Documentary
I’ve just seen a BBC programme about a boy who ended his life because of depression, which was suspected to be linked to the medication he was taking for acne.
When I was 21, after trying various different approaches, my mother organised for me to take Roaccutane to get rid of the rather persistent spots I had. I remember spending quite a long time with a cover-up stick attending to the potato patch over my left eye-brow before going to my 21st birthday party. And the little bastards hurt too.
Roaccutane
After seeing my local G.P. I was sent to see a Dr Peter Copeman on Upper Sloane Street. Each visit was paying him more than I was living on for a week and yet he dismissed all my questions about side-effects and wrote out the next prescription. He gave me the standard warnings on my first visit, but after that he didn’t give me any advice or reassurance about my hair or other discomforts.
In a Sunday weekend newspaper supplement, I read an interview with Rob Brydon who revealed that his pock-marked skin was what was left after a course of Roaccutane.
Lucky escape
Before each course of pills was dispensed, I had to go to the hospital for a blood test. It seemed weird that all these checks were made, but none of my questions were answered. Having been warned about the drying up process, advised to not do too much physical activity and told it was important not to get pregnant, the dermatologist I had to see each time I got a new prescription did not monitor me at all and airily dismissed any concerns I raised.
Because of this, I questioned going to see him and asked for my prescription to be sent by mail. It didn’t sit quite right with me that I was told I needed to have an appointment before getting the prescription. Why? Why on earth see someone just so they get paid for seeing me, when they don’t DO or check anything. He didn’t ask me any questions. He was like ‘OK, hello, thanks for coming in. I’ll get your prescription.’
Spots Gone
My spots went after the 2nd or 3rd batch. I was told I was less than half way through the treatment. There seemed no point going to see Dr Copeman as he wasn’t the slightest bit interested in my progress, just in his pay, so I got the secretaries to send me the prescription by post.
They did. I went to the hospital, had my blood test, got my pills and never took them. I had very dry skin and hair, which had got unattractively frizzy and took years to regain its oiliness. Periods were painful. I was sick of not taking exercise and my spots had gone. Why did I need to take more pills? Against strong advice (based on what?) I simply stopped taking the pills. I considered giving them to someone else, but thought that was too risky. Eventually I threw them away. I’ve not had acne since. Barely a few spots, so why did I need to take this pill for 6 months and not just till the acne had stopped returning?
This is a professional and a human failing. I just watched Gemma Cairney’s investigation on the BBC about Raoccutane, in the wake of two sad suicides or deaths of John and Jesse, and some fundamental questions were not even touched upon. Gemma did a good job but we’re not getting to the heart of the matter.
Monitor!
Humans put in a position to monitor must monitor. if a drug is even fleetingly considered to cause emotional turbulence, sexual dysfunction or other side effects, a suitable medical professional needs to be in charge of the patient to see how they are doing.
Here are my recommendations if you or a loved one has acne and are considering taking Roaccutane:
1. Just read Inconvenient People by Sarah Wise to see how biased and defensive and blinkered different professionals can be to suit their own agenda and income. Never take them on their word. Always question them. Find out what psychological support they will give if someone is taking Roaccutane. Is their head in the sand or are they going to put a patient before their ego and ensure they are MONITORING their progress and will consider that some people will be effected by the drug.
2. To find professionals who will mentally prepare a new patient at the start for possible side effects and lay out the ways in which they will listen and support the patient as if the patient actually does know their own mind and body better than another person, even one with a PHD.
3. For the course of pills to end when acne stops returning. If the patient is given enough correct and reliable information about acne, they will be the best judge for when they think the treatment should stop. Curing acne is the point here, not someone earning money.
4. Don’t take Roaccutane unless you trust and can talk to the dermatologist prescribing it.
Facial
Ten years after my Roaccutane treatment, I began to read about cases of depression and suicide in the press. I had felt ‘a bit funny’ while taking the drugs and hated the dryness. it was hard to know if I was depressed as it was a sad part of my life when my Mum died. Also, the bloody medical professionals did that English thing of Simply-Not-Mentioning any possible side effects to the psyche so I didn’t think about it. But I still instinctively stopped less than half way through the treatment, when my spots had dried up.
