Isotretinoin (Accutane®)

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Side Effects

Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative called a retinoid that is taken orally and is approved only for severe acne. It is thought...

Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative called a retinoid that is taken orally and is approved only for severe acne. It is thought to clear acne primarily through its ability to permanently reduce skin oil (sebum) production.

Isotretinoin is available in capsule form and is usually taken twice a day. Your physician will prescribe an initial dose, and this dose may increase or decrease depending on the response to treatment and side effects.

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Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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Kiesh

November 13, 2012

Pros:

It has completely renewed my skin! I broke out really bad the first week, but now i actuallyfeel beautiful!! I have battledacne for over 10yrs its been horriblebut by Gods grace i have gottenthroughrough times, almost suicidal.

Cons:

Dry itchyskin peeling lips. I use Dials antibacterial soap (the white bar). Then i use Witch Hazel (dickinsons) and Eucerin face lotion (small amounts on dry areas) for little bumps i use Clearsil adult cream (that stuff is awesome)

Take my adviceit really helps

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mitchmiller

November 5, 2012

Pros:

Completely cleared my skin.
Skin is smooth and pores are minimized.
Confidence is back, I can go out without putting any face powder/foundation.

Cons:

Dry lips
Dry eyes
Dry skin
Dry hair
Excessive sweating

I had just completed my 7 months course of accutane and I would highly recommend this to anyone who has persistent acne and has tried every single products left on the market. Was hesitant on taking on this drug as I have read mixed reviews about depression and hair loss but I think the side effects varies in each individual. I did not any nose bleeds/hair loss. To avoid dry/chapped lips, please drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated as this medicine dries you out tremendously. Please bring along your moisturizer and invest in a good lip balm and eye drops and bring all these items with you AT ALL TIMES. I had my blood tested before commencing the medication and started off with 10mg in March for 2 weeks as the doctor wanted to see my body's reaction to accutane. Then the doctor increased my dosage to 20mg for the next 2 months, mid-June. The INITIAL BREAKOUT was really bad but the doctor had me on steroids so as to control the breakout. Really thank God for the steroids. In mid-June, I started noticing the pimples disappearing bit by bit. The doctor also increased my dosage to 30mg, which I took for a month but I felt the dryness getting to me. I was so thirsty I actually drank 10 LITERS of water a day. I told the doctor that so he down my dosage to 20mg, which was in mid-July. My complexion started improving gradually from mid-July until September. I started going out of the house every single day. I was on 20mg, and I did not have a single pimple at all, even if I am on my period. My complexion continued improving all the way. And I took my LAST pill end of October. And still, not even one single pimple. My friends and colleagues who have seen the condition of my complexion earlier in March this year now all looked at me in awe, asking me "What facial products did you use? What did you do? Your skin improved so much!" I absolutely have no regrets taking this medication at all. I would recommend this i

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Nicole

October 31, 2012

Pros:

-Permanently cleared SEVERE back acne
-Significantly improved facial/chest acne (not permanent)
-Increased confidence
-Overall far less oil production (perk: no oily face, didn't have to wash hair very often!)

Cons:

-SEVERE hair loss (mostly all grown back, but hair seems permanently less thick, less texture, and more prone to damage)
-Headaches
-Vision Problems (impaired night vision)
-Nosebleeds
-SEVERELY dry eyes (used gel moisture eyedrops daily to make it tolerable)
-dry lips/skin (manageable, actually liked the dry skin effect, no oil!)
-Joint pains, lower back pain
-Dry hands/body (LOTION!)
-Raised cholesterol (almost had to discontinue due to this)
-effects not permanent f

READ MY REVIEW FROM AN ACCUTANE PRO Bottom line: If you suffer from severe acne, TAKE ACCUTANE ONE TIME ONLY. It is totally worth it. But if you break out again after, do not take more rounds (minus a few isolated cases). Anything that is going to be cured will do so after the 1st round. I speak from experience, I've been on accutane 3 times. I have suffered from SEVERE ACNE since I was 15 (now a 22 y/o female). Both my parents had severe acne and both had taken accutane. MY SKIN IS TOTALLY CLEAR TODAY... here's a brief of my story and insights: I tried everything before I resorted to accutane when I was 16. I had moderate facial acne and SEVERE back acne. For my first round, I 60mg/day (I was 110 lbs) for 6 mos. Completely cleared my skin and PERMANENTLY CURED MY SEVERE BACK ACNE. But within 2 years after my face broke out again. Took another round of accutane. Cleared skin again (remember my severe back acne was completely cleared after the 1st course). Broke out again within a year. Took a 3rd round in college. Clear skin again, but this time broke out after within 6 mos. At this point, I tried SPIRONOLACTONE instead. LADIES, if the first course of accutane doesn't clear you completely for good, TRY SPIRONOLACTONE next. This has been a WONDER DRUG. Please note, IT IS VERY SLOW ACTING. Be patient. Many people start spiro, stop after 3 or so months and say it didn't work and resort to accutane again. IT TOOK LONGER THAN THAT FOR ME and does for most people, up to a full year! Also works better taken in combo w/ birth control pill, & don't miss doses. I'VE BEEN ON SPIRO FOR 1 YEAR NOW, just in the past couple mos. it has completely cleared my skin. Here is what I do now daily for COMPLETELY CLEAR SKIN: 200mg spiro Microgestin Fe 1/20 BC pill Wash: Neutrogena 'Clear Pore' Face Wash (am/pm) Treat: Neutrogena On-the-Spot treatment (use over WHOLE face, am

