I’ve been taking roaccutane for the last 5 months and I’ve felt everything you mentioned. The inability to problem solve, rational thinking and low moods. I can only describe it as a brain fog. It’s so unsettling and scary. Thanks for discussing this
@@dr.beckyspelman im guessing this should reverse once treatment has ended. There are people claiming to have mental issues years after taking the medication
@@lolok1099 Just dotted about online. I understand that a doctor is massively more qualified to talk about this but it's the amount of people saying it thats scaring me. Perhaps the drug wasn't the cause of the depression and it was due to another factor but you don't want to call them uneducated because its their mental health at the end of the day. A large amount of it is fear mongering and it puzzles me why people do this with their time.
By reading these comments and my dermatologist honest opinions of side effects about depression and of suicidal thoughts i am cancelling tomorrow’s GP appointment. I am more than happy to have some acne rather than losing my health. Thanks for the advice.
Take them in on 3 20mg a day so 60mg in all and they don’t make me feel anything I smoke weed every day and I’ve had no negative effects except I have dry lips every now and again. Don’t live with the acne get it gone lad if you kill yourself cause of some pills your just soft
@Thomas King life altering side effects. But ya...good advice. Take this now so you can be on antidepressants for a lifetime. Antidepressants come with their own entire lengthy set of side effects.
I’ve always been low energy and lethargic/depressed but on accutane I’ve noticed I’m closer than I ever have been to acting upon suicidal or self harming thoughts. I’ve never felt worse in my life as a whole. Luckily I only have 14 days of accutane left until my 4 months is done. Hope that’s it for good
Im 42 years old and strugle with back acne at 42! While effective, this drug is serious business and side effects are not to be ignored, esp when it comes to all over joint and muscle pain and suicude and depression. I've experienced both. I did not realize some of the ultra serious effects, I thought it was just me because I normally do adjust pretty well to medications. I have been on this medication pretty regularly, over 2 years. Although currently a 3 day a week regime but at this point im backing down.
before i started taking this drug i was at a low point in my life but i was okay and was motivated, had interest in things, etc. i’ve been on this drug for 2-3 weeks now and i feel absolutely terrible. i feel so unmotivated to do everything and feel like i’ve lost interest in so many things, it’s making me be in very low moods and is really ruining my mental health. i have an appointment with the dermatologist in august, and i just don’t know what to do. i want to clear my skin but i don’t want to be depressed. i’m only 13 and i have no idea what to do.
Leave it.... Its side effects on mental health are terrible and scary....i hv used it.. and my mental health is terrible... I lost interest in things.. i used accutane 3 weeks ..i left it 5 days ago...
This happened to me and I wish I would’ve stuck with it. Stick it out, you’ll regret it if you don’t. The acne and skin issues will come back and they’ll come back worse if you quit
@@pyroclone123 i stopped taking it 2 days ago. i’m on different tablets and a cream. it was getting to hard to be able to stick it out, i was crying everyday and has lost all interest and motivation in everything. i’m only taking a break from it though. i’m going to work on myself and work on becoming happier and just to be myself again, and then im going back on it.
@@emma-qn5rj my skin has been the absolute worst lately and i was thinking about getting a dermatologist and see if i am suitable for acutane and now im second thinking it because i do have mild-depression and i am very anxious if acutane will make me worse mentally... i just want to be pretty and have clear skin but i also dont want to become mentally changed for the worse.. what should i do? :( was your experience horrible? like to the point where you couldn’t handle it anymore?
After taking 40 mg for a month I started to notice mood changes, irritability, anger and frustration, sleep disturbances. This is my 2nd month through, I've had sudden cystic acne that did not resolve and stayed for about 3 years, so I had to take roaccutane. I can see skin improvements, but my skin isn't clear yet, I'm supposed to take it for 6mths with a 40mg dose. Now I feel like reducing it to 10 mg and staying on the treatment for a year instead of a short treatment with a high dose. The side effects arr scary though!
I have the exact same issues, I started getting extremely angry and irritated and slowly progressed to getting 2 to 3 hrs of sleep a night. I didn't even think it was the accutane
I am crying because why I have not seen your video earlier. I had severe cystic acne during lockdown so I just move on to isotretinoin and I had exactly the same side-effects related to my mental health. I had suicidal thoughts developed eating disorder but I am unaware of the cause . Thankyou for making such informative video 💕💕
I never had acne in my life, but since lockdown hit I had cystic painful acne on my cheeks, It went away by using Tretenoin and took 5 months but came back again last year kind of like Rosacea and small pustules, nodules and some cystic too, but am afraid to go with Accutane..
Before taking the drug I had (and currently have) a severe depression but now I'm taking it and, I cannot tell if it's all mind over matter or it's genuinely the drug, I've just never felt more suicidal in my life. No events catalysed it. I just don't understand why this is happening. I'm 16 and I keep going in and out from being very very suicidal to less suicidal but drained from the pressing suicidal thoughts. Hopefully I survive taking this.
Hope you’re doing better these days ❤ I’ve experienced sui* ideation/impulses from an antibiotic - it’s weird! It’s like it IS your thoughts…but it kind of isn’t at the same time? Like you, I’ve dealt with depression before the med, but on the med I just found myself thinking about sui - and like with you, there was no real catalyst. Brains are weird!
I'm taking 20mg only once a day. First week I was so irritated, then depressed over something that happened, because of that I almost commited you know what. I calmed down for 3 weeks then, I felt amazing. But in the recent days after almost 2 months on the medication I feel depressed again and wanting to commit you know what so bad. My side effects got so much worse. Head aches, exremely dry skin and eyes, back pain, knees pain. Worst of all is irritation.
