Roaccuatane/blood test

LegacyUser

Hi
So i have been suffering from acne for 15yrs, so after years of trying different medications my last resort was roaccuatane, so i decided it would be worth it if it finally got rid of my acne,
I am currently living in Australia so i am seeing a dermatologist here, I got blood tests done last week and now i started taking a low dose, i have discussed going on Roaccuatane with my dermatologist in Ireland and the requirements seem to be a bit different here, which concerns me a little.

I was told by my derm here in oz, i only have to get one more set of blood tests in a month and thats it. And also there is no ban on acholol while taking this drug here, i asked the derm and the pharmacist and they both said drinking while on this drug is fine in moderation of course and in the leafet in the box of drugs, it doesnt say anything about not drinking..

So i would like to know what kind of blood tests did you do while on this drug and how offen did you get them done? and was there a difference with any of the results through out ur treatment, i am a girl so i was under the illusion at least a pregnancy test was required each month?
Also did you drink while taking roaccuatane?
Thanks for you help

Victor

If you have concerns, then get a copy of the Irish lealet and compare the two and discuss it with your doctor.

Can you e-mail / write to your Irish doctor? Is there something the Irish doctor would know that the Australian one doesn't.

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NO MEDICAL ADVICE

Bottle_of_Smoke

I was on it a few years back & I think I had fairly regular bood tests. Was also told not to drink.

Most likely something to do with the liver. Even if its precautionary not drinking might give your body an additional boost too.

Bottle_of_Smoke

Perhaps this is more suited to biology/medicine

Victor

Oh, if you aren't happy with your doctor, get a second opinion.

ebbnflow

I had monthly blood/pregnancy tests.. which cost 80euro approx. It cost 150 to visit the derm every month for a check up and to get the go ahead to get another months prescription which cost at least 85 euro on the (irish) drug payment scheme..
They do indeed advise here that you should drink, if you do at all, in moderation.

Just as a bit of a warning I guess- my derm didn't leave me on roaccutane long enough, and i didn't reach the reccomended accumilatve dosage.. (she seemed to think what i had was enough, i pleaded with her, but to no avail) so, i need to go on it again but my derm is having none of it so i need to change to a new one.. in other words, be careful with your treatment in ireland, our dermatologists simply aren't as up to date (they don't seem to believe in research and treat you as if you haven't read the leaflet or done any research and don't know there is actually an internationally recognised accumilatve dosage of accutane) ...they don't seem to really take acne cases very seriously and you'll have to fight to get your concerns accross (just my 9 yrs of experience).
having said all that, the very best of luck to you, from one who understands to another, I hope it works out for you.