Joseph's story: isotretinoin at 13
Joseph, from France, took isotretinoin for acne at 13. He says severe anxiety began months after the course ended.
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Isotretinoin at 13
Joseph is from France and was 26 at the time of this interview. He took isotretinoin (Accutane), a medicine for acne, when he was 13.
He says it helped his acne at first, and that his symptoms began months after the course had ended.
What Joseph describes
- Severe anxiety, panic attacks and derealisation.
- A dramatic change in how his body and mind respond to stress.
- Trouble concentrating, and a loss of joy and of emotional stability.
- Years of looking for answers, while doctors told him the medicine could not be responsible.
He talks about the hardest periods of his life, the support his family gave him, and how finding online communities helped him see that he was not alone.
He says his symptoms have improved in a meaningful way with time, patience and support, and he is clear that this is not a cure. Moral Medicine notes that this is one person’s experience and not medical advice.
Thank you to Joseph for telling this story. This interview was recorded by Moral Medicine, who have filmed more than ninety of these conversations.
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