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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Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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September 28, 2008

Pros:

Only been a week but have had comments already about better complextion

Cons:

so far dry lips, sore eyes ,
light headache & some upper back/neck pain

Had light to moderate acne including shoulders/back & chest thats been VERY persistent since teens . ive had good & bad weeks were i didnt want to go out ! tried over the counter stuff including Minomycin and Erothomycin worked someout but never did the job & the usual array of products face washes, creams, even diet. ive heard great things about liver cleansing which when done right will help regulate and correct hormone release and ultimately reduce oil production = less acne . BUT time consuming & doesnt happen overnight. so far ive had light headache and dry lips and some upperback / neck pain but nothing dramatic. must say i was scarred out of my mind when i read alot of the sideffects , like most im desperate for good / clear skin, make sure youve tried other treatments before going on this , it shouldnt be a light decision. id suggest monitoring your symptoms (write a weekly log) & tell family/friends your on it so they can give you feedback t
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September 27, 2008

Pros:

clears skin, hair doesnt get oily, skin isnt oily.

Cons:

dry lips

this has really helped my skin to improve, the side affects are very minor and easily tolerated, i have not felt depressed or anything. my eyes do get dry in the afternoon/night. my complexion has cleard and i dont have any pimples, i still have a few blackheads, with a month left on the medication. it can get annoying not being able to go in the sun without sun screen, but the pros outweigh the cons by far. im really happy with the results ive been seeing, for the first few weeks my skin was sorta red, luckily that was during the holidays.
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September 24, 2008

Pros:

After only 1 month and a bit of taking this drug I am free of pimples !!!!!!! which have caused enormous amounts of suffering and disturbance to my life- !! Now when i get a pimple it is much smaller and goes away alot quicker

Cons:

dry scalp (dandruff ew) dry everything. skin. dry lips!!!! my foot blister isnt appearing to heal lol- and calf muscles seem to hurt more after exercising? & have only been taking it for about 6 weeks. so 6 or whatever months to go!!

although i think there must be side effects if not immediately somewhere in the future- so far this drug has been a miracle!!!!! i am not depressed- much happier actully lol im only 16 but my acne was effecting me severly- took about an hour each morning putting makeup on to hide pimples-made it worse took sick days off when it was really bad which i could no longer afford as i am currently doing vce. felt sad. ugly. disgusting. frustrated i didnt get roacutane earlier as now i have scars that seem to be permanent.. but no more pimples YAY!!!!!!!!!!! dermatoligist prescribed it very easily and readily (which suprised me a bit) although it took over 2 months to get an appointment booked after i was referred by the doctor(gr its worth begging screaming crying to your family/ doctor / derm whoever for this drug i think the depression is a myth- just watch out for dryness- i recomend cetaphil cleanser& moisteriser.pawpaw for lips. and get moistering shower wash i
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September 16, 2008

Pros:

CLEAR SKIN! It honestly works wonders.

Cons:

cost (but its worth every penny when your skin clears), VERY dry lips and skin

I would reccommend this to anyone who has tried everything from topicals to antibiotics and still has persistant acne. Its not the most pleasant medication to be on, the first three months were a rolllercoaster (the initial breakout period) but once that clears, its smooth sailing. I didn't experience any pains /mood swings/ depression. I used TONS of carmex on my lips and i was still able to wear my contacts daily (they would sometimes get irritated at night if i would wear them all day but using ClearEyes with redness relief did the trick). Clear skin can truly boost your confidence so much. Not having to hide behide my hair and being able to wear a tank top without worrying about what people are thinking about my back and chest is truly priceless. BOTTOM LINE... if you are ready to get rid of acne for good, struggle through the beginning and you'll be so happy!
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September 15, 2008

Pros:

Temporarily lessens acne

Cons:

Caused crippling muscle/joint pain, connective tissue disease

I took 40 mg of Isotretinoin for 4 months. Within 1 week had pain in hip joint and leg. Intensified over next month. Spread to other hip. Couldn't walk distances, had trouble rolling over at night. Hurt 24/7. After came off medicine pain did not go away. 1 year later pain spread to elbow, then to shoulder, wrist and fingers. Nothing stops the pain. Have seen 4 specialists (2 orthopedic surgeons, 2 rheumatologists), had blood work, x-rays, MRIs, 2 rounds of physical therapy, 5 cortisone shots and taken 5 different NSAIDS. The pain is still there and seems to be spreading! This is poison!!!!
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September 3, 2008

Pros:

Clears skin for several months to a few years at a time. Dries oily skin. Affordable.

