Zenatane for Acne User Reviews

• pai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2017

"There are so many scary and terrible reviews on this drug. Before going on this drug, I read reviews and became stiff with anxiety. I actually took the brand name Zenatane, which is the same thing, just a little cheaper. LIFE SAVER. I had to come on here and write a glowing review for everyone who was in the position I was before starting. My flare-up began the summer of my senior year of high school and got so terrible when I moved away for college. It was so bad, and I was so embarrassed that I moved back home. Huge, hard cyst-type zits all over my face with redness. No amount of makeup could hide it. I finally made the choice to just do this treatment. It's the best choice I have ever made. I have actually been off of it for almost two years now and still don't get much... a few every now and then but small and hardly ever. The side effects-NOT THAT BAD. Yes, I had very dry eyes... but nothing some good drops couldn't fix. I also had a dry nose, but nothing some good spray couldn't fix. Towards the end of my treatment, I even started my outdoor college soccer practices. I was in the sun, I was running and out of breath, but everything was just fine! The worst part about this drug for me was taking the pills. I have a fear of swallowing pills, but I did it with some yogurt, and it's no big deal. Here's the thing... FOLLOW THE RULES. My sister took this before me. She ruined it for herself. She decided smoking while taking it is no big deal... wrong. It ruined her breathing to a point where she had to stop the drug... and her skin was much worse than mine. Five years later, she is on it again and doing great. So don't listen to all the scary reviews. You will be fine! You can manage the side effects. You can get more help from your derm. YOU GOT THIS."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 25, 2016

"My son started Zenatane 5 months ago after trying everything else. This is the only thing that has cleared his skin (took almost 5 months). His doctor started him off with 20 mg twice a day. Now he is taking 60 mg twice a day. To those complaining about side effects, his doctor stated he must take this with high-fat foods: peanuts, peanut butter, bacon, etc. (to help absorb the medication). His first two blood tests came back a little high, so she did not increase his dosage. He ate more fat when taking the pills (a few scoops of peanut butter) and now on a higher dose, his counts are good. Do not listen to scary stories about this medication. His doctor said she has been prescribing for 12 years and never had a bad side effect reported (other than dry skin, lips). Wish he had gone on this sooner (18 years old)."

• ken...
• November 6, 2015

"Since I was young, I have suffered from cystic acne. I think it is hormonal because sometimes my face is clear, and sometimes it is not. Now that I am 35, I decided to go with Zenatane because my dermatologist recommended it. I am on 30 mg twice a day. I have been using this for one month. Now I am on my second month, and the side effects are horrible: dry lips, eyes, sleepiness, and the worst joint and muscular pain in my upper middle back, neck, chest, knees, hands, and hips. I am not exaggerating, I feel like an old lady with how stiff I feel, especially in the mornings. I also have some stomach discomfort and mild heartburn. I don't want to continue, but my skin, just in one month, has improved a great deal."

• Ale...
• June 13, 2017

"I took the max dosage for this drug for 6 months (I had bad cystic acne.) The main side effect I had was dryness. Everything was so dry (lips, mouth, nose) and light nosebleeds. However, it was very minimal. I did experience a lot of hair loss, and it's continuing. One thing that surprised me: I had a history of depression and was worried about it bringing it back. However, I actually noticed an improved mood. I wonder if this is because I had a vitamin A deficiency, which Zenatane is derived from. Overall, great experience. Acne-free except for occasional ones that dry up fast. Keep in mind some things: your acne might get worse before it gets better, and keep your doctor updated with side effects."

• MLB...
• December 2, 2016

"At 19, I started experiencing severe cystic acne-constant dime, penny, and nickel-sized cysts, usually 3-5+ in various spots on my face at a time. They were embarrassing and extremely painful to the point of having limited facial movement/expression. After 2 years of trying everything possible (including painful cortisone shots!), I went to a new dermatologist who finally let me try Zenatane (generic brand Accutane). My acne did get worse at first, then I began to see real results at around month 5. After 9 months of treatment, I was completely clear and have been clear ever since. I did experience many side effects such as extreme dryness, insane mood swings, bad body aches, hemorrhoids, tiredness, and more, but it was all worth it. Don't give up on the process!"

