Systemlord
Member
You don't often times it's permanent if it's gone on for a long period of time. I would recommend topical T cream and boost your DHT levels very high.
The topical cream and oral testosterone will boost DHT higher the any form of injections.
Similar to Post Finasteride Syndrome, Accutane induced sexual dysfunction isn't reversible.
FunkOdyssey
Seeker of Wisdom
Stop taking it? Not trying to be a smartass - that's probably the only thing that will work. I'd do it sooner than later, so you hopefully don't end up with some permanent damage from accutane like I have.
What permanent damage did using accutane leave u with? How long did u use it for?
I realize you didn't direct this question to me, however I'm in the accutane club too.
I believe that acctuane is the reason that I am now on TRT. The negative impact was pretty dramatic for me - ED, loss of sex drive, odd depressive thoughts, anxiety. A very obvious before and after. I say it was dramatic because I never experienced anything like this, and in every one of those categories, I was the complete opposite pre-accutane. Either the depressive thoughts and anxiety went away with cessation of accutane or I just learned to live with them, as that is something I feel like I no longer struggle with. However, the ED and loss of sex drive was more or less permanent.
I don't remember how long I was on it as it was about 30 years ago.
TRT along with daily tadalafil has been effective for me. Though something I have noticed is that the low dose thing has never worked for me...it's almost like there is some sort of barrier/resistance that needs to be overcome for TRT to be effective. To be clear I'm not talking about high doses, just that it seems I need TT/FT to be at the upper end of the ranges or slightly above before I notice any benefits from TRT whatsoever. Whether or not this has something to do with accutane's effects on 5ar is something I suspect but admittedly don't know enough about it to truly understand or draw any conclusions.
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FunkOdyssey
Seeker of Wisdom
I used a standard dosage (maybe 50 mg, I don't remember) for the standard five months of treatment. I don't remember the exact dosage details because I was only 17 at the time. Basically, before that I was a normal teenager with healthy sexual function, and afterwards, my libido and erectile function were significantly worse, and have stayed that way my entire life. I think it also caused some degree of permanent anhedonia too.
It's just very nasty, toxic stuff. I wish I knew back then what I know now. I would have easily fixed my teenage acne with a few dietary adjustments instead of nuking my brain.
FunkOdyssey
Seeker of Wisdom
I have had moments of very healthy libido and sexual function with scrotal cream that have given me hope. I think the crazy levels of DHT from the cream are able to at least temporarily overcome whatever accutane did to me. I'm going to keep messing with DHT and maybe DHT derivatives and we'll see what happens.
Interesting, I have experienced that too. Though for whatever reason I find that cream greatly reduces sensation.
I would also say that I’ve felt the most “normal” on cream. That said, I find that I need twice daily application, which is a PITA, and I also find that the evening application interferes with my sleep.
FunkOdyssey
Seeker of Wisdom
In my experience the normal feeling is associated with short-acting testosterone, because I also feel normal (meaning a pre-TRT-like state of consciousness) on test prop. So far, it hasn't done anything dramatic for my libido and erections like cream did, but otherwise the experience is excellent - clearly superior to cypionate or enanthate. That includes better mood, motivation, cognition, and sleep. Only downside: it seems noticeably less anabolic on a mg for mg basis compared to the longer esters.
In which ways have u noticed it’s less anabolic?
Even though prop has more testosterone per mg, than say test cyp or enanthate, resulting in 100mg of prop delivering more testosterone than 100mg of cyp or enanthate, short ester versions of test result in less nitrogen retention, and therefore are less anabolic, mg for mg, than longer esters of test. So makes sense if ur noticing less anabolism on prop.
I would assume that simply upping ur dose a bit, could get u back to being as anabolic as u were previously on cyp or enanthate, forget which u were using prior to prop. This way u might be able to experience the best of everything.
Sorry to hear all this. Crazy how something that’s good for us in healthy amounts, can be so dangerous/ harmful when taken in too high of doses. But this isn’t uncommon. Even water can kill u when u drink too much of it.
Actually, just looked it up and Accutane contains isotretinoin, a derivative of vitamin A. Thought it literally contained just a high dose of vitamin A. Obv synthetic versions of natural substances are always going to be worse for the body than natural forms found in nature/ endogenously within us. And holy sh*t, checkout this ingredients list, just one horrible ingredient after the other. Scary stuff
Each capsule contains beeswax, butylated hydroxyanisole, edetate disodium, hydrogenated soybean oil flakes, hydrogenated vegetable oil, and soybean oil.
But ya if only you could go back in time with the knowledge u have now. Simply tell ur 17 year old self to eat better, in order to improve his acne, amongst other things u now know to do that can put the body in an optimal state of health
Since accutane uses a vitamin A derivative, I wonder if simply consuming more retinol, could also help with acne issues. Like say consume beef liver a few times per week.
