I think there’s pressure building in my head/brain
Background: 22F. I started Accutane in late April at 20mg then went up to 40mg late may. I started experiencing the warning symptoms for intracranial pressure when I went up a dose. Pressure headaches, nausea, brain fog and dizziness. I’ve not experienced vomiting or vision changes. I have chronic headaches and migraines that were under control so I personally feel it is unrelated, as they are different headaches.
After discussing this with my dermatologist they took me off the medication and told me to get checked out. When I went to the ER hoping for a CT scan, they said it wasn’t necessary because I didn’t have severe enough symptoms. They said that my vision would be messed up and the headache would be unbearable, but the headache is unlike one I’ve ever had before. It feels like my head is going to explode, I can hear and feel my heartbeat in my head/ears and It’s throbbing so badly. From what I can tell it feels like there’s a lot of pressure up there and it just keeps getting worse. It feels like my ears need to pop but inside my whole head. It’s constant and almost debilitating. I’d assume that the pressure would build over time and not just show up as a life threatening concern, but I’m not a doctor so I don’t know. Google tells me to see a doctor if I have any of the symptoms but the doctors think I’m fine. I don’t feel fine.
I want to go back on the Accutane so badly but my derm is worried and wants to get things cleared before starting again. But the people I’ve seen don’t think it’s serious enough. It’s so frustrating.
Is this reason to be concerned? Would the pressure build over time till it’s unbearable or would it come out of no where? Please help me figure out next steps. Thanks!
Posted Jul 10, 2026, 5:56 PM UTC