having to wear makeup. I found that I got very dry lips, skin, some aches, a few nosebleeds, and the occasional mood swing within the first month. And yes, my acne did get worse for the first 2 months, and it's not easy, but then I hit the 3rd month, and it completely cleared!"

• Anonymous
• March 28, 2011

Isotretinoin for Acne "I started my treatment early 2009 and continued with it through October of that year. At first, I didn't see much improvement, complaining to my dermatologist for the first few months. What I did notice was the extremely dry skin, awful chapped lips, patches of what looked like eczema but wasn't, muscle pain, bloody noses, a tendency to bruise and bleed more easily, severe loss of appetite, and depression. Also, major sensitivity to all forms of light, especially sun, vision change, and fatigue. When starting my medication, both my gynecologist and optometrist advised against it. It was towards the end of my treatment when I started seeing results. My skin was flawless for about a year. After being off of it for 11 months, my acne is back."

• Dai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 13, 2018

Isotretinoin for Acne "Female, struggled with cystic hormonal acne on chest, back, neck, jawline, and face for 9 years. Side effects on Accutane: dry lips & small blisters on lips (occasional), extremely dry red eyes (no contacts after 1st month), abnormal hot flashes, face flushing, night vision decreased, nosebleeds, occasional blurred vision, fatigue, joint aches, headaches, fragile dry skin, dry hair, dry nose & throat, stomach pain and cramping (month 6), hemorrhoids, itchy skin & skin rash on hands. Side effects I have now are: dry eyes (I can wear contacts now but took 2 months after stopping meds, and my eyes are still much drier than before. I have to use eye drops at night and in the morning), dry lips (not bad), occasional joint pain in hands, hair loss/rapid hair shedding, itchy skin. All other side effects went away after ending meds. Worth it! 4 months after Accutane, and I have no acne! Not a single cyst! I have normal skin and occasional tiny zits here and there only."

• Nic...
• March 30, 2017

Isotretinoin for Acne "Currently on Accutane 40 mg and just completed a little over three weeks. Feeling confident that it will get better the more I progress, but unfortunately having some pretty annoying side effects in the process. Accutane has made my roots dry (which is kinda good because I don't need to wash as often) but led me to have dandruff. I also get nosebleeds and am currently experiencing the worst blackhead breakouts I've ever had on my nose, cheeks, forehead, and chin. Before Accutane, blackheads were what I had the least of, and now they are taking over. I started this because of back acne, and as of right now, I see no improvement, which is fine because it's been a short while. I can't wait till I reach the end of this road already, though."

• bet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 23, 2017

For Acne "I have had acne since I was 13. It has severely affected my life and has always given me zero confidence. I am now 57 and have tried every antibiotic, facial treatment, cream, and wash that are out there. Finally, I went to a dermatologist that actually heard me and how upset I was and put me on Claravis. The first three weeks, the medication is pushing everything out of your pores - so you do have to go through that. After the third week, my skin became entirely clear! I was amazed and so happy. It has stayed clear ever since, and I am one month off of it - I was on it for 5 months. The only side effect I had was extremely dry lips, nosebleeds, and dry skin. It has changed my life! Wish someone had put me on it when I was 15. Try it!"

• Bry...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2012

Isotretinoin for Acne "I've been on Claravis for 15 days today, and so far there is no improvement. After about 10 days of use, I broke out very badly. Everybody that's saying they've already improved after a week or two couldn't have had very bad acne to begin with. The doctor said that results won't start appearing at all until at least 3-4 weeks, but at this rate, I don't think I'll be seeing any soon. I have pretty severe acne and have ever since 7th grade (I'm a senior now). My side effects at this point are very dry skin - particularly the nose, mustache area, chin, and lips - I have slight muscle aches in my back and neck that I didn't have before, and I've been getting an abnormal amount of bloody noses since I started (at least twice a day)."

• amb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2019

For Acne "Really effective at clearing skin, however, make sure to always keep Vaseline near, as my lips get significantly dry, and I have had the occasional nosebleed from this medication. It also seems to affect my mental state, so just be really careful and be honest about your mood when you go to the monthly check-ups. On the bright side, however, this medicine has cleared my skin so well and has really boosted my self-esteem."

• Chl...
• October 7, 2019

For Acne "I have been on isotretinoin for 2 months now. My acne has only gotten worse. I can feel my lips cracking and peeling even with the amount of Vaseline I put on them, and my skin is insanely dry. My skin is now so fragile, and it cuts and bruises easily. I get painful nosebleeds almost every day. My arms have developed yellowish scabs, are super dry, and crazy itchy. I put Cetaphil on twice a day, and I wash my face and moisturize with CeraVe twice a day as well. My eyes get so dry that they sometimes distract me from my work in school. My hair is now falling out. I always feel sleep-deprived and have to take naps during the day. I get muscle aches that have never happened before. I don’t know if it has anything to do with the medication, but I read that someone else had ingrown toenails when on Accutane, and I have them too. I tried doxycycline and many topical creams before this, none of which worked. I do NOT recommend this medication to anyone who doesn’t have cystic or severe acne."

• Amb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2016

For Acne "Into my second month of Roaccutane. I started on 40 mg for the first month. My side effects were low to begin with. My lower back ached for about 5 days and then went away. I have mild dry skin throughout the whole first month. The things that I found hard in the first month were the 4/5 nosebleeds a day, extremely dry eyes, and the worst breakout I have ever experienced. I went to see my derm two days ago and she increased my dose to 60 mg per day. I am now on the second day of 60 mg and I haven't really noticed any difference yet, but I'm not expecting to for about a week. I woke up today with probably fewer new spots than I have been, but the worst part for me is the really bad clusters of acne right next to either side of my mouth."

• luv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 12, 2019

Isotretinoin for Acne "I have cystic acne…was shocked to learn my doctor recommended Accutane. From monthly nosebleeds to severe dry lips, severe dry skin, scalp, and major joint pain in my feet, upper back, forearm, and knees…all of which caused me to have a torn meniscus in my knee! So not worth it! I am now struggling to stand/walk and even lying down is just painful. I personally wouldn’t have gone through this hassle since it made things worse for me. I do have acne scars now more while I was on it… but the redness/flair ups have calmed down during my hormonal monthlies. I don’t see much of a difference. Getting the drug filled was a pain since pharmacies don't know how to fill this drug properly… they don’t check the iPledge first before filling the drug, so it screws up the status. I am a bit worried about the long-term side effects and not even sure if the acne really cured me."