Cons:

Very dry lips and flaky skin around the mouth. My joints ached in the beginning but got better after a couple of weeks. I didn't notice irritability or psychological affects. The IPledge program is a pain but easy to participate in.

I did three rounds of Accutane a few years apart. The first round cleared my skin for a few years but the acne keeps coming back. The last two rounds have been generic versions of Accutane and clear my skin for a few months. It is worth trying once, but I won't do it again.
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August 28, 2008

Pros:

REALLY cleared up my skin very quickly
Inexpensive if you have health insurance

Cons:

Achy joints, VERY dry lips, irritability, very expensive if you don't have health insurance-even generic. Ipledge program is absurd and pointless, very inconvenient medication to take. DON'T use hot wax while on this medication! (Sugar waxing fine)

I suffered mildly moderate acne for the past 6 years (never cystic, though) When my dermatologist first recommended taking accutane to treat it once and for all, she made me promise not to read what other people say on the internet. I kept that promise until now- month 4- and I'm happy I didn't read comments before! Yes, for me it does chap my lips-aquaphor is my new best friend-and it does make me very mildly irritable, my joints are achy, but my skin started clearing up after one week-it never got worse before getting better for me- and is better and better each month-almost flawless now, scarring is almost gone! I absolutely cannot wait to be done with my fifth month (40 mg 2x a day) but overall everything has been tolerable for me, and has been WELL worth it. My derm is very confident it will be pretty much "cured" by the end of 5 months, so if that's true then it is a miracle drug.
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August 16, 2008

Pros:

Cleared up very well. Hardly broke out while I was on it. Effects seem to last. I had no initial breakout (though some do). Better than anything I had ever used. Simple to take a pill everyday.

Cons:

Acne came back (though much milder) a year later (for some it doesnt). Does not help much for red marks. Cannot use any other treatments (peels or topicals) while on it. Lots of potential side effects. Can be expensive. Not easy to be prescribed.

Basically, this drug stops your oil production so that you do not get acne. At one point on it I did not breakout at all for months. This effect is supposed to be permanent but for some people a milder form of acne recurs some time later. This medicine requires lots of blood tests, birth control, and pregnancy tests and surveys. You have to got through the iPledge program which can be a pain. Without insurance you will spend thousands on this treatment at the end of it all. While on Accutane, there are many side effects. Some experience an onslaught of side effects and elect to stop and most experience at least some of the common side effects. Common side effects include dryness of skin, dry eyes, chapped lips, joint pain, back pain, sensitivity of skin, and a slight reddening of skin. Other side effects include blurred vision, headaches, hair loss, depression, and high triglycerides. You cannot go on this while pregnant. Despite it all, it can work wonders when used properly.
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August 16, 2008

Pros:

Isotretinoin is the only thing that seemed to work. After about 10 days blackheads started to dry out and diminish. 40mg a day and no harsh side effects.

Cons:

Pretty disappointing that I found a treatment that finally works, but can't complete it due my sensitive liver. Had dry lips,scalp,arms, mild headaches, and loss of appetite. Nothing too intolerable.

I was on it for a month before liver enzyme tests came back extremely abnormal. According to clinical trials, 10-15% subjects had abnormally elevated liver enzymes and had to discontinue the treatment. Never had an initial breakout, or any severe side-effect(including depression). Honestly, this treatment is worth a try. I tried everything before I started, and sadly this is the only thing that worked for me...
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August 1, 2008

Pros:

Clear skin, Smooth Skin, no blemishes

Cons:

chapped lips, itchy hair, hair loss
relatively high price, doctors appointments,

I'm 22 and i've been on accutane for 7 months. Got 3 months left. It cleared my skin up after 2 months, my skin is so perfect looking i don't even have to wear make-up anymore. No blackheads, no acne. It's like a miracle. