How come my accutane isn't clearing my acne up, like promised?

I'm 18, and I've had persistent mild acne since I was 13, and it's ruined my life. I decided to take accutane as a last resort , I'm taking 20 mg a day. I've been taking it for 3 1/2 months now. It's taken the shine out of my face, but I still break out at the same rate. I've seen pictures of people with severe acne that took accutane and it cleared them right up, and gave them perfect skin, how come it doesn't want to help me? I really want clear skin again, because I'm really unhappy.

20 mg a day is considered a low dose. You will eventually clear up, it just takes longer. The prescribed dose is 60 mg for a 140 lbs person. 80 for a 180ish pound person and so on. I would suggest taking 40mg a day untill you start getting clear. then back down a little bit..

But yeah, your dose is just low is why. It will eventually work though

Well mine cleared up very fast like you said you've seen before, but I only weigh 120 pounds. I was 80mg a day dude. That's 4 x your amount and I'm willing to bet you're a bigger person, no offense, but I'm small.

Up your dosage bro.

Austin 80 mg is way too high, you need to reduce your dosage immediately or stop taking it compeletely. I weighed 160 lbs, 6 ft tall 10 years ago and my 80 mg/day dosage for 5 months permanentely messed up my body in many ways. Also, it has been documented very well that people on higher dosages are at a greater risk for severe permanent side effects.

Lol. NCC, you didnt even read his post. Dumbass. lrn 2 internet.

Austin wrote:

Well mine cleared up very fast like you said you've seen before, but I only weigh 120 pounds. I was 80mg a day dude. That's 4 x your amount and I'm willing to bet you're a bigger person, no offense, but I'm small.
Up your dosage bro.

I'm not big at all, I am 6'2" and weigh 135 LB.

NCC, I finished my 80mg / 5 month perscription two weeks ago. The only side effects I've had while on Sortret were dry lips, skin rashes, and a single severe headache on day 2. Now that I'm off, my acne cleared up and I have no known side effects so far, knock on wood.

Larrie, even still, I'm 5'8 @ 120 pounds. I'm still smaller and my dosage was 4 x your amount. It's really up to you at this point.

Higher Dose = Clearer Skin = Higher Chance for Side Effects

i am taking 80 mg a day, and it took me about 6 months to clear up, with the help of birth control pills to help with hormones.
i got SO frustrated, since i had been told that it should be clear by about the end of month 3, and i hadnt been seeing any results, except way dry skin, and all the bad side effects. but, FINALLY, at the end of month 6, i can proudly say that i am virtually zit free.=)

hi i am taking 20mg per day ,,my face is bit good now aftter taking this medicine ..... feeling only chapped lips and nothing else after taking this....but i dont know .. can any one tell me that after taking this medicine .... my face will be permanent clear or its just temprary ?

Some for permanent, but for some it is only a temporary result. I am taking right now. It cleared my face a lot. However, when I stop taking it for a week(because I went to the beach and forgot to bring them), my oil came back and my face broke out a little bit. This is my 4th month, and the one week that I didn't take Accutane made my skin messed up again. Now I am started taking it again and my skin got a lot better...

I am taking 80mg a day, weight 125. Because when I was taking 40mg, it was not working at all! My side effect is very tiny. I feel happy everyday since I started taking this medication.

I have had all sorts of acne for years and even the scaring acne which was very dissapointing , Proactive or Accutane didn't even work, now im living life again , don't miss out on this!

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This is way late, but I was also 120 lbs and taking 80 mg a day -- coincidentally, my side effects were exactly the same as Austin's. I got a horrible headache on the second day and was bed-ridden, but other than that my lips were dry and I had some dry rashes on my arms. I've been off 'tane for about 7 months now, and I have no permanent side effects. My skin is sort of oily again, but nothing close to the way it was before.

Ooh, I should also add that I've started breaking out again, though not nearly as severe as I was pre-tane. However, since I want to be completely clear, I'm going to take a second course at 80 mg/day again.

yeh beeen on it for like 3 or 4mths not much has changed.

I've been on accutane two different times now, and I do have to say it worked great! But my acne has come back, not as bad but it's getting worse and it's still annoying. I've tried proactiv and every over the counter medication out there and nothing works. I have been on birth control pills to help regulate it, but my husband and I have decided to try to start a family so i've been off of them for 10 months now but i'm going to start again, it's the only thing that works...and at this point i'm desperate! So baby or clear skin...?

Meghan wrote:

i am taking 80 mg a day, and it took me about 6 months to clear up, with the help of birth control pills to help with hormones.
i got SO frustrated, since i had been told that it should be clear by about the end of month 3, and i hadnt been seeing any results, except way dry skin, and all the bad side effects. but, FINALLY, at the end of month 6, i can proudly say that i am virtually zit free.=)

Ive been on acctance at 40mg for almost 4 months now and i am getting so PISSED my face has never broken out like this and every post i read people are saying that it clears up in 2-3 months. i am also on birth control but what was your dosage for accutane?! im trying to have faith but this is ruining my life.:(

whops nevermind i reread it was 80mg.. how much do you weigh? i was reading earlier comments and dosage per weight... im about 125lb and like 5'2 should i be on any higher than 40mg...anyone??

No one should be taking accutane unless they are under the supervision of a doctor. Monthly blood tests are required or you could suffer permanent damage. And stay away from doctors that prescribe 80 mg a day to people in the lower weight range. It's insane and can leave terrible, terrible damage.

I'd trust a doctor with years of education and knowledge over someone the Internet. Also the doctors do make you take blood tests after x amount of months.