Started it 3 weeks ago, thinning hair, bad anxiety, and had a panic attack for the first time in my life, such a hard decision if I should continue it or not I don’t know what to do
i am having the same issue. i went through with continuing the medication and finish in three days. my anxiety is horrible rn never been this way before. don’t follow through with it.
I had all of these symptoms plus all the ways i would deal with my depression weren’t working. It was definitely acutane but I definitely have always had problems with depression before. My back got so sore from it that I couldn’t exercise at all which is how I normally would deal with my mood and depression. My nose started bleeding every day and my lips were destroyed. I don’t think I’ll ever go back on accutane. I treated my loved ones badly when I was on it since I was so irritable, and I was in such a dark state. It made me feel like a hormonal teenager again plus terrible muscle and back pain. I felt like it was poisoning me. The last straw was getting a panic attack and getting sick. Im 24 and my acne is cystic and I don’t care that much about it but I would like it to be gone. I’ve tried a million things to get rid of it. Just a cautionary tale for anyone else who is similar to me. My doctor mentioned going on an antidepressant and anti anxiety medicine while on accutane but that feels wrong because taking one medicine to combat symptoms of another medication is a rabbit hole that could destroy your health. Not all the symptoms would disappear. I was taking 1 pill a day (of accutane). I have a liver condition called Gilbert’s syndrome and I’ve seen somewhere that accutane is hard on your liver since it has to process the medication. That could be related to my muscle pains. Idk, I hope this helps someone out there who is similar to me.
I'm in month 5 of taking this medication, and I stopped taking it 2 weeks into this month, because I have been becoming severely depressed. To be 100% transparent, I have felt I've had depression for a while now, but suddenly it's ramped and ramped to the point I've actually had suicidal thoughts, and I'm afraid that it's from the medicine, so I stopped. When I go back in in a couple weeks, I'm going to be 100% honest and tell him (my Dermatologist) what's been happening and see how he thinks we should go. Up to this point, every monthly visit has just been like a 20 second long "huh looks like it's getting a bit better, another X months" and nothing more than that.
I am currently on my 12th day taking accutane (10mg). I won’t get too deep into it but I definitely have dealt w a lot sort of “depression” throughout my teen years (I’m currently 21). And I definitely still do. It’s not as bad as when I was younger and tbh it’s actually been pretty good for quite sometime now. The past couple of nights I have been hysterically crying. One little thought, and then next thing you know I’m bawling my eyes out. I’m not going to blame this all on accutane, as I said I’ve dealt with depression in the past and have hysterically cried myself to sleep many times lol but I just can’t help but think that it may have something to do with all of these thoughts resurfacing. I’m at my widths end with my acne, I’ve been struggling with horrible acne for nearly 9 years now and this is my last option!
Maybe I can help you, I have a similar horrible story for 3 years. I have problems with ligaments, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, as well as psycho-emotional. Pay attention, does the deterioration of health (depression, anxiety, agility) appear after eating fatty foods? Eat 5 fried eggs and watch how you feel. Eggs are vitamin A, accutane is a synthetic vitamin A that accumulates in the body and is excreted in the bile when eating (fatty) food and also when taking vitamin A-containing foods.
I also have had very similar experience to you history of metal health(im 20) and went of accutane 3 months ago and things were going pretty okish before but then boom i went on accutane and my metal health literally collapsed and i had to go to psychiatrist one month later and i have always been very non agreeable to visiting a psychiatrist but that shows how desperate i was for help at the time….I would say accutane/isotretinoin can have dangerous effect on some people especially if you have a history and this needs to be more talked about, im still on it and a lil better for now lets see what happens
Can you please tell us what dosage you were taking? I took 10mg for a month and am now feeling irritability, anger, frustration, depression, sadness, etc. I stopped it and cannot wait to stop feeling this way.
I am currently on accutane, just finished my first month. I was aware that depression and suicide can be a symptom but obvious it was for people with pre-existing / prone to depression, right? Wrong..! 3 weeks in, I start feeling blue, glass is always half empty, feeling sorry for myself, emotionless, then it started getting worse just by the fourth week. Irritable behavior, stubbed toe as I washed Des he’s and I throw the plate across the room out of sheer frustration, completely out of character. I wondered to myself what in the lord is happening to me..? I suddenly start crying with literally no reason in the middle of the day, at work, ironing, a sudden wave of sheer sadness. Yet, I have had the happiest life, at 23 years old, no traumas, considered depression for the weak “man up mate” kind of thing and yet just an utter sense of feeling lost, empty and I’m only on my first month. Please tell me that it gets better eventually and we get used to it??
I took roaccutane on the years you mentioned and was close to being one of those numbers,even now past 40 I’m sure the drug had long term damaging effects psychologically.
Doc I’m depressed tired and have tendonitis. I have no idea what to as it disabled me:( I can’t sue or talk to my dermatologist. I wish I never taken it
Pretty sure this caused me to have e major depression for a decade .. no signs prior and then awful depression and suicidal thoughts. I noticed change within a week. This happened 20 years ago but was a major trauma. Be very careful with this drug.
This medication has me feeling unmotivated and sad. My mental health was just getting better but, after 1 week of taking it I felt like my mental health is plummeting. I constantly feel numb and lost.
I would probably stop taking it then. I’m on it right now and feel similar but I’m probably going to stop taking. Not worth throwing your health away for some red spots on your face, unless your acne is really really bas
I’ve been on Accutane for four years and during that time my mental health plummeted big time. I spent time off of it and my mental health started to get so much better and I put myself back on it a few days ago and my health is starting to get worse again. After all that time I finally connected the dots.
