Does anyone know if you can take accutane and an antibiotic (such as Bactrim) at the same time? I am considering accutane but am really nervous about the initial breakout and possible side effects. I was hoping that I could take an antibiotic prior to accutane and during the first couple of months to get me through the IB. If its possible, has anyone done this? Did it help with the IB, or when you stopped taking the antibiotic did your acne flare up really bad even though you were on the accutane for a few months? Any responses would be greatly appreciated!

My doctor made me stop taking antibiotics before I started Accutane. She said you can't take take both together, but I'm sure your dermatologist would be able to advise you better. And yes, I did get a severe flare-up when I got off of the antibiotics. Severe flare-up post-antibiotics and then an IB afterwards, sounds like fun!

My dermatologist said that I could take my antibiotics and accutane together at the same time if my IB was really severe, but it isn't necessary. I forget what my antibiotic was called, so ill get back to you on that tonight.

(He told me this just yesterday)

My doctor has me take antibiotics and accutane together for the first two months to stop my IB from being so bad.

I dont think its something you CANT do, but I would still check with your derm.

I didnt notice anything wrong with taking them together.

just wanted to let you know what my doc prescribed me. only started 4 days ago.

bactrim 3x a day

accutane 30mg a week (very low dose)

and i've got to say the bactrim is working wonders. i've got a cyst like 3mm high. within a day of starting bactrim it shrunk to half the height. but it remained that way till now. at least i know it's doing something.

i would say just ask your doc, if he gives you both then great.

Hey i basically did what you described

My derm made me do 1month of bactrim prior to accutane. Then 1month of bactrim during the first month of accutane. I still did get an IB, but it wasnt bad at all (like i wasnt sure if it was even an IB, since my skin was getting progressively worse BEFORE accutane, so could of just been that lol) and went away fast like in a week, im very prone to redmarks/brown marks tho so it still sucked. The same month i went off bactrim my accutane dose was put up from 40-60 as well, and I did not get another IB/breakout, so yeah no flareup at all.

The only antibiotics that are contraindicated with Accutane are tetracyclines (which can also go by names like Sumycin, Terramycin, Tetracyn, Panmycin and probably more..) - so yes, Bactrim would be fine to take along with your Accutane..: )

I am using azithromycine 250 mg.. At night and Isotretinoin 20 mg in morning afrer breakfast... And that is recomended by my dermatologist... Using antibiotic is purely depend if prescribed by your dermatologist....