Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

About two months ago I scheduled an appointment with a dermatoligist because I had a severe and unexplainable outbreak of acne. He prescribed an antibiotic, Minocin, which I had taken off and on during high school. Two weeks later when I returned (the outbreak was persistent), I told the doc that the Minocin was giving me terrible stomach cramps (read: gas...and farts that could knock down a bull) and a migraine. He switched the prescription, assuring me that the new medication would not affect my stomach whatsoever.

I checked the prescription -- �̼�Ʈ�� in Korean; Accutane, or Roaccutane (Isotretinoin) in English -- and had a flashback of a time when I was 17 and my dermatoligist had fervently opposed prescribing the very same medication, after I specifically asked him if he could put me on it (my acne was mild back then, but annoyingly tenacious). "Too risky," he told me. "The side effects are dangerous. The pamphlet says otherwise, but I'll be honest with you: they keep having to update it because of all the class-action lawsuits filed against them. And I have a feeling that in a few years the drug will be taken off the market completely, deemed unsafe."

Remembering that little talk (still on the market in 2004, Dr. Beecham, I mused) I decided not to take the Accutane prescribed to me; but not before I did a little research, which sealed the deal. I told Wifey of my decision, and she was at first a little (shocked? confused?) upset that I planned not to follow the doctor's orders. She looked at me incredulously then -- as though I had just told her that I was thinking about trying out for the Harlem Globetrotters -- but I made her hear me out. I had researched the drug thoroughly, and showed her every single tidbit of information I could find -- none of it, unfortunately, in Korean.

(This site -- http://www.accutanehelp.com -- is very extensive in its listing of the possible side effects, as well as its tracking of news stories about the notorious, increasingly suspicious drug.

And there are a hundred more like it.)

She was pretty stunned. After all, doctors in North America are required to take blood samples before -- and regularly during -- administration of Accutane. This is to make sure the patient's liver is healthy; and because it causes birth defects (not may cause, mind you, but does), it is not to be prescribed to pregnant women. I'm n/a in that latter category (at least I think so), but in regards to the former, I indulge in a shot of whiskey or two (or three) and a few bottles of beer on some nights, and I'm fairly sure that, though the pamphlet doesn't state it but most websites do (what the hell else is new?), taking Accutane is not a sound decision if you drink. another and more major factor not to take it was that I wish to preserve my sanity (however much I still have left, at least).

Wifey and I returned to the clinic the next week. She explained to the doctor (better than I ever could have, god bless her) that the drug was potentially dangerous; was he aware of the fact?

"No. Never," he said.

He looked pretty stunned, and then asked Wifey where she had gotten this information. I have to make clear at this point that the doc was 100% baffled. I was sure that he was as ignorant of the potential dangers of the drug as the patients he had prescribed it to before me must have been. Wifey gave him the info I had recorded, and a few weeks later he called her. Turns out he's attending a dermatologists convention in the States this July, and plans to bring up the issue -- but not before sending a few pre-emptive questions to the Korean version of the FDA. Never, he said, were any seriously-negative side effects relating to Accutane ever mentioned in any Korean-language information he received. He concluded his conversation with Wifey by lamenting the fact that most western medicines, regardless of their potentially harmful side effects, are greenlit here with no fuss or trouble. Mostly, he said, because while Korean pharmacists and doctors have a strong grasp of English, far too many of them can't make heads or tails of the pamphlets put out by the big drug companies.

If anyone else here on this forum has some information they can share, it would be greatly appreciated.

Sparkles*_*

[Pyongshin Sangja]

That was fascinating. Thank you. Glad your wife is mature enough to see eye to eye with you and not get wrapped up in the Korean flag. Have you ever heard of topical stuff like Retin-A? I think it is a skin drying cream that kills zits quickly, the same thing as Accutane but in a cream form. I've thought about getting it from time to time. Maybe not now. From the Retin-A website:

Do not smoke while applying tretinoin, the gel form is flammable.

[ryleeys]

Great job Sparky... valuable public service you have done...



What's your solution for the acne problem?

I've been getting mild flairups since I've been here... My ex-girlfriend would wake me up when I was taking a nap by popping my pimples.

[baldrick]

I took a course of Roaccaaccattane and I'm fine.
The doc did warn me of the side effects but everything turned out OK (flinch).
The question is, how the hell can a drug that clears up your skin be potentially lethal?

[OiGirl]

[prairieboy]

I had really severe acne back in high school. Luckily not on my face but the scalp, back and chest.

The dermatologist put me on minocin to begin, which didn't work at all. She then put me on accutane. Starting with a strong dose for a couple of weeks followed by a blood test. After that, she reduced the dosage and I was required to go for blood tests every month after that.