Can topical tretinoin or retinol also cause depression? I know it’s not ingested, but if the topical product goes systemic after absorbing through the skin maybe into the veins and blood stream- could it cause depression? Cause every time I’ve tried to used tretinoin or retinols, I get depressed.
@@HaleighCopeland-vr5qg yes, about 2 days after I stop the topical retinol or tretinoin I feel better, sometimes 3 days. I think it also might depend on how long you’ve been using it.
I never think about suicide, but i take this medication for 6 months, and i was really at school, and everyone notice that i was really distracted, but i tried my best to be good, but it’s imposible, if u call my name u gotta say it twicee because i never hear anyone, when i sleep i was blooding on my nose in the middle of the night and i was really hard to me because i was feeling like my energy was REALLY BAD, but anyways i pass my 6 months my skin still great, but the side effect of distracted it took another year to disappear, even my relatives yelled at me thinking that I was doing it for real, but it was the pills that left me with that defect, so far I'm fine, but I think that this medication is possible to leave you with memory problems and You have to be careful
But i’m really happy, because my skin at the end, still GREAT, i was 16 when i start taking the pills, and now i’m 21, and i look really young 😂 like a girl
I struggled from depression for 2 years and got over it now I have started isotetrin and I fear that the depression will come back, should I stop? I have no other option to treat acne. My dermatologist knows about this and he said I shouldn't worry but I don't know what to do.
Im 42 years old and strugle with back acne at 42! While effective, this drug is serious business and side effects are not to be ignored, esp when it comes to all over joint and muscle pain and suicude and depression. I've experienced both. I did not realize some of the ultra serious effects, I thought it was just me because I normally do adjust pretty well to medications. I have been on this medication pretty regularly, over 2 years. Although currently a 3 day a week regime but at this point im backing down.
I know many people, including myself, who went on Accutane and none suffered hair loss. Everyone has been delighted as their acne cleared up and now look more attractive.
Why am I mad 30 years later after being on this??? 34 months of cumulative exposure over 4 courses of treatment. Yes it cleared my acne but ALL along my acne was driven by milk and milk products consumption. My derms never thought diet was a factor. Wrong. I found out years later after being on acne message boards of people who mentioned the milk connection in certain people.
Accutane is by FAR the best treatment for moderate to severe acne and has transformed millions of faces for the better, which otherwise would've scarred and caused emotional distress.
Hey becky! Thanks for sharing your experience I want to tell you that I am on this medication right now, it’s already been 4 months, and I really suffer from severe low mood and severe anhedonia with suicidal thoughts that I have never had before like throwing my self from the balcony... I don’t know if it’s related to the medication itself or not, as I am in my last medical year and it is already a big huge stressing event, thanks in advance
Hi Sarahh, thanks for sharing this, Sorry to hear this, we can offer you a free 15-minute phone call with one of our therapists to discuss treatment options available, please email info@privatetherapyclinic.com to book your call.
Also FYI Sarahh I changed my diet removing wheat and diary and went down a gut health route in the end and that’s what worked to clear my skin as I felt the medication was too toxic.
I took roaccutane in 2002/2004 and 2010 still having long term mental health issues i believe from this drug. Severe anxiety and hyperness. I had these same symptons on the drug i believe it messes your seratonin levels up and gives you long term health issues. I am now struggling on cetalopram and paying private to go to the priory for help. 😢
Hello Doctor, I took Isotretinoin for nearly 80 Days 20 mg per day and it has been a living hell since then. I am facing issues like Anxiety, Depression and Suicidal Thoughts. I was never told of the side effects otherwise i would have never taken them. Can you please tell me how long these side effects persists. Please Doctor i need help...
@@dr.beckyspelman Thank you Doctor for reaching out and making me feel that I matter. I needed urgent help then I contacted my family and I am getting help. I will reach you out in future if I ever need help. Thank you again and God Bless You 🙏🏼
Hi Dr. Becky, Thank you for this informative video. I've just sent you an email to ask a few more questions about isotretinoin and mental health for an article I am writing for class. I look forward to hearing back!
Hi Becky, I have taken this drug in 2014 and still have depression (and low libido). Should increase serotonin, dopamin, noradrenalin will be the key to reverse this? Hope to hear from you. Grtz
Sorry to hear this I’m not sure but if you look at gut health and the food you are eating you might get improvement as there is now more and more evidence that the food we eat affects neurotransmitter. I can recommend a specialist in this if you like.
@@dr.beckyspelman Thanks for your reaction. I eat healthy keto for the last 3 years and don't eat after my last meal. I think it helps a little bit against ''brain fog'.. I would love to hear your recommendation but I live in the Netherlands. Is that a problem?
Hi. Thanks for vid. Seems crazy you would take this for mild case of skin problem. Roaccutane made me go crazy. I ended up in L.A maximum security prison and solitary confinement at 18 years of age. I spent 3-4 months with Psychosis. Now at 44 I have ailments that are almost certainly from the drug. Roche the company that made Roaccutane is corrupt as all hell.
I’m starting to feel really depressed but I’m also on my period right now so idk if it’s just that or the accutane. I’m on antidepressants but I have been crying a lot and feeling hopeless. I just want to get this accutane over with, I need clear skin but wow I’m feeling awful.
@@finlay2860 Hi I managed to cure my acne permanently completely in a 100% natural way, it took me years to figure it out, this might not work for everyone but do you want to know how I did it?
It all has to do with the dehydration because of the med. Dehydration can make you feel literally crazy, more impulsive and irritable. With all that combined you’ll have A LOT of intrusive thoughts and mood swings everyday.
hey … I’m suffering from serve acne and pimple from last 6 years I had history of depression also my doct suggest me this isotretinoin capsules ip 20 mg but is it safe for my mental health does it leads to more anxiety and depression I just really want to know ??? And I’m also suffering from hair fall issues does it leads to that also ?
