Isotretinoin (Accutane) Reviews

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Prescription summary (1,152 votes)

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4.2/5
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3.4/5
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3.6/5
Common brand names: Accutane, Ro-accutane, Sotret

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1 of 1 visitors found the following comment helpful.
jason, san diego
Apr 26th, 2005
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a few things about accutane:
1. its the absolute best treatment for acne there is, by far. it will clear up ur acne while ur on it and for some people, forever. my acne did come back after a few years, but nowhere as bad as it was before accutane.

2. there are side effects, possibly some bad ones. i didnt experience any joint pains or depression, just dry skin and dry lips. for me, the results of accutane were definately worth the side effects.

in conclusion, i think for all those with bad acne, which other products couldnt cure, accutane is really worth the risk.

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Julie, Ottawa, Ontario
Apr 21st, 2005
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I loved what it did for me!! I have been off Accutane for about 11 years. When I first took the drug it was very new, and the only reason my derm. gave it to me was because I had already tried everything(and I mean EVERYTHING)and I was only 15! I still have acne, but very mild compared to what it was, I think this drug is the best thing out there! I want people to understand that if you are prone to acne then you will still have flare ups due to hormones ect. but overall I believe in this drug so much I would have no trouble giving it to my children if they needed it.

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Matt, Louisiana, USA
Apr 20th, 2005
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Accutane definately worked.. for awhile. It has been about a year now that I am done with it, and I have moderate acne. It's nothing to get too fussy about, but nonetheless, I have acne again. I also have noticed other body changes that I have after taking accutane. My face is looking less symmetrical. My back is becoming deformed with kyphosis. I get fat pockets in odd places and no fat in some places. It is very odd. Maybe it is just my body's natrual growing and evening out, or maybe it is accutane that messed me up for life. I guess I'll figure it out eventually. I guess proceed with caution.

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Rufio, Canada
Apr 18th, 2005
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Listen, Accutane like all other drugs out there doesn't cure acne, it only makes it go away for the period of time your on it! As soon as your off of it, the acne can and may return in the following 8 monthes (I know this because im currently on my 4th course of accutane). I've been taking it since i was 15, im now 20, and ill probably be on it for a little while longer in the hopes that my hormone levels will begin to balance out. Unfortunately, the sad truth is, nothing is going to fix your acne but time and maybe not even then (as with min). However, accutane does allow you to get through those awkward years and form an individual idenity, one which will hopefully see you through later years of acne. It is for this reason that i think this drug (with all of its side effects) is worthwhile for those few that need it baddly enough. Be- warned; it has many side-effects (as you can see from these other testimonies), so if your going to go on it, make sure that the pro's outweight the con's. For me they did, and i dont regret going on it, but i know people who do.

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Anonymous, USA
Apr 18th, 2005
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I was only a moderate acne case. It worked WHILE I was taking it , and up to 3 to 6 months after I stopped taking the Accutane. THEN my acne problems and extremely oily skin RETURNED FULL FORCE, once I had stopped the Accutane pills. I would NOT RECOMMEND as it did not cure me, but left me with a permanent negative side effect. I have to use eye drops several times a day each and every day of my life now because my eyes are chronically dry and don't make enough tears: a problem I never had before I took the Accutane, which, once again, did not even successfully help my acne condition long term. Both of my dermatologists told me the Accutane would have me "set for life", and I wouldn't have to do anything particular to my face after I stopped the Accutane (unless I wanted to) because my skin would then be like "normal skin"---What do I say to that? Um, NO. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!! Expect to definitely have to use topicals to "maintain" your clearness, once off of the 'tane, or else you will have returning breakouts. Many will actually have to take several "courses" (several month treatment periods) of Accutane for the skin clearing results they want. I know women that have taken 4 to 7 "courses" as the Accutane OBVIOUSLY hadn't cured them permanently/ sufficiently. I wish I had not decided to take the Accutane as it was extremely $$$, tedious (getting blood work done, taking a birth control pill), and ineffective for what I wanted. The potentially horrible and permanent side effects are NOT worth the risk for a drug that may not either HELP or CURE your chronic acne at all!!! If you are considering this, maybe you will be one of the 80% or so that this gives close to permanent results for...IMO, Accutane is incorrectly marketed as a cure.

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Rachel, Madison, WI
Apr 16th, 2005
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I have been off accutane for 1 1/2 years now and acne has come back. The first six months after accutane was heaven. Then acne slowly started to come back, developing as cysts. Now I am looking for another treatment for my acne. I will not go on accutane again because it really messed up my whole body. I lost sense of smell because while I was on accutane it really severely dried up my nose to the point of losing sense of smell. It never came back and now it is always stuffed because it is irritated all the time. I even went to see an ENT and got cat scan and they told me there is no way to cure it. Then the accutane really dried up my eyes. I wear contacts and I need those really expensive artificial tears made in france to keep my eyes wet enough to even blink. Accutane makes skin go old really fast too. I have tried everything to make my skin look youthful again but no hope. While I was taking accutane, hair started to grow all over my body. I thought it would get better after going off the pills, but hell no. They've only gotten worse, and I have to shave places you would never imagine. I wish I never took accutane. I am left with acne and irreversible side effects. (I'm just glad my insurance paied 100% for my medication. I never had to pay anything.)

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0 of 2 visitors found the following comment helpful.
Ali G, Stains, UK
Apr 13th, 2005
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Booyakasha!

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Sarah, Fort Collins, Colorado
Apr 11th, 2005
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I have been on Sortet for 4 months. My skin is so dry!!! I am going to get off it early, because I found somthing better and it is natural with no side effects except healthy skin and a happy body. I can't even run anymore my joints hurt too much. I am taking manatech, a whole food supplement that helps cells communicate and counter act all the free radicals and icky stuff in the body that causes things like acne...try it!!!

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Morgan, Toronto, Canada
Apr 7th, 2005
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I had moderate acne and then tried accutane. I was on the take one pill one day and than the next day take two schedual. I was totally cleared of all acne and black heads for a few months after finishing the medicine but then acne started coming back. I went on accutane a second time and it didn't work as well as the first. This was a few years ago now and I still have moderate acne. The dryness that came from taking accutane was also a pain.

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Lee, Toronto, Canada
Apr 6th, 2005
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Accutane is the best acne treatment there is, no question. I tried EVERY over the counter cream, then went to my doctor. I was on tetracycline, some other cycline's no luck. I went to a dermatologist, tried like 5 different bp creams still no good just dry skin. Finally I was put on Accutane. I believe I took 1 pill one day, 2 the next, 1, 2 etc. By the end of the 5 month treatment my skin was cover model clear. I started getting a bit more acne about 6 months later so I went on it for another 5 months. That was about 5 years ago and my skin is still perfectly clear, I don't use anything on my face other than cetaphil now and it's still this way. The only problem with it is the side effects. The only ones I really had were increadbly dry skin on my face and chapped lips. If possible, take accutane in the winter. First dose I was on I did and it was fine, second was summer and I camp a lot and such so I was really peeling badly. You won't leave home without a tube of complex 15 moisturizer and chapstick when you're on it. Those are the only side effects I encountered, and I had to get blood work done once a month to make sure all was well. My mom's work health plan paid for 90% of the accutane so it was very cheap for me. I can't recommend accutane enough, if you want to get rid of your acne then skip all the other junk and go on this you won't regret it, just deal with the dry skin for 5 months and come out with clear skin.

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