• Bun...
• December 8, 2015

"I have been on Zenatane for about 9 months! It has taken me a lot longer to see results than most people's stories I've heard, but it saved my face. I had cystic acne breakouts mostly on my cheeks. Nothing would make them go away. After starting Zenatane, it wasn't an overnight clear-up miracle. It took months. After 4 months with no results, I was ready to give up, but then after 5-6 months, the cysts just stopped. It was sudden and surprising. My skin continues to turn over and looks better and better every week. I also changed my diet, which I believe helped as well. In Feb 2016, it will be a full year I've been on Accutane (Zenatane), and I am ready to be done, but it has been worth it."

• Acn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2016

"I am a 25-year-old female, and I struggled with acne for approximately 7-8 years before starting Zenatane (isotretinoin). I tried several topical and oral medications with little to no success. It became extremely upsetting and frustrating to wake up an extra 30 minutes just to 'cover up' my breakouts. I finally made the decision to speak to my dermatologist about Accutane, and after completing some research, I decided to go on it. I have completed close to one month on this pill, and it is truly a miracle! My face has cleared, and instead of having several cystic breakouts during 'that time of the month,' I only had one. The only side effects I have yet to experience are dry lips. I highly recommend this medication!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 18, 2017

"I started getting acne as soon as I hit puberty (age 12, 6th grade). My acne continued to get worse all throughout middle school. I went to see a dermatologist, and he prescribed me many prescriptions that would work for a little while, but acne would come right back. Fast forward to age 23, I have the same derm since I was 12. He prescribed me Accutane as a last resort. Although I did not like it for the 6 months I was on it because of the dryness it caused, I love that my skin has finally been acne-free/blemish-free. I stopped taking Accutane in January 2017. I'm just hoping I don't have to go through that acne stage that I had in middle school ever again. Cons are that I still have dryness/eczema on my hands, it's kind of hard to get rid of that."

• Lov...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 5, 2023

"I started experiencing cystic acne all over my face in 2019 due to lockdown and PCOS, etc. Tried every single topical cream, and nothing worked. My doctor started me on Zenatane last October, and I’ve been purging since month one to mid-month five. I was hopeless at some point and wanted to give up. I also experienced blurry vision, dry lips, dry skin, a dry nose, and rashes. But after five months of use, my acne is cleared. I have five more days to go and have one hormonal acne on my jaw that is almost healed, but I can’t be happier. Zenatane cured my hair loss, and my hair texture is so great. I think it’s due to the healthy fat I’ve been eating every day with my meds. Use lip balm every 10 minutes, moisturize, and drink lots of water with a bit of salt so your body can intake the water. Take fish oil so you don’t get joint pain, and use eye drops every day, and you will be fine. All I need is to heal my scars now."

• MrS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2021

"It got my 17-year-old daughter’s acne mostly cleared up, but when the dose was doubled from 40 to 80 mg, all hell broke loose. She’s currently at the Children’s Hospital in Columbia, SC, for a week now with her digestive system swollen, bleeding, hurting, and infected. It’s so swollen that the camera they use for inspection couldn’t fit. Samples were taken and sent to a lab for definitive proof on what’s going on. If the package the pills came in had a warning about digestive warnings similar to the reproductive warnings, this drug would’ve never been used by us. For most, this drug works in improving lives, but for the unlikely 1 in 10,000, just like asbestos, there needs to be some type of fund set up. As a retired father, here I come…"

• Tfr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2017

"I am an uncommon person. I actually had an adverse reaction to the drug. I was honestly one of the most popular kids in my school. Known for good looks, etc. I was such a pretty boy that when I started to get even a mild breakout, I urged my mom to make a dermatologist appointment. My dermatologist prescribed me Accutane. It was the worst decision of my life. My face exploded with acne. For the past year and a half, I have struggled with depression, visited numerous doctors, surgeons, spent thousands of dollars on surgeries, and am only about 70% improved from the point that I started Accutane. I cannot express enough how much this drug has severely affected me in my life, and I ask you to use caution when using this drug. Please use caution."

• Sex...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 12, 2016

"I was not sexy. Now I look sexy. This stuff works. (Still on it because it's only been 4 months.)"