I'm on sertaline 200mg for my depression and diazpam and propranolol I've got anxiety disorder I've got to take my medication or I won't be here since I lost my dad and been distant towards people my real feelings are shut down and I'm numb
Is there anyone who took micro-dose isotretinoin ? My dermatologist told me to take it 10mg a day for 6 months, cause I don’t really have bad skin, but it’s still problematic. Now I’m on the month 2 and I don’t sure if it works. Has anyone had a similar experience?
@tehreem m Don’t get upset and keep fighting! I believe that we’ll both get better after the whole course of treatment. People don’t focus on your imperfections, they value you for who you really are ❤️
I’m not going to lie, I am surprised to hear that a psychologist, someone who is aware of emotions, values, and perspective in life would be willing to take such a serious risk for a minor condition. You say that you don’t care that much about your skin and also that it isn’t that bad to begin with… I think you’re aware that Accutane is meant for only the most SERIOUS cases of acne right? It causes permanent side effects frequently. Some studies also show it causes negative effects on the health down the road, too. It’s been linked to multiple sclerosis, infertility, premature aging, and many other issues. Also you mention that you are doing egg freezing, are you aware that accutane can permanently harm your ovaries and eggs too? 🥺there’s newer research showing this, so if you’re concerned about your fertility and possibly starting a family later on in life this really doesn’t seem like it’s worth the risk to your fertility and potentially harming your eggs and future children, just for mild acne which could be solved in other ways.
What is the research you're talking about? I see these kinds of comments everywhere under posts or videos about isotretinoin, but they never send any links to research and studies, it all just seems to be anecdotal evidence from some niche forums and the like.
I started on this drug around 11 yrs old with several trials done over time. This drug is monstrous. The insidiousness of it lies in its seemingly effective ability to make your face clear (for me the effects were temporary each time) leading one to ignore or overlook the horrendous physiological effects. It fucked me up. Based upon my experience while on the drug, it is my opinion that the evidence would be more conclusive (although to me it is pretty clear already) if, as you suggest, there were better monitoring and reporting of the drug users' trial experience, including a pre and post assesment targeting the brain. I would not recommend this drug to anyone, especially growing males.
Maybe I can help you, I have a similar horrible story for 3 years. I have problems with ligaments, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, as well as psycho-emotional. Pay attention, does the deterioration of health (depression, anxiety, agility) appear after eating fatty foods? Eat 5 fried eggs and watch how you feel. Eggs are vitamin A, accutane is a synthetic vitamin A that accumulates in the body and is excreted in the bile when eating (fatty) food and also when taking vitamin A-containing foods.
@@murad40 thankyou dear. .. right now I overcome my mental health but after accutant my skin became sensitive or red... Is it normal ??? Will redness sensitivity go away
I’ve been taking roaccutane for the last 5 months and I’ve felt everything you mentioned. The inability to problem solve, rational thinking and low moods. I can only describe it as a brain fog. It’s so unsettling and scary. Thanks for discussing this
Thanks for sharing
@@dr.beckyspelman im guessing this should reverse once treatment has ended. There are people claiming to have mental issues years after taking the medication
@@hillson418 where are these reports?
@@lolok1099 Just dotted about online. I understand that a doctor is massively more qualified to talk about this but it's the amount of people saying it thats scaring me. Perhaps the drug wasn't the cause of the depression and it was due to another factor but you don't want to call them uneducated because its their mental health at the end of the day. A large amount of it is fear mongering and it puzzles me why people do this with their time.
How long it takes for these symptoms to reverse after stopping the medication?
By reading these comments and my dermatologist honest opinions of side effects about depression and of suicidal thoughts i am cancelling tomorrow’s GP appointment. I am more than happy to have some acne rather than losing my health. Thanks for the advice.
Smart choice the drug caused tons of symptoms. for me
Take them in on 3 20mg a day so 60mg in all and they don’t make me feel anything I smoke weed every day and I’ve had no negative effects except I have dry lips every now and again. Don’t live with the acne get it gone lad if you kill yourself cause of some pills your just soft
@Thomas King life altering side effects. But ya...good advice. Take this now so you can be on antidepressants for a lifetime. Antidepressants come with their own entire lengthy set of side effects.
I’ve been on accutane for a week and my mental health has been plummeting
Smart, I have anhedonia now forever and perfect lab tests so no one can fix it.
I’ve always been low energy and lethargic/depressed but on accutane I’ve noticed I’m closer than I ever have been to acting upon suicidal or self harming thoughts. I’ve never felt worse in my life as a whole. Luckily I only have 14 days of accutane left until my 4 months is done. Hope that’s it for good
Is it because you get those thoughts more often or because those thoughts themselves are more extreme?
Im 42 years old and strugle with back acne at 42! While effective, this drug is serious business and side effects are not to be ignored, esp when it comes to all over joint and muscle pain and suicude and depression. I've experienced both. I did not realize some of the ultra serious effects, I thought it was just me because I normally do adjust pretty well to medications. I have been on this medication pretty regularly, over 2 years. Although currently a 3 day a week regime but at this point im backing down.
did the side effects go away?
@@sebastianirigoyen16 they did! thank god. darkest time of my life...
before i started taking this drug i was at a low point in my life but i was okay and was motivated, had interest in things, etc. i’ve been on this drug for 2-3 weeks now and i feel absolutely terrible. i feel so unmotivated to do everything and feel like i’ve lost interest in so many things, it’s making me be in very low moods and is really ruining my mental health. i have an appointment with the dermatologist in august, and i just don’t know what to do. i want to clear my skin but i don’t want to be depressed. i’m only 13 and i have no idea what to do.