It cleared the acne up completely and I was then taken off of the medication. I can't remember how long it was but I believe I was taking accutane for about 6 weeks.

I had a recurrence of the acne several years later and my GP prescribed accutane for me with the necessary blood tests. A couple of weeks and it was cleared up and I haven't had a serious breakout in over ten years now.

The biggest side effect was that accutane dries out your mucous membranes in your nose and mouth. The nose bleeds I had as a result of taking accutane, were quite severe at times. Still to this day I have the odd unexplainable nose bleed.

If you find something that works then steer away from the accutane and only use it as a last resort.

Cheers

[jaebea]

Four courses of 60mg/day Roaccutane over 7 or so years for me, so I've been around the block. A couple of times... :)

I've got some pretty persistent acne, though you could never tell. When I tell people I'm on acne medication, they all say the same thing, "You don't have an acne problem!". To which I reply "Of course not, I'm on the medication.".

Even right now, I'm on Stieva-A 0.05% and a 2x daily wash of clyndamiacin 1% to mop it up. Odds on, I'll be back on the Roaccutane in another 18 months, considering my track history.. :)

For every horror story, there are happy people who have had success with the medication. I'm not discrediting Sparkles' information, and his major point was that Roaccutane that's prescribed in Korea DOES NOT have the same sort of warnings and support programs in place that we have in the US/Australia. This is a serious issue that needs addressing. Roaccutane is serious medication that needs proper supervision. There's a reason why only dermatologists can prescribe it, and only after blood tests to check lipid levels and liver condition. The prescription actually comes in the mail in a government issued envelope in NSW. It's not your average asprin.. :)

Worst thing to come out of it were the dry lips and the odd cramp, but I haven't had any other ill effects (knock wood!). It's the best thing that's happened to me and my skin, but I'm not going to discredit the claims of very poor side effects from other users either. I can appreciate the likelihood of bad effects from stuff like Roaccutane.

In any case, be an informed user, not just a user.. :)

jae.

[OiGirl]

Wow...you got off easy. I guess I forgot to describle my side effects...
Severe muscle pain, exhaustion, depression, severe dandruff, severe chapped lips.

Very short courses of Accutane have been described...I was told 6 months was a normal course, but since my dosage was repeatedly cut back because it made me so sick, I was on for 10! Maybe you had a different dose, or a less severe case?

[sistersarah]

wow, that's pretty scary about the lack of information about accutane in korea. what's with that?? especially for the women taking it and the risks of having a deformed child. i remember when i started taking it, the doctor made me take a pregnancy test even though i assured him i wasn't active. they take a lot of precautions back home.

i was on it for 6 months and i hated it. i went to my prom when i was on it and remember feeling pretty self conscious because my skin was flaking off everywhere. over the six months i went through sooo much lip balm and actually wore it around my neck.

accutane didn't totally clear up my acne....it just made it manageable and controllable. i guess in that way i was a little disappointed...i thought it was going to be a miracle and i'd never have to worry about acne again. but, i've learned to be really disciplined about my face routine every morning and night and i rarely have problems.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[saharzie]

I took roaccutane for 6 months when I was 17. I had had acne for about 3 years previous and within the 6 months it had cleared up entirely. I never got another outbreak since. There were stories in the Irish press about the drug at the time, mainly due to a number of suicides of people who were on the drug. The press were saying that the drug caused depression. I had no side affects that i know of.

[Mercer Cheese]

I too took roaccutane, a 4 month course about a year ago. I have to say, I had no nasty side-effects, except for EXTREMELY dry skin. No biggie.

[Alyallen]

I never had the horrid acne that really required treatment. I heard that accutanne causes birth defects and could cause suicidal thoughts/suicide. Of course, it would have be rare (the suicides and thoughts) or it wouldn't be approved (or at least I would guess as much).

Retin-A is acne medicine and also works as a anti- wrinkle creme.

I guess the point of the OP's story is to get info about the drugs you take. I would also apply this suggestion to any country...not just to Korea. It is your body, you should know what you are putting in it and don't just take a doctor's word for it.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

I have to add, because I didn't make it clear, that the doc of course knew that Accutane causes birth defects -- though I'm unsure to what extent they screen women who are put on it.

And that's pretty scary.

Also: I like reading positive stories from people who have taken the drug. This is by no means me trying to stir things up. It does work for many. I have never taken it, and never will (I don't need to, as I mentioned). But reading all the posts here, it's very clear that it's far too easy to obtain Accutane here in Korea. It shouldn't be as easy to get as it was in my case.

Sparkles*_*

[OiGirl]

I know about the topical isotretinoin because I was trying to get Accutane from a pharmacist back in the pre-August 2000 days.