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andrewbleah

October 11, 2012

Pros:

-clear up severe cystic acne
-make ur skin smoother
-works by stoping the oil production.
-oil-free face
-non expensive if you have a good insurance

Cons:

-red marks from the inital breakout

I started using accutane (30 mg/day at first) on 22 June , after 18 days my face exploded into cystic acne, I had to stop and go on antibiotics and prednisone,after about 2-3 weeks of this , I re-take accutane on a 20 mg/day dose , after 1 week I took 40mg daily. Now my face is 95% zit-free witch is super nice , but altough my face feels smooth when I look in the mirror I see only red marks. My advice is , if you you want to take accutane prepare yourself for worse that begin hide in home for 2-3 mouths. I rated 4/5 only because of the inital brakeout. I'll update in a few mouths.

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AllisonGStar

October 8, 2012

Pros:

-clears acne fast! starts working within a week
-clears clogged pores
-skin is soft
-scars/pigmentation fades away

Cons:

-dry skin
-chapped lips
-bloody nose
-joint pains
-headaches
-depression-blah feeling

Accutane is a miracle product. It truly transformed by blotchy acne prone skin with whiteheads and blackheads into a baby face. My pores were smaller, skin was softer, and I could eat any kind of food I wanted and I never got a break out. After two months of taking Accutane I started to feel blah- not necessarily depressed but I just didn't feel like myself anymore. With my skin being 100% acne and scar free I decided to taper off the product and hoped that my acne would not return. My skin remained free of acne for about 3-4 months and then I started breaking out again. If i had stayed on the cycle longer it might have completely cleared my acne. I have thought about using it again but am some what scared about the negative effects. If you are have tried every single product over the counter and prescription and nothing has worked for you then I would recommend this as a last resort solution.

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Bex

September 12, 2012

Pros:

Cleared skin on face and back
Skin and hair no longer greasy
Can be a permanent solution to acne

Cons:

Dry scalp and skin
Cracked lips
Dry nose
Sun sensitivity
Initial breakout

I'm in my late 20s and have been suffering from acne for many years. Although it wasn't severe, it was persistent and didn't respond to any of the treatment I got from my doctor. I was starting to lose hope after all the months (even years) of antibiotics, and my acne was getting worse not better. I stopped letting my boyfriend see me without makeup and wouldn't go swimming or to the gym any more because of my terrible skin on my face and upper back. I got referred to a dermatologist and was started on isotretinoin 5 months ago. After a couple of weeks on it, I had an initial breakout which I had been warned about. It wasn't pleasant - my cheeks (which had been relatively clear compared to my forehead, chin and jawline) broke out in a big way and looked pretty awful. It lasted about 2 weeks or so, then my acne gradually started to clear up. The only side effects I've had are the general drying out of my skin and scalp (but I don't have to wash my hair every day like I used to!) and sensitivity to the sun. Even with factor 50 sunscreen, I have to be *really* careful going out when the sun's out. I definitely recommend avoiding going on holiday somewhere sunny while you're on this (and for 6 months after) as you'll just burn. At around 2 months I started to notice that I wasn't getting any new spots like I usually do, and then at about 3 months there was a definite improvement. I'm now at 5 months and I've had no new spots for weeks and my existing acne has gone - I still have scars but NO SPOTS!! I have another month to go to reach the accumulative dose that I need, then hopefully they won't return. The improvement was definitely gradual for me, there was no sudden change so don't start this and expect your skin to be perfect a few days in. I would say it's definitely worth it. My side effects have been minimal and my skin is so so much better. My confidence is so much higher than it was, and I don't just s

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Layla Mitchell4

August 15, 2012

Pros:

Mostly clear skin
Slightly dry skin (pro for me because my makeup lasts longer and it's easily controlled with moisturizer)
No greasy hair
No light bacne
Scars have almost completely faded
Confidence!

