[quote]chrismcl wrote:
And that whole Accutane and suicidal tendencies thing is bogus. [/quote]
Suicidal ideation is reported down in the less than 5% side effects area…somewhat more than the impotence side effect but less than the temporary thinning of hair side effect. Dry eyes (making contacts more difficult to wear) is a greater side effect. However, of all of these reported side effects, the one most likely of concern to a mother would be the suicidal ideation one…hence the mother’s refusal to allow her under-18 son to use Accutane. She read the Roche product insert…suicidal ideation is a listed “serious side effect”.
The probiotics worked very well for her son. His response to “do you think it is working?” was “Yes, it must be, girls are starting to hit on me now.”
Accutane does show dramatic improvement of otherwise intractable acne in 67% of people who use it. However, expect it to be much worse for about a month before it gets much better after about 6 months. If you’re female…sheesh, don’t bother as Roche won’t allow it to be prescribed without very invasive testing or proof of inability to get pregnant…it is a teratogene.
http://www.rochecanada.com/pdf/accutaneCIE.pdf
http://www.clearskin.net/acne/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=29&page=1
Interesting note relative to one poster’s comment about the helpful effect of Flameout with acne is that one increasingly supported mechanism of action by Accutane is inflammation reduction. Inflammation reduction is a significant effect of Flameout, too.
http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/00/backgrd/3639b1c_04.pdf
“Isotretinoin also has anti-inflammatory activity as well as an effect on the
pattern of follicular keratinization [Plewig et al., 1982].”
An unhealthy digestive system contributes to inflammation as well. An anti-inflammatory effect is probably the mechanism that probiotics has on significantly improving acne.