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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by marktran on August 24, 2008, at 21:19:36
Hello Babble!
I've been taking Accutane for 6 weeks. The side effects are unbearable I have had severe depression, thoughts of death, the feeling of hopelessness,anxiety/fear. I have had problems sleeping a decrease in appetite. The anxiety and fear of death is reoccurring. Its getting weaker and weaker but I don't like be scared for no reason. Its a mind torture. Sometimes it feels as though It won't go away. I just hate this feeling. I feel hopeless all the time. But its getting better but at times it feels like I will have this forever. Any thoughts? thanks
Posted by Phillipa on August 25, 2008, at 12:59:34
In reply to Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts, posted by marktran on August 24, 2008, at 21:19:36
Glad it's getting better and hang in there. Love Phillipa
Posted by rskontos on August 25, 2008, at 15:28:28
In reply to Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts, posted by marktran on August 24, 2008, at 21:19:36
Marktran,
glad to see you at the psychology board. I feel like it will get better. I know that with my son, he is getting off of accutane in about 3-4 days it always takes awhile for the effects to go away when he has stopped for vacations and such. WHen he goes off of it, he is to start another medication for his skin and his dermo told him to wait a month for the full effects of accutane to be gone before starting the new meds.
Hope this helps. She, his dermo, seemed to think it took a month for the accutane to completely leave the system.
I don't think it will take forever, just time for your liver to process it all out of your system. Drink water to help the flush.
rsk
Posted by marktran on August 25, 2008, at 19:00:43
In reply to Re: Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts » marktran, posted by rskontos on August 25, 2008, at 15:28:28
I'm feeling better but sometimes it feels so hopeless. I get paranoid sometimes that it might not be the pills. I don't know what to think. I don't know how to live wit h death thoughts. It always gives me the thought why do anything if you are going to die. I hate this feeling. But you can't just snap out of depression. I want to feel better so badly. I hate wanting to cry all the time. I want to sleep but the insomnia is killing me. My appetite is next to none.
I have a deep seeded fear that my curiosity for death will stay with me. But waiting it off drives me insane. The death thoughts are debilitating, I can't even concentrate in school.
I keep thinking maybe its the pills and maybe its not. It races in my mind back and forth 24/7. I just want for this to end.
Posted by Phillipa on August 25, 2008, at 19:51:57
In reply to Re: Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts, posted by marktran on August 25, 2008, at 19:00:43
But you've noticed an improvement right? If it lasts longer than a month or think of acting on impulse get to an ER . Phillipa
Posted by marktran on August 25, 2008, at 20:34:59
In reply to Re: Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts » marktran, posted by Phillipa on August 25, 2008, at 19:51:57
Yes, I have noticed and improvement. Sorry about that. Sometimes the anxiety sets in and I get scared. I really never been through anything this tough. Its confusing at times, and my brain really gets the best of me.
Posted by marktran on August 25, 2008, at 21:01:10
In reply to Re: Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts, posted by marktran on August 25, 2008, at 20:34:59
I've been having heart palpitations will those go away?
Posted by Jouezmoi on August 25, 2008, at 22:33:33
In reply to Re: Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts, posted by marktran on August 25, 2008, at 21:01:10
Dear Marktran (and everyone else),
I know I am a lurker here. I read this forum everyday (sometimes twice a day) but I seldom post.
My fear of death and dying has been plaguing me for the last six years. It hasn't gone away, hasn't lessened and I am somehow learning to live with it by consiously push the thoughts in the background when they pop up. I suufer from hypochondriasis also and have had bouts of hysteria (when my anxiety/ panic attacks get out of hand).
I have found that my fear of death has to do with isolation. I am a loner by nature, and when I feel alone, these fears increase. The times I felt connected to someone, my sense of security improved and the fears diminished. Right now I am alone and death is on my mind almost 24/7. I have also found that it has to do with my control freak nature .. again insecurity. I try to keep very busy and counter my thoughts with "Let go and let God" (trying to let go and give up trying to control .. I cannot control life or death), and by imagining that death will be the start of a new adventure and that I would live on (certain religion belief plays a very important role in psychological health ... the psychology of religion).
