Post-Accutane Questions

Hi all,

Sorry for the long-winded post, but I’ve got a few questions about my post-Accutane “issues” and how to go about dealing with them.

First, a bit about myself. I took Accutane at 60mg a month for 4 months. The course ended in July of 2007.

Ever since then, I have not felt like myself. About a month after the course, I was diagnosed with Social Anxiety and Depression. I went on 50mg Zoloft, .25mg Xanax as needed, and 25mg Atenolol (beta blocker) as needed. The drugs didn’t help in the long run, they (xanax and atenolol especially) helped for a few hours at a time. I got off the Zoloft after 6 months, because of already severe sexua| dysfunction from the time I started taking it. Once I stopped, there were no long standing issues with the Zoloft (I think.)

Other side effects I got and still have, include photophobia, dry eye, poor night vision, dry and flaky skin, dry lips, red face, inability to heal properly, thinning and shedding hair, dandruff, cold hands and feet, purple fingernails and toenails, signs of premature aging, (I’m 25 and have serious wrinkles on my hands, neck, etc.) thin skin, and of course all my Acne came back, this time leaving scars because my skin doesn’t heal. And of course anxiety, which has been the hardest for me to deal with.

In November of 2009, I got an incredibly severe case of hives that covered me from head to toe, including my face, hands, feet, everywhere. I did not want to take Prednisone, but the hives were so severe, that I felt I had no choice. They mostly went away, but wherever there were hives, I now have “scars.” Sometimes these scars are nearly invisible, but when it’s too hot, too cold, I’m anxious, or I exercise, the “scars” will turn a deep purple/red all over my body. Clearly, my body can’t heal itself, as I still have these marks over a year after I got them.

Throughout this time I also sought help from Psychologists, other Psychiatrists, and Acupuncturists as well. I didn’t seem to benefit from any of this in a lasting way.

I also exercised religiously, doing both weight training and cardio.

So here I am, still desperately trying to cure the underlying issues. I’ve tried supplements, topicals, oils, laser treatments, diet changes, etc.
I’ve been reading about candidiasis and seem to have a ton of the hallmark symptoms. Dry, flaky skin, cold hands and feet, white tongue, a dry mouth that has a bunch of disgusting crap in it when I wake up in the mornings, carb cravings, poor memory, etc.

Then today I saw a thread by Unyquity, entitled “For ray34iyf (and everyone :) Detoxing and healing Accutane/Lexapro/Celexa”, that suggests a way to heal from prescription drugs, including accutane.

I’m confused. From which way should I approach my problems?

Going on a candida diet requires eating no sugars, fruit, etc. Whereas the diet that Unyquity recommends has tons of fruit and fruit fasting as part of the plan.

What do you guys think, should I approach this as if Candida is the major issue(I have many of the symptoms) or should I go for the colon, liver, and kidney cleanse approach as suggested by Unyquity, since my body has clearly been damaged by the Accutane?

I feel so hopeless at times; other times I feel complete apathy. I'd absolutely hate to live like this forever. These last three years have been devastating for me and my life. I want to stop this crap asap and would be willing to do just about anything.
Thanks a lot.