Leave it.... Its side effects on mental health are terrible and scary....i hv used it.. and my mental health is terrible... I lost interest in things.. i used accutane 3 weeks ..i left it 5 days ago...
@@maryamhussain3629 have you started feeling better now that you aren’t taking them anymore?
This happened to me and I wish I would’ve stuck with it. Stick it out, you’ll regret it if you don’t. The acne and skin issues will come back and they’ll come back worse if you quit
@@pyroclone123 i stopped taking it 2 days ago. i’m on different tablets and a cream. it was getting to hard to be able to stick it out, i was crying everyday and has lost all interest and motivation in everything. i’m only taking a break from it though. i’m going to work on myself and work on becoming happier and just to be myself again, and then im going back on it.
@@emma-qn5rj my skin has been the absolute worst lately and i was thinking about getting a dermatologist and see if i am suitable for acutane and now im second thinking it because i do have mild-depression and i am very anxious if acutane will make me worse mentally... i just want to be pretty and have clear skin but i also dont want to become mentally changed for the worse.. what should i do? :( was your experience horrible? like to the point where you couldn’t handle it anymore?
After taking 40 mg for a month I started to notice mood changes, irritability, anger and frustration, sleep disturbances. This is my 2nd month through, I've had sudden cystic acne that did not resolve and stayed for about 3 years, so I had to take roaccutane. I can see skin improvements, but my skin isn't clear yet, I'm supposed to take it for 6mths with a 40mg dose. Now I feel like reducing it to 10 mg and staying on the treatment for a year instead of a short treatment with a high dose. The side effects arr scary though!
I have the exact same issues, I started getting extremely angry and irritated and slowly progressed to getting 2 to 3 hrs of sleep a night. I didn't even think it was the accutane
have the side effects gone away, or what?
I am crying because why I have not seen your video earlier. I had severe cystic acne during lockdown so I just move on to isotretinoin and I had exactly the same side-effects related to my mental health. I had suicidal thoughts developed eating disorder but I am unaware of the cause . Thankyou for making such informative video 💕💕
how long does it took your acne to go away After you on Accutane???
I never had acne in my life, but since lockdown hit I had cystic painful acne on my cheeks, It went away by using Tretenoin and took 5 months but came back again last year kind of like Rosacea and small pustules, nodules and some cystic too, but am afraid to go with Accutane..
Before taking the drug I had (and currently have) a severe depression but now I'm taking it and, I cannot tell if it's all mind over matter or it's genuinely the drug, I've just never felt more suicidal in my life. No events catalysed it. I just don't understand why this is happening. I'm 16 and I keep going in and out from being very very suicidal to less suicidal but drained from the pressing suicidal thoughts. Hopefully I survive taking this.
Hope you made it. Same deal here
Same here. We love you and you got this
Hope you’re doing better these days ❤ I’ve experienced sui* ideation/impulses from an antibiotic - it’s weird! It’s like it IS your thoughts…but it kind of isn’t at the same time? Like you, I’ve dealt with depression before the med, but on the med I just found myself thinking about sui - and like with you, there was no real catalyst. Brains are weird!
I'm taking 20mg only once a day.
First week I was so irritated, then depressed over something that happened, because of that I almost commited you know what.
I calmed down for 3 weeks then, I felt amazing. But in the recent days after almost 2 months on the medication I feel depressed again and wanting to commit you know what so bad.
My side effects got so much worse. Head aches, exremely dry skin and eyes, back pain, knees pain. Worst of all is irritation.
I’m in the same boat and don’t know what to do… I always thought I’d rather have depression than acne but now I’m not too sure anymore
Started it 3 weeks ago, thinning hair, bad anxiety, and had a panic attack for the first time in my life, such a hard decision if I should continue it or not I don’t know what to do
i am having the same issue. i went through with continuing the medication and finish in three days. my anxiety is horrible rn never been this way before. don’t follow through with it.
Thank you for sharing, sorry to hear you are having this experience. We would advise discussing this with your dermatologist or GP
You’re not alone. I had to quit 3 months in and I’m still dealing with bad anxiety 1 month after finishing. I just want it to be over
@Gabriella Cortez your anxiety is over now ?
I had all of these symptoms plus all the ways i would deal with my depression weren’t working. It was definitely acutane but I definitely have always had problems with depression before. My back got so sore from it that I couldn’t exercise at all which is how I normally would deal with my mood and depression. My nose started bleeding every day and my lips were destroyed. I don’t think I’ll ever go back on accutane. I treated my loved ones badly when I was on it since I was so irritable, and I was in such a dark state. It made me feel like a hormonal teenager again plus terrible muscle and back pain. I felt like it was poisoning me. The last straw was getting a panic attack and getting sick. Im 24 and my acne is cystic and I don’t care that much about it but I would like it to be gone. I’ve tried a million things to get rid of it. Just a cautionary tale for anyone else who is similar to me. My doctor mentioned going on an antidepressant and anti anxiety medicine while on accutane but that feels wrong because taking one medicine to combat symptoms of another medication is a rabbit hole that could destroy your health. Not all the symptoms would disappear. I was taking 1 pill a day (of accutane). I have a liver condition called Gilbert’s syndrome and I’ve seen somewhere that accutane is hard on your liver since it has to process the medication. That could be related to my muscle pains. Idk, I hope this helps someone out there who is similar to me.
I'm in month 5 of taking this medication, and I stopped taking it 2 weeks into this month, because I have been becoming severely depressed. To be 100% transparent, I have felt I've had depression for a while now, but suddenly it's ramped and ramped to the point I've actually had suicidal thoughts, and I'm afraid that it's from the medicine, so I stopped.
When I go back in in a couple weeks, I'm going to be 100% honest and tell him (my Dermatologist) what's been happening and see how he thinks we should go. Up to this point, every monthly visit has just been like a 20 second long "huh looks like it's getting a bit better, another X months" and nothing more than that.
how are you doing now?
I am currently on my 12th day taking accutane (10mg). I won’t get too deep into it but I definitely have dealt w a lot sort of “depression” throughout my teen years (I’m currently 21). And I definitely still do. It’s not as bad as when I was younger and tbh it’s actually been pretty good for quite sometime now. The past couple of nights I have been hysterically crying. One little thought, and then next thing you know I’m bawling my eyes out. I’m not going to blame this all on accutane, as I said I’ve dealt with depression in the past and have hysterically cried myself to sleep many times lol but I just can’t help but think that it may have something to do with all of these thoughts resurfacing. I’m at my widths end with my acne, I’ve been struggling with horrible acne for nearly 9 years now and this is my last option!
Maybe I can help you, I have a similar horrible story for 3 years. I have problems with ligaments, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, as well as psycho-emotional. Pay attention, does the deterioration of health (depression, anxiety, agility) appear after eating fatty foods? Eat 5 fried eggs and watch how you feel. Eggs are vitamin A, accutane is a synthetic vitamin A that accumulates in the body and is excreted in the bile when eating (fatty) food and also when taking vitamin A-containing foods.
I also have had very similar experience to you history of metal health(im 20) and went of accutane 3 months ago and things were going pretty okish before but then boom i went on accutane and my metal health literally collapsed and i had to go to psychiatrist one month later and i have always been very non agreeable to visiting a psychiatrist but that shows how desperate i was for help at the time….I would say accutane/isotretinoin can have dangerous effect on some people especially if you have a history and this needs to be more talked about, im still on it and a lil better for now lets see what happens
@@meou_meouhow are u now? How did everything develop?
Can you please tell us what dosage you were taking? I took 10mg for a month and am now feeling irritability, anger, frustration, depression, sadness, etc. I stopped it and cannot wait to stop feeling this way.
10??? Girl I’m taking 80mg a day and have no side effects
Did you ever experience those mental conditions prior to accutane? How are you feeling now?
Damn i barely started 5 days ago but my ass taking 30mg💀
Daily 5,000 iu Vitamin D will get rid of the emotional side effects, it did for me.
I just took it once and it has affected my mental health really bad. I have never felt this way before😔
Don’t forget the liver toxicity some dermatologist only give you treatment with the condition of having blood work
I am currently on accutane, just finished my first month. I was aware that depression and suicide can be a symptom but obvious it was for people with pre-existing / prone to depression, right? Wrong..!
3 weeks in, I start feeling blue, glass is always half empty, feeling sorry for myself, emotionless, then it started getting worse just by the fourth week. Irritable behavior, stubbed toe as I washed Des he’s and I throw the plate across the room out of sheer frustration, completely out of character. I wondered to myself what in the lord is happening to me..? I suddenly start crying with literally no reason in the middle of the day, at work, ironing, a sudden wave of sheer sadness. Yet, I have had the happiest life, at 23 years old, no traumas, considered depression for the weak “man up mate” kind of thing and yet just an utter sense of feeling lost, empty and I’m only on my first month. Please tell me that it gets better eventually and we get used to it??
I took roaccutane on the years you mentioned and was close to being one of those numbers,even now past 40 I’m sure the drug had long term damaging effects psychologically.
Starting isotretinoin today. Your video was very helpful. Thank you.
How is it going with your mental state?
Doc I’m depressed tired and have tendonitis. I have no idea what to as it disabled me:( I can’t sue or talk to my dermatologist. I wish I never taken it
Pretty sure this caused me to have e major depression for a decade .. no signs prior and then awful depression and suicidal thoughts. I noticed change within a week. This happened 20 years ago but was a major trauma. Be very careful with this drug.
This medication has me feeling unmotivated and sad. My mental health was just getting better but, after 1 week of taking it I felt like my mental health is plummeting. I constantly feel numb and lost.
I would probably stop taking it then. I’m on it right now and feel similar but I’m probably going to stop taking. Not worth throwing your health away for some red spots on your face, unless your acne is really really bas
I’ve been on Accutane for four years and during that time my mental health plummeted big time. I spent time off of it and my mental health started to get so much better and I put myself back on it a few days ago and my health is starting to get worse again.
After all that time I finally connected the dots.
Can topical tretinoin or retinol also cause depression? I know it’s not ingested, but if the topical product goes systemic after absorbing through the skin maybe into the veins and blood stream- could it cause depression? Cause every time I’ve tried to used tretinoin or retinols, I get depressed.
I tried retinol pills for my skin and I got depressed and stopped taking them
I was using topical Tretinoin (0.1%) for over a year and have been off of it for a week but still feel super depressed… did it get better for you?
@@HaleighCopeland-vr5qg yes, about 2 days after I stop the topical retinol or tretinoin I feel better, sometimes 3 days. I think it also might depend on how long you’ve been using it.