I wish my fears would go away, that I would stop imagining that I have every fatal illness in the books, or that I would suddenly get a heart attck or stroke and die (my GPs are fedup with me).
It may or may not be the Accutance. In my case, this just is for me.
Posted by marktran on August 25, 2008, at 22:39:27
In reply to Re: Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts, posted by Jouezmoi on August 25, 2008, at 22:33:33
That really sucks. I had this fear when I was 14 But I got over it. I would hate to live with it for the rest of my life. You will never truly live when you fear death. Its a thought that only occurs when I am massively depressed. Good luck with your fear man. I hope that mine will diminish with time.
Posted by Sigismund on August 25, 2008, at 22:47:12
In reply to Re: Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts, posted by marktran on August 25, 2008, at 22:39:27
Most people are frightened of death, and it is human to be so.
I came across this bit of a poem by Abba Kovner
'Soon
soon we shall know
if we have learned to accept that the stars
do not go out when we die.'So many people have mentioned Accutane on this forum.
I wonder if supplementing with fish oil (or other oils) makes sense?
Posted by marktran on August 26, 2008, at 19:23:04
In reply to Re: Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts, posted by Sigismund on August 25, 2008, at 22:47:12
I feel so Hopeless today. Everytime I think the thoughts go away they come back. I can't stand it. I can't sleep or eat either. Everything seems so confusing. My appetite has been completely zapped lately. I'm starting to wonder if my thoughts are not because of Accutane. I don't know how to cope with this. I feel so tired, scared, and hopeless I feel like i'm going in circles. When I think i'm getting better I crash. I don't even know if i'm getting better anymore. Life feels so weird and pointless now. I feel so unmotivated now. my sex drive is nothing. Nothing FEELS good anymore. Sometimes suicide races through my mind now. I don't know what to do anymore. My mom doesn't really believe i'm depressed. I hate thinking morbid thoughts. I want help so bad. I don't know what to do anymore. I can't live day by day like this. Please I need advice.
Posted by Phillipa on August 26, 2008, at 19:30:31
In reply to Re: Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts, posted by marktran on August 26, 2008, at 19:23:04
My advise is to get an appointment with your doctor and let him assess you and he will know if you do indeed need a pdoc or reassure you that you will be well. Maybe he'll give you a med to ease the fear. Love Phillipa
Posted by Jouezmoi on August 26, 2008, at 20:08:28
In reply to Re: Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts » marktran, posted by Phillipa on August 26, 2008, at 19:30:31
Marktran,
you really need to get to a doctor. You are not supposed to handle that on your own like that. Please get help immediately. Please.
Posted by marktran on August 26, 2008, at 20:56:51
In reply to Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts, posted by marktran on August 24, 2008, at 21:19:36
All my symptoms point to a lowering in serotonin. Now that I figured that out what should I do now?
Posted by Sigismund on August 26, 2008, at 21:03:30
In reply to Re: Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts, posted by marktran on August 25, 2008, at 19:00:43
Are you still taking Accutane?
If you are, is there not *anywhere* an alternative?
My (most elementary) understanding of Accutane is that it dries out the oils in your brain.
If that is remotely true, I'd be looking to find another way to deal with your skin problems.
Posted by marktran on August 27, 2008, at 10:19:23
In reply to Re: Off Accutane,and side effects driving me nuts, posted by Sigismund on August 26, 2008, at 21:03:30
I figrured out why my thoughts came back. Because accutane lowers your serotonine levels. And because of that my thoughts became ocd. So basically I started taking 5-htp to boost it back up. My mom doesnt want to take my to a psychiatrist so I have to fix it myself.
This is the end of the thread.
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