I went for a facial in North London and the topic of acne came up. I couldn’t remember the name of the renegade dermatologist Mr I-don’t-care-a-fuck-about-making-a-difference-so-long-as-I-get-paid in Upper Sloane Street. The beauty salon lady said ‘oh I’ve heard about this before. Dr Peter Copeman.’
The point of this tale: If you are a medical professional prescribing young people Roaccutane, flipping well look after them, even if this means that you don’t bloody know everything. It’s not about you, it’s about your patient.
Sophie Sweatman 
Sophie _ thanks for sharing and your enlightenment.
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I had disfiguring acne throughout my teens and early twenties. I was very depressed as a result. Like most acne suffers, I was put on endless courses of antibiotics, the pill, etc to rid myself of it. Nothing worked. Roaccutane was the only drug that got rid of it for me. My Doctor was Dr Peter Copeman. I never found him to be as you described. He was meticulous in making sure I had my ‘bloods’ done and very happy to address my concerns. For most people with terrible acne Roaccutane really is the wonder drug that has changed their lives – if you need proof, just look at the comments section in the Daily Mail whenever they do one of their Roaccutane ‘scare’ stories. I am extremely grateful to Roaccutane, and Dr Copeman who put me on it.
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Hi Emma,
Thanks for your comment. Like me, Roaccutane finally rid you of acne and I also appreciate finding it.
Also, like you, Dr Copeman arranged my blood tests. I am not arguing with Roaccutane of course, however, in my case I didn’t think Dr Copeman was answering my concerns during our appointments, these seemed to be only to prescribe next dose and next blood test.
My concern was that my acne had gone less than half way through the course of drugs and that it was me, the patient, not the doctor, who identified this and stopped taking the drug. I have not had acne since, nor any blemishes and other long lasting effects such as dry hair (I used to have very oily hair) have continued, so that I am glad I decided to stop taking the drug.
Your experiences are valid, however so are mine. I went for a facial in Highgate and they asked why I was dry and I said I took roacccutane but had stopped as soon as acne dried up. It was the beautician who reminded me of the doctor’s name and said she had heard of other cases of over-prescription by him.
There need to be both sides of the story heard. It is a strong but effective drug, but people taking it need to be monitored, especially when doctors are earning from their appointments to hear their concerns and check how they are getting on. Bloods is only a part of it.
Thanks again for writing in and do remember that everyone’s stories are as true as yours.
Sophie
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Hi Sophie
Thanks for taking the time to reply. You are absolutely right that both sides of the story need to be heard, which is why I felt it was important to pass on my story. After all you have given no voice to Dr Copeman, and provided only one bias in your post. I never ever found him to be the “I-don’t-care-a-fuck-about-making-a-difference-so-long-as-I-get-paid in Upper Sloane Street” person that you describe.
As with most medicines, a condition tends to clear up during the course of treatment – but it is important to complete a course if you don’t want the condition to return. Some might argue that Dr Copeman was not over-prescribing – just doing his job properly.
I am interested too that a beautician in Highgate has seen enough of Dr Copeman patients to pass comment. He is after all based on the other side of London.
I am however happy that your skin is now clear – and wish you all the best.
Emma
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Yes, and I replied acknowledging your side of the story.
Bias is one sided opinion, not a course of events as I have reported.
You can think it is important to finish a course of drugs, and I’m glad to hear it worked for you. I chose to stop when my skin cleared up and I am still very glad I did to this day. This is my prerogative to think that.
I did find him to be I-don’t-care-a-fuck-about-making-a-difference-so-long-as-I-get-paid in Upper Sloane Street” and you didn’t,. Stop being so right about everything.
All I said in my first reply was thank you for your side of the story. Both our stories are valid. I approved your comment to provide the other side of the story. But you are continuing to put me in the wrong and invalidate my experiences which happened exactly as reported (and his reputation had reached Highgate as I couldn’t remember his name at that point).
Readers will find a report of events more persuasive than opinion so to argue your side I suggest you talk about what happened to you (who you know) and not me (who you don’t) to show them how good you think the doctor was.
Let’s hear it.
Sophie
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