I never think about suicide, but i take this medication for 6 months, and i was really at school, and everyone notice that i was really distracted, but i tried my best to be good, but it’s imposible, if u call my name u gotta say it twicee because i never hear anyone, when i sleep i was blooding on my nose in the middle of the night and i was really hard to me because i was feeling like my energy was REALLY BAD, but anyways i pass my 6 months my skin still great, but the side effect of distracted it took another year to disappear, even my relatives yelled at me thinking that I was doing it for real, but it was the pills that left me with that defect, so far I'm fine, but I think that this medication is possible to leave you with memory problems and You have to be careful
But i’m really happy, because my skin at the end, still GREAT, i was 16 when i start taking the pills, and now i’m 21, and i look really young 😂 like a girl
I struggled from depression for 2 years and got over it now I have started isotetrin and I fear that the depression will come back, should I stop? I have no other option to treat acne. My dermatologist knows about this and he said I shouldn't worry but I don't know what to do.
Please don't take it
Talk to a psychologist. Check in on a schedule just to make sure it won’t come back
Hello roshni you are fine now?
@@Akashkumar-ok2qp Hi yes, I took isotretinoin for 6 months gradually increasing the dosage and I'm completely fine now :)
@@roshnithakur5952 depression tumko nhi hua ? Mujhe anxiety hogya thik ni horha
Your sharing of the experience is most helpful, Doctor Becky. Thank you .
Thank you for watching
Im 42 years old and strugle with back acne at 42! While effective, this drug is serious business and side effects are not to be ignored, esp when it comes to all over joint and muscle pain and suicude and depression. I've experienced both. I did not realize some of the ultra serious effects, I thought it was just me because I normally do adjust pretty well to medications. I have been on this medication pretty regularly, over 2 years. Although currently a 3 day a week regime but at this point im backing down.
Hi, i'm currently taking accutane and i'm very worried of the potential hairloss. Have you experienced any yourself? Or heard of it happening?
No I didn’t but I’m off accurate now I cut out meat, wheat and dairy instead which seems to have worked.
@@dr.beckyspelman can I ask why you discontinued it?
I know many people, including myself, who went on Accutane and none suffered hair loss. Everyone has been delighted as their acne cleared up and now look more attractive.
@@dr.beckyspelman you done the exact opposite to what you needed to do.
Is the psychological effect permanent?
Why am I mad 30 years later after being on this??? 34 months of cumulative exposure over 4 courses of treatment. Yes it cleared my acne but ALL along my acne was driven by milk and milk products consumption. My derms never thought diet was a factor. Wrong. I found out years later after being on acne message boards of people who mentioned the milk connection in certain people.
Hi Dr. Becky. Does this medication cause permanent damage to the hippocampus?
How long after stopping does the mood improve and go back to normal
This medicine ruined my life.. Stay away.. It permanently alters the dopinergic system.. You will never fully recover.
Accutane is by FAR the best treatment for moderate to severe acne and has transformed millions of faces for the better, which otherwise would've scarred and caused emotional distress.
At what cost? Trading one emotional distress for another. This very doctor in this post refers to it as "very toxic". 0:55
Hey becky! Thanks for sharing your experience
I want to tell you that I am on this medication right now, it’s already been 4 months, and I really suffer from severe low mood and severe anhedonia with suicidal thoughts that I have never had before like throwing my self from the balcony... I don’t know if it’s related to the medication itself or not, as I am in my last medical year and it is already a big huge stressing event, thanks in advance
Hi Sarahh, thanks for sharing this, Sorry to hear this, we can offer you a free 15-minute phone call with one of our therapists to discuss treatment options available, please email info@privatetherapyclinic.com to book your call.
Also FYI Sarahh I changed my diet removing wheat and diary and went down a gut health route in the end and that’s what worked to clear my skin as I felt the medication was too toxic.
I took roaccutane in 2002/2004 and 2010 still having long term mental health issues i believe from this drug. Severe anxiety and hyperness. I had these same symptons on the drug i believe it messes your seratonin levels up and gives you long term health issues. I am now struggling on cetalopram and paying private to go to the priory for help. 😢
Hello Doctor, I took Isotretinoin for nearly 80 Days 20 mg per day and it has been a living hell since then. I am facing issues like Anxiety, Depression and Suicidal Thoughts. I was never told of the side effects otherwise i would have never taken them. Can you please tell me how long these side effects persists. Please Doctor i need help...
Hi I’m so sorry to hear this, this is terrible, do you want to have a call with one of our therapist, the first call is free of charge?
@@dr.beckyspelman Thank you Doctor for reaching out and making me feel that I matter. I needed urgent help then I contacted my family and I am getting help. I will reach you out in future if I ever need help. Thank you again and God Bless You 🙏🏼
@@Bruce_001_W how are you feeling now and how long did the side effects lasts please tell me asap
Hi Dr. Becky,
Thank you for this informative video. I've just sent you an email to ask a few more questions about isotretinoin and mental health for an article I am writing for class. I look forward to hearing back!
Tell what you found out
Hi Becky, I have taken this drug in 2014 and still have depression (and low libido). Should increase serotonin, dopamin, noradrenalin will be the key to reverse this? Hope to hear from you. Grtz
Sorry to hear this I’m not sure but if you look at gut health and the food you are eating you might get improvement as there is now more and more evidence that the food we eat affects neurotransmitter. I can recommend a specialist in this if you like.
@@dr.beckyspelman Thanks for your reaction.
I eat healthy keto for the last 3 years and don't eat after my last meal. I think it helps a little bit against ''brain fog'..
I would love to hear your recommendation but I live in the Netherlands. Is that a problem?
Yes the permanent side effects are common
@@dr.beckyspelman hey can you recommend a specialist to me. I have same problem as the original commentor
@@ralphtuber Hi Ralph, thanks for your response. Good to hear that you've recovered! May I ask you what your side effects were from accutane?
I'm not a native english speaker so correct me if I'm wrong. But wouldn't side effects with an e be more appropiate than side affects with an a?
