I was a patient at this office. I was prescribed accutane (myorisan) for my mild cystic acne. I am a nearly 30 yr-old woman. After my 2nd month check up, the nurse sent over a script to the the pharmacy for 30mgs and not 60mgs. (The dose doubles in the 2nd month, it is crucial treatment works like this). Thank GOD I caught this mistake before I left the pharmacy because the Ipledge system is no joke and it could not be reversed if I left with (1/2) my new dose. This could have added additional time to my treatment as well. During my 3rd month I was having great results!! During my 5th month check up I stated that my fatigue was getting unmanageable and so where my aches. My skin was breaking out again too. :( This was yet another nurse, she documented this and then found an error on the demographic section of my chart (5 months into treatment and my info was wrong?) This rattled me a tad. My Dr then proceeds to tell me that the medicine isn't working as well as he feels it should. After my own research prior to this visit, I realized it could be my absorption (I'm 5'8" and roughly 125lbs). He then tells me that Myorisan has the worst absorption rate of all the "Tanes" on the market. (THANKS, 5 months later!) Then he suggests I take Asorbica -He expressed that this would be exactly what I need because it can be taken without food and still have better absorption than Myorisan. I was SOLD, I'll take it! Only to learn my BCBS insurance does not cover it. Since it's the latest and greatest it's nearly $3k/month. So after calling in a medicine I could not afford, he decided I will be OK with the Myorisan, if I just take it with fish oil. I did as instructed, meanwhile, no suggestions were given about the fatigue and the soreness and achy muscles. Beginning my 6th month of treatment I was sleeping more than 10 hours a night and still tired, I was experiencing back aches and now headaches that were constant and very disruptive, and I got to where I could not eat and my mood was heavily affected by my side effects. I felt beyond awful - my worst college hang over was like a mild cold compared to how I felt! I called and reported this and I was told to quit taking the medicine and then sent for labs the following day. The labs stated that my liver functioning was elevated. I was told by the nurse to discontinue my 80mg/day and when the symptoms reduce, to resume taking half my dose again. I'm on 60mg/day not 80mgs!!! This was not even the 2nd time a nurse told me I was on 80mg over the course of my treatment!! I decided that maybe a 2nd opinion was in my best interest. AND it was, Dr. Mike Sabol at Piedmont Plastic Surgery had stellar reviews online. Dr. Sabol went over my labs with me (b/c nobody at Hickory Dermo did that, they simple referred me to my general DR, which I did not have at at the time). Dr Sabol reassured me that my liver functioning was only slightly elevated and it would return to normal but I need to QUIT taking the ACCUTANE!! He stressed that! He stated that in his 12 years of practicing that he has NEVER had a patient that he has required to stay on the medicine more than 5 months because it is a very dangerous drug. He said he has dealt with some pretty stubborn acne too. I trusted his 2nd opinion and 12 years of medical advice more than I trusted my newbie Dr who began practicing in 2017. Shame on me for not doing my research. I had a friend refer me here, after this experience, I use the word "friend" loosely when describing her. Hickory Dermatology sent me a bill for nearly $800 over the course of 5 months for my treatment, after calling my insurance company, they stated that I need to follow up with Hickory Dermatology because I am only responsible to pay $83.87 because BCBS covered everything else. I called and left a VM for the Billing Dept in Raleigh for Hickory Dermatology on April 25th. They have YET to return my call. (6/5/18) However, I have not seen another bill, not even one that would reflect the stated amount from BCBS. I would highly recommend Piedmont Plastic Surgery! read more