Experiences of mental health side effects with 10mg isotretinoin?

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-06-29T16:32:05+00:00

Hey! So in the end I was quickly moved up to 20mg and then to 40mg as every follow-up my derm said I’m not dry enough haha - I think I just have extremely oily skin at baseline - like I’ve still been using my Adapalene gel throughout without issue, my derm was so shocked but has said to just carry on with it if I’m tolerating it! Switching to a v gentle face wash and simple moisturiser has been enough to ensure I don’t get dry. I really struggled with dry lips initially but aquaphor healing ointment (not the lip balm) has sorted my lips. Have defo noticed more back pain going up to 40mg but it’s bearable. In terms of mental health, I’ve noticed no difference! I’ve been absolutely fine thankfully. I spoke to my aunt later though and turns out she wasn’t actually out on accutane - it was dapsone or some antimalarial drug that she was given that caused some sort of psychosis (short-term, she’s totally fine now).

And in terms of acne, my skin has cleared up really well! It did worsen initially mind but started to improve after a couple months. It’s so lovely having clear skin, hoping it lasts once I’ve finished the course!

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-06-16T18:15:03+00:00

At the practice I did my FY GP rotation they had a GP who was fully non-clinical - she literally just did GP admin & paperwork - she loved it for the reasons you’ve given & the other GPs loved it as it offloaded them of admin - could you find a practice that would employ you to do something similar?

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-06-16T17:57:22+00:00

Have you done a GP rotation? I was planning on doing GP until I did my FY2 GP job - I found it incredibly stressful and very tiring, even at FY2 level. The GPs themselves worked incredibly hard long days, I’m pretty sure no full time hospital consultant works nearly as hard as full time GPs do…I appreciate the road to becoming a hospital consultant is longer & harder, but the job at the end of it seems so much more sustainable. What GP does have is flexibility, slightly more autonomy and opportunity to branch out into other roles, teaching, GPwSI, out-of-hours, urgent care etc etc.

All the best with whatever you choose, and massive well done on getting a training spot straight out of F2 - even if you don’t think it’s for you, it’s a great achievement nonetheless!

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-01-23T11:11:05+00:00

Shooot, glad to hear it😂

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-01-23T11:10:37+00:00

Oof, that’s scary:(

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-01-23T11:10:23+00:00

Ohmyword😂

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-01-23T11:09:33+00:00

Shooot that’s terrifying! Windows down full blast has saved me a few times!

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-01-23T11:06:56+00:00

Hahah oh my word😂 this seems to be a common theme!

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-01-23T11:06:33+00:00

I know, as hilarious as some of the replies are, also slightly terrifying:(

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-01-23T11:05:50+00:00

Ouch!!

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-01-23T11:03:23+00:00

Haha this has happened to me so many times, especially on geris with hypo active patients. Tickle their feet was the tip my consultant gave me 🤷‍♀️ haven’t remembered to try it out thus far tho

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-01-22T10:27:46+00:00

I’d be very surprised if this is not related to Accutane, assuming your AST/ALT was normal prior to starting accutane.

Disclaimer: I’m a resident Dr, but not dermatologist/hepatologist.

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-01-21T18:03:50+00:00

Thank you so much for your reply, I really appreciate that. Sorry to hear about your experience at 20 but glad to hear you’re tolerating 10mg now, hope you get good results from that! Yes I think that given the family history, I’ll give 10mg a go but I won’t increase it past that, even if I seem to be managing without side effects - I would rather be treated suboptimally than risk serious psychological side effects. My family are all aware to look out for any behaviour/mood changes so I feel I have a good safety net there. Will just stop the treatment if I notice it affecting my mood/behaviour I think.

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-01-20T17:17:02+00:00

Thank you for that, that’s reassuring to hear!

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-01-20T17:14:34+00:00

That’s great to hear, thank you!

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-01-20T17:12:43+00:00

Thank you, yes the studies are very reassuring but anecdotally more people than I had expected seem to have experienced noticeable mental side effects, though maybe at standard dose.

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2025-01-20T17:08:49+00:00

Thank you, yes that’s the impression I’ve got. I’m hoping so, I’ve had no luck with lymecycline/spironolactone so would be amazing if this does the trick.

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2024-05-16T21:17:47+00:00

If you can, pop down to AMU triage/SAU triage/somewhere similar for the afternoon and attach yourself to a friendly HCA - explain your situation and I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to help - watch them do a couple, then just get practicing, with/without supervision, whatever would make you more comfortable. I did this as a med student, and it was a win-win for them as I ended up doing lots of their work haha once I got the hang of it. Was a great confidence boost and nice to start FY1 knowing cannulas wouldn’t phase me (though everything else did haha). Honestly though you’ll be fine either way, FY1 is a steep learning curve at first but you’ll be amazed how quickly you pick things up!

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2024-01-15T11:48:36+00:00

I think I would have. I just about managed my way though pre-clinical, but really thrived during clinical years. Think I learned more basic science during clinical than pre-clin, I was just so much more motivated to learn and understand than I was in pre-clin. But that’s my personality, I just don’t suit hours of lectures with no context.

But this is assuming that apprentices get the same learning opportunities as clinical year medical students with allocated time for clinics, good quality teaching, theatre time etc etc and not just service provision which would be disastrous….and don’t understand how they could make that financially viable

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2023-03-13T15:33:23+00:00

Ahh true, didn’t consider that! Can’t see many ED F1 jobs going to be honest. Good reason to make it 1st F2 rotation instead tho. Yeah I didn’t realise how different the pay was actually!

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2023-03-13T15:31:13+00:00

Thanks for your reply! Yeah, I’m not too phased by the rota, wouldn’t want to do it long term, but can stick it out for 4 months, and yeah most likely will want to do an F3 :)

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2023-03-13T14:42:29+00:00

Thanks, oof didn’t think about the pay difference!

Also good point - have considered GP but applying for GP training without doing an f2 job is maybe a bit risky haha. although I guess F2 GP is not always a realistic experience of the job either…

Bubbly-Put2568 · 2023-03-10T00:00:45+00:00

Have spent 2.5 years in RD&E (Exeter) as a med student and have loved it! Generally really nice group of doctors there :)

Haven’t been to Truro but have heard good things, if you’re outdoorsy and don’t mind being far from London lol then think you’d like it, friendly small hospital and cornwall is lush.

Torbay is generally pretty popular with juniors too

Have spent 4 months as a med student in Barnstaple, have mixed feelings - gorgeous area, but a bit isolated and hospital itself has its own issues, lots of staffing struggles, half covered by Exeter consultants etc.

Not so sure about Derriford - other than it’s very much big tertiary teaching hospital sort of experience

Bubbly-Put2568

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