You are absolutely right thanks for pointing out this error.,
Hi. Thanks for vid. Seems crazy you would take this for mild case of skin problem. Roaccutane made me go crazy. I ended up in L.A maximum security prison and solitary confinement at 18 years of age. I spent 3-4 months with Psychosis. Now at 44 I have ailments that are almost certainly from the drug. Roche the company that made Roaccutane is corrupt as all hell.
Can you share with us the study link?
I have been prescribed isotretinoin..should I take it or not?
Have you tried removing dairy strictly for 4 weeks first?
Not
How to reverse ed back?
Thank you for the informational video Dr. Becky!
Thanks for watching!
I’m starting to feel really depressed but I’m also on my period right now so idk if it’s just that or the accutane. I’m on antidepressants but I have been crying a lot and feeling hopeless. I just want to get this accutane over with, I need clear skin but wow I’m feeling awful.
Was taking 60mg for a few weeks. Really had myself on the edge at that high of a dose. Got better when my dose was lowered
@@finlay2860 Hi I managed to cure my acne permanently completely in a 100% natural way, it took me years to figure it out, this might not work for everyone but do you want to know how I did it?
It all has to do with the dehydration because of the med. Dehydration can make you feel literally crazy, more impulsive and irritable. With all that combined you’ll have A LOT of intrusive thoughts and mood swings everyday.
What cause exactly for depression give by isotretinoin?
hey … I’m suffering from serve acne and pimple from last 6 years I had history of depression also my doct suggest me this isotretinoin capsules ip 20 mg but is it safe for my mental health does it leads to more anxiety and depression I just really want to know ??? And I’m also suffering from hair fall issues does it leads to that also ?
I'm on sertaline 200mg for my depression and diazpam and propranolol I've got anxiety disorder I've got to take my medication or I won't be here since I lost my dad and been distant towards people my real feelings are shut down and I'm numb
Thank you for sharing
@@dr.beckyspelman anytime thank u for sharing intresting facts thank u
Let me get this straight… your in this med and just said “These conditions don’t really bother me that much”… and I should trust your opinion?
I'm suffering from depression due to accutane😥
Is there anyone who took micro-dose isotretinoin ? My dermatologist told me to take it 10mg a day for 6 months, cause I don’t really have bad skin, but it’s still problematic. Now I’m on the month 2 and I don’t sure if it works. Has anyone had a similar experience?
@tehreem m Don’t get upset and keep fighting! I believe that we’ll both get better after the whole course of treatment. People don’t focus on your imperfections, they value you for who you really are ❤️
I am in two months now, just feel depressed now..
For a minor skin condition? If used to require a severe diagnosis and 2 pregnancy tests! 😮
This stuff should be banned.
I’m not going to lie, I am surprised to hear that a psychologist, someone who is aware of emotions, values, and perspective in life would be willing to take such a serious risk for a minor condition. You say that you don’t care that much about your skin and also that it isn’t that bad to begin with… I think you’re aware that Accutane is meant for only the most SERIOUS cases of acne right? It causes permanent side effects frequently. Some studies also show it causes negative effects on the health down the road, too. It’s been linked to multiple sclerosis, infertility, premature aging, and many other issues. Also you mention that you are doing egg freezing, are you aware that accutane can permanently harm your ovaries and eggs too? 🥺there’s newer research showing this, so if you’re concerned about your fertility and possibly starting a family later on in life this really doesn’t seem like it’s worth the risk to your fertility and potentially harming your eggs and future children, just for mild acne which could be solved in other ways.
What is the research you're talking about? I see these kinds of comments everywhere under posts or videos about isotretinoin, but they never send any links to research and studies, it all just seems to be anecdotal evidence from some niche forums and the like.
You have to buy it in print and its kind of hard to get a hold of.
it can cause insomnia and reduced sleep has proven link to depression suicide psychosis etc
I started on this drug around 11 yrs old with several trials done over time. This drug is monstrous. The insidiousness of it lies in its seemingly effective ability to make your face clear (for me the effects were temporary each time) leading one to ignore or overlook the horrendous physiological effects. It fucked me up. Based upon my experience while on the drug, it is my opinion that the evidence would be more conclusive (although to me it is pretty clear already) if, as you suggest, there were better monitoring and reporting of the drug users' trial experience, including a pre and post assesment targeting the brain. I would not recommend this drug to anyone, especially growing males.
I’m on 60 mg a day 3 20 mg tablets and ngl if you feel depressed or anything from them your soft bro fix up they don’t do anything
Thank you for sharing
Dangerous drug not worth it Damage lots people's lifes
Thank you for your comment
Did it harm you too?
@@rxexposed6110 yup
@@jrm5603 r u feeling better?
@@hatchibyebye Still recovering from the Damage
Right now I am very depressed ....
Are you on it now?
Maybe I can help you, I have a similar horrible story for 3 years. I have problems with ligaments, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, as well as psycho-emotional. Pay attention, does the deterioration of health (depression, anxiety, agility) appear after eating fatty foods? Eat 5 fried eggs and watch how you feel. Eggs are vitamin A, accutane is a synthetic vitamin A that accumulates in the body and is excreted in the bile when eating (fatty) food and also when taking vitamin A-containing foods.
@@murad40 thankyou dear. .. right now I overcome my mental health but after accutant my skin became sensitive or red... Is it normal ??? Will redness sensitivity go away
@@self_lovecare what has helped you? Please share, i also have something to say. Can we discuss on email?
@@murad40 hey I am asking to you .... About sensitivity n redness
🙏🙏🙏❤️
Natural method is going carnivore
Toxic medication as she said..
😅must be nice to be a girl , you can just cover up your acne with make up , i guess it could make it worse in the long run