Ya long standing issues that result from the use of accutane, as well as long standing issues that result from using 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, can be so complicated, unfortunately. Sucks that in 2024 we don’t know more, in regards to how to help people recover, from both of these issues. Sorry to hear that u had to go through this, and still are going through it, to a degree. Hopefully research in this area progresses quickly. I assume it will, especially with AI improving so rapidly
My dosage was 20mg ED, but now I use 20mg EOD and it seems a little bit helpful, also increase prop and HCG dosage. Still not same as before, but better. I was on accutane 10 years before, and it was dramatically good for my acne, but 10 years later it comes to me again, not as bad as it was before 10 years ago, but bad.. also I try every thing to help my acne, diet without milk, eggs, carbs, with low and high PUFAs, but nothing helps. A little bit helpful was saw palmetto, high dosage zinc and spearmint, but not fixed my acne, and also saw palmetto act bad on libido. My diet was so restricted that I loose 10kgs, and I still get acne, If I eat normal I get much cystic acne all over my body(face, chest, back, head). Due to such a restricted diet, I think I have developed a deficiency of various vitamins and trace elements, so I have no other way just to try accutane again. I read that postaccutane effect can be reduced with lithium supplementation(still didin't try it), and proviron (if problem is with DHT). I don't think there's some magical toxic thing going on that can't be fixed, it's probably going to be a mess with the dopamine or DHT system.
FunkOdyssey
Seeker of Wisdom
It could be my imagination I guess, but I look a bit smaller. It seems a bit less forgiving for some inconsistency in my training due to travel, that I don't think would have caused any loss of strength with enanthate. As I'm having to justify that comment, I'm realizing how flimsy and subjective my observations are, but there you go.
That's what I was thinking - not out loud, because we're starting to talk about 200+ mg which is taboo here. But yes, you're probably correct.
FunkOdyssey
Seeker of Wisdom
It doesn't only act like high-dose Vitamin A. It also downregulates androgen receptors and affects production of DHT and other androgenic metabolites, so it is has multiple anti-androgenic activities. I found a great post that breaks down the different anti-androgenic mechanisms: How Accutane can cause similar effects if it is not an 5AR inhibitor?
The other thing accutane is known for, usually in a positive light, is the enduring nature of its effects. Many people will never be as susceptible to acne again for the rest of their life as they were before the course of accutane. This seems to suggest a degree of permanence for not only the positive but also the negative effects of the drug.
Oh dude, don’t sweat going a bit above the 200mg/ week mark. Checkout a convo I was having with someone in a trt fb group the other day. Guy’s doctor apparently has him on 300 test, 100 deca per week. So I think ur fine going up to 225mg/ week lol. I still very much advocate that most males can still have optimal health/ longevity, that’s no different than any natural male, while going up to 300mg of test per week. I laugh when guys get worried about their health doing around 200mg/ week, or other guys try to scare other men when their dose gets around there. Most guys using 200mg/ week, or even 300mg/ week, while staying on top of their diet, exercise regimen, and other lifestyle factors that affect health/ longevity, will still have better health/ longevity than the majority of the population. Anytime I see anyone worry about taking around 200mg/ week, or people trying to scare others when they see them either taking, or wanting to take, around 200mg/ week, I like to reference this guy. After watching it, u feel like taking 200mg/ week is as benign as popping a multivitamin lol
And I doubt it’s in ur imagination. It totally makes sense why u would notice less anabolism on prop, due to there being significantly less nitrogen retention going on in ur body, on the prop. What ur experiencing lines up with what u theoretically would experience, going from a longer ester to a very short ester, like prop. Again, upping ur dose should solve the issue. Just have to hope that u feel and function as well on the slightly higher dose, as u do currently
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Oh interesting. Had no clue about these other effects. Makes sense now what people are comparing it to PFS, and makes sense how some people report improvement in symptoms using things like exogenous test and proviron.
I remember Ryan Russo being very invested into the whole PFS thing, due to him experiencing similar symptoms after consuming Lion’s Mane, and pretty sure he eventually figured out strategies that seemed to be helping guys with it. Any of u guys looked into his vids?
And ya, I’ve seen many anecdotes of people reporting very dry skin, and less issues with acne, even years later after discontinuing the accutane. So definitely some permanent effects going on for sure. Do u personally experience that dried out effect, to this day, at all?
FunkOdyssey
Seeker of Wisdom
I haven't, but thanks for the tip.
Not exactly under normal circumstances. What I do have seems to be a permanent intolerance for larger doses of pre-formed vitamin A (like retinyl palmitate). If I take even 5000 IU for a couple days, my skin will start drying out and my lips will start chapping and peeling like I'm right back on accutane.
Why did u try taking preformed vit A in the first place? Not judging, jc what the intended purpose of taking it was
And just checked his channel real quick, and looks like he has vids on how to cure pfs, and interviews where he talks to people that have cured it. Or at least this one interview, that I saw. Seems like they’re definitely at least worth the watch
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