Roaccutane dispensed where?

TheGardener

stargirl90 wrote: »

Worth mentioning that roaccutane is also a blacklisted drug on the NHS, so OP, there's absolutely no chance your NHS GP will convert it I'm afraid.

Shop around a few different pharmacies if you have the time and find the best price.

Family member was referred by GP to dermatology at local hospital and then prescribed Isotretinoin. Paid normal NHS prescription charge.
This drug can ONLY be prescribed under a consultant dermatologist - GP's can not prescribe it. This is because some of the side effects are significant. Women have to enter a formal pregnancy prevention programme as the drug can cause terrible consequences if a patient is pregnant.
The patient must attend monthly appointments with the dermo team and women will only be given the prescription for 1 month supply after a negative pregnancy test EVERY month .
There is a phased dosage starting low to check for adverse reactions and the dose is increased slowly to maximum does after 3 months.
A prescription for Isotretinoin must be presented and dispensed within 7 days of issue. Our experience was that it was easier to have a hospital prescription (again at normal NHS charges) because our local chemist had trouble getting it.
The boxes the drug came in were sometimes generic and sometime brand named Roaccutane.
Unless your private prescriber is providing the same sort of robust support as the NHS requires for the use of this drug - I would think carefully about whether you want to continue.

megan12345

I was also referred by GP to dermatology and pay normal prescription price for roaccutane, also known as Isotretinoin, so would recommend going to your GP and trying to get referred to a NHS dermatologist?

Saffythecat

Another referred by GP to dermatology and prescribed roaccutane. My local pharmacy had to order it in, but I paid standard NHS fees.

thorsoak

The reason that roaccutane (isotretinoin)is blacklisted by some parts of the NHS is because it has, sadly, been linked to the suicide of several young people who were prescribed it in cases of severe acne.

Please be aware of this - friends of my family are still grieving over the loss of their talented 16 year old son who killed himself after his doctor prescribed this drug for his acne. His parents were not informed about what drug their son was given until after his death.

Saffythecat

Thorsoak, that is tragic, so sorry for your friends’ loss.

I suffer from depression and was really worried about side effects, and because of this was prescribed a low dose over a long period. (In the end I was actually too scared to take the tablets after filling the prescription.)

Flugelhorn

Private prescriptions are always priced at the cost of the medication + profit + handling fee. Cost can vary from place to place and likely to need various tests done before each prescription issued.
Can you get referred on the NHS?

joey88

As someone who has suffered with Acne most their life, I really recommend the Duac cream - Benzoyl Clindamycin.

The GP does prescribe this topical cream so no problems there. It costs me about £12 and it lasts for 2 months. So £72 a year - if I calculated right!

I have never taken roaccutane and glad I haven't, knowing of the side effects.

This cream you simply just put on before you go to bed. It has been the only thing that keeps my skin clear. But I know what works for some may not work for others.

If you haven't tried it yet, then I do recommend you speak to your GP about it.

Also, having recently cut out milk and quite a bit of dairy - my skin has never been so clear. I'm actually in shock. I'm still not 100% sure if it's down to this but so far so good.

Again what has worked for me, may not work for yourself but I thought I would pass it on.

I also never used to moisturise in fear of making my oily skin worse but I've found that this was a big mistake. I now put on a non oily moisturiser every time I get out the shower. This seems to have worked too.

clairec79

My son was referred to the dermatologist for his acne (which does seem to be clearing up with the GP level meds) who we saw today, as his seems to be improving (dramatically to be fair over the last 6 months, they don't want to prescribe roaccutane because of the increased of suicide - they gave us the info to read which is several pages and explained all the testing and avoidance of alcohol etc

TBH I'd go via the GP try their meds and get a referal to dermatology = it's not a drug to mess around with without the appropriate testing

RobertReny

For everyone who wants to treat their acne using Roaccutane please check out the side effects and then go for it.
Users have started complaining about the acne drug has left them impotent, while some parents believe it led their kids to develop suicidal thoughts.