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 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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5
37.1%
4
33.4%
3
15.5%
2
7.3%
1
6.6%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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September 18, 2009

Pros:

Totaly ckeared up my skin. After atleast 10 years of acne and treatments that didnt solve the problem i tried Accutane. It became worse but after about 3 weeks and Retina and bleach for the exsisiting dark marks TRY IT!

Cons:

Dry lips

The bottem line is if you've tried every thing eles now try Accutane. Please consulta a Dr. and keep up woth your blood work. It has workes for me an i feel fine. Plesae try it, st this point youhave notthing to loose. My skin was depressing and very bad, now i get compliments and see a change. I have a new confidince because my skin is nearly "normal"
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August 14, 2009

Pros:

it cleared up my BIG cyst pimples on my back and chest after 1 month

Cons:

bit of dryness everywhere

am taking it again now since my BIG pimples coming out on my face, both sides of cheeks...i thought if accutane worked for my back and chest it would do the same for my face. been taking 10mg only a day for 10 days now,...it's still getting worse ( maybe initial effect?? i hope so...)am using Clenzyderm from OBAGI as well to treat my face. haven't got anything amazing till today though... can anyone suggest if i have to double up my dosage or just stay on 10mg a day? thanks...i'm desperate...
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July 31, 2009

Pros:

none as of now

Cons:

chapped lips, corners of mouth cut, dry nose, intense break outs on face and back of neck, minor nose bleed, mood swing due to seesaw acne effect

I never had acne until my first year of college. Once it got really intense I tried everything from proactive, to differen, to tetracycline. Now I'm on accutane. So far the drug has shown no improvements. If any thing my acne is become worse than it was. I have been on the pill for about 1 1/2 months and am taking 50mg as of now. Doctors say it could take up to 3 months to work or may not even work at all, I hope I'm not one of these people. I cant remember the last time I had clear skin or felt good about my self. ACNE SUCKS! As acne is prevelent to my family, my 2 sisters and brother have used the drug and recieved amazing results. When will I?
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July 30, 2009

Pros:

Clear Skin, No More Oil, gives self-esteem, lesser makeup

Cons:

Dry lips, Mood Swings, Blur vision, Thining Of Hair While Shower, Body Aches,

I would recommend this anyone with medical insurance that has bad acne. It works really well but it is a gamble. Good Luck
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July 20, 2009

Pros:

By the 2nd month, you will have virtually no acne whatsoever. There are times when you don't even have to wash your face and you will NOT break out. I went on a week long backpacking trip and I was not allowed to wash my face. minimal acne after trip

Cons:

red face, red lips, extremely dried lips and skin, bloody noses at random times, not allowed to eat anything with Vitamin A. Blood work and checkups every month. Very scary possible side effects. chance of liver damage and high cholesterol.

Accutane will permanently eliminate your acne. It has many possible side effects and they even require you to sign that there is a possibility you might suffer extreme depression etc. One bad thing is the medication might increase your cholesterol, tryglycerol etc levels and put your health at risk. You will be told to immediately stop accutane (worst day of your life) until your levels get back to normal. I have used all the OTC medications and antibiotics and they DOESN'T WORK. don't be afraid to ask your dermatologist about it and don't be scared to do it because of the long list of side effects. it'll change your life! Oh, and each prescription can cost over $600.00 if your insurance doesn't cover it. Mine covered it completely. Think about it. No acne for the rest of your life?
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July 15, 2009

Pros:

I finally for the first time in 23 years have beautiful, smooth, non oily skin with NO nodules or blackheads anywhere!

Cons:

The dried inside of your nose gets annoying, as well as really chapped lipped corners that feel like paper cuts. But other than that, nothing at all scary.

I wish I had just tried Accutane years ago instead of suffering and wasting so much money on every cleanser, cream, gel, and three piece kit from both the store and the dermatologist. My skin was at the point where nothing could control it, and even simple benzoyl peroxide made my pimples worse. Accutane dried up my beard of acne in the first three day, and despite a really, really tiny IB (it was barely an IB) the second week, the acne all disappeared and has not come back. I especially love how those annoying, purple little nodules all along my jaw FINALLY are gone; everything is so smooth! No serious side effects either, like headaches, hair loss and joint pain. Just dry nose/lips. And my dose was fairly high (60mg a day). I reccomend trying it; in the worst case just stop the pills if you see any serious side effects. But with insurance, it's only 5 bucks, and so life changing.
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July 14, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up my skin on my face, chest and back. Can now wear whatever I want, pretty much.

Cons:

Ear pain and Tinnitus two months post-'Tane (waiting for it to clear up and it has reduced a lot); persistent dry eyes and eyes seem more red now as a result after Accutane

I don't think I would have taken it had I known I would fall into the small percentage to experience Tinnitus. It's crap and I didn't know my ear would ever react like that. It's reduced a lot, and my doc thinks it will disappear. Still, my acne was mild for the most part except for a few cysts on my cheek. Sometimes the risk is not worth it. You take the risk and you hope not to be a minority, but you just don't know.
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July 8, 2009

Pros:

it is the best acne drug I have ever used and will use it again. I had big nodular cysts on my neck and I was very depressed until I got introduced to this drug. I am so happy I am on this

Cons:

dry lips, dry eyes and bleeding nose sometimes aches at the back of my legs every once and a while, nothing severe.

bottom line if you want a clear complexion and you have tried everything else in the drug store this is the best drug to use.
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July 7, 2009

Pros:

It works! My skin is clearer than it has ever been, and I have even been receiving compliments on my complexion now. I had tried everything and nothing else seemed to work - Proactive, Mary Kay, Avon, over the counter treatments, and prescriptions.

Cons:

Very dry lips, crack open and bleed, dry nose, dry skin on face. Very sensitive to sunlight - burn very easy even with sunscreen. And now, just as I'm nearing the end of treatment, stomach cramps and diarreah.

Overall, it has been worth it for me. Everything has cleared up nicely and seems to be staying that way. My skin isn't oily anymore. I did have some breakouts a little while ago and a very bad sinus infection which the doctor said wasn't related but I belive it was. Also, my sister had been on the drug a number of years ago and had trouble getting pregnant later in life, again doctor said there wasn't any relation but I believe otherwise. Now I have had the stomach cramps and diarreah for about two weeks. I called in to see if this would cause problems, I have a history of colitis and irritable bowl syndrome in the family. I was told it wouldn't matter or have any effect, they actually told me it wasn't related at all. I'll be very glad to get off of the medication.
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June 27, 2009

Pros:

After one week of being on accutane, i have been getting a lot of white heads, but no larger pimples. something seems to be happening, and hopefully my skin will get clearer soon.

Cons:

Dry Lips, Skin, Eyes... sensitive skin in general... have been feeling even more fatigued than usual, not sure if that is related to the accutane.

I've only been on accutane for one week. Somethings definitely seems to be happening. I've been getting a lot of whiteheads on my face, but no substantial pimples. I'm hoping after a few more weeks, I'll see a lot more improvement.
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website