Cons:

Still get a pimple here and there
Still have a few clogged pores
Dry hands (for about 2 months)
Dry lips
Expensive (in my opinion)

To start off, I'm a 16 year old female and I started accutane with a lot of clogged pores on my face (mostly forehead), regular cysts about twice a month, 2-3 pimples a week (that would go and I'd get new ones), ugly hyperpigmentation/scarring, oily skin, and no confidence. Now I barely have any of that. Basically, I started accutane taking 40mg every other day for the first month. Then I was taking 40mg every day for the second month. Then I was prescribed to take two 40mg pills on MWF, and the rest of the days of the week, only one 40mg pill. I had this prescription from month 3 to month 8. I had to get a blood test every month which was no problem for me. I did have an initial breakout for a good month, then it calmed down a bit. I started seeing results and much clearer skin in month 3 and 4. I continued having ALMOST clear skin through month 4 to month 7, still getting a pimple here and there but no cysts. Month 8, my supposedly last month, I got 2 cysts right beside each other and then another cyst a week later. I got one pimple since then but I stopped taking accutane after month 8 because I ran out. I haven't taken accutane for about a week now and I don't see my derm for another 2 days. I'm frustrated with the fact that I still get a pimple even though it's month 8, and not to mention 3 cysts.. but i'll have to see what my derm says. My skin has improved dramatically, most of my scars have faded a lot and I'm glad I took accutane. I love not having oily skin and my hair looked and felt great, and I only wash it like twice a week. BIG PLUS for me because my hair goes down to my lower back. Overall accutane did make my skin much more clearer, and I breakout a lot less frequently. I am dissapointed that in my "last month" I broke out with 3 cysts, but they are gone now and I have yet to see my derm for possibly further prescriptions of accutane. Accutane was overall about $620, and it was $86.91 every month from month 3

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Dave

August 10, 2012

Pros:

-It actually works!
-Easy to take
-Clears skin

Cons:

-Dry lips
-Minor joint pain

Hey folks, So chances are...if you're reading these words right now you were in the same situation I was 6 months ago. If you're looking into Accutane then you've come to the right place to get an unbiased summary. I'll start off with what you want to know, it works. It works well...it works to the degree where I've forgotten what my bad skin looked like. It's amazing! However, that being said I was extremely cognitive of what the side effects were. I took the dice, rolled it and won. You need to understand that you won't see results overnight, it takes time and patience. I had a few side effects. They included: dry lips,minor joint pain (but I do work out everyday) and a sore back ( again, I work out often so who knows if Accutane was a catalyst to this pain). As per my alcohol intake, I did drink and made sure my blood work was fine. The blood work was a bit annoying but you need to remind yourself how badly you want clear skin. Bottom line. It works, try it if you've tried everything else!

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August 8, 2012

Pros:

Cleared skin up completely
VERY mild side effects, if any

Cons:

Scarring/Hyperpigmentation
Dryness

I suffered acne from around the age of 12 but it started to become severe around the age of 14/15. it really got me down and i started to suffer anxiety/depression, i refused to look at myself in the mirror, got ready in the dark etc..i started accutance in january '12..things definitely got worse before they got better and i had a pretty emotional time for the first few months..however month 5 and things really started to improve..the dryness isn't completely unbearable but isn't attractive either..however, using a gentle moisturiser, like oilatum, it did appear slightly less unappealing..i've been off accutane 2 months now and my skin is completely clear..i do however, have some red marks, which i think is hyperpigmentation..this can be just as horrible as the acne itself and does often get me down but my dermatologist informed me it would go within a year..so fingers crossed..otherwise there are options, such as chemical peels which i will most definitely undergo if it doesn't fade. i can cover it quite easily with concealer,foundation etc...so basically, the six months of accutane are DEFINITELY worth it..good luck, i know how horrible acne is!

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Nora W.3

July 30, 2012

Pros:

Clear skin and no more inflamed acne
After years of using make-up to make my skin look presentable, I can just dust on powder and go
Saves me time in the morning and getting ready to go out
My skin is way less oily
I saw a difference within a few weeks
My Doc said when I am done the results will last for 5 years +
Because my ace was more moderate, I may not need to be on it for the full 5 months

Cons:

Dry lips (but with applying Aquaphor or other lip treatments it is okay...I also got samples and a $5 copay prescription for a moisturizer)
Blood tests and the Ipledge program (I put off Accutane for 2 years after talking with my doctor about it. I was scared from some of the reviews I read online and did not think my acne was bad enough to bother with it. Now I wish I had done it sooner. Some people have side effects, but it is def worth giving a try. It has changed my life!

It has changed my life and I wish I tried it sooner! I put off trying Accutane for years and have tried every other thing out there, but am so glad that I finally did it. Talk with your dermatologist and see if they feel you are a fit for it. Even if you think your acne is not bad enough, it is worth discussing. I spent years not swimming because of my skin and sent way too much time applying make-up to look good. Now my skin looks great with nothing. It is back to how it was when I was a little kid. Accutane sucks all of the oil out and reverts your skin to like it was when you were a young child. After usage, it takes years for your pores to build back up wih oil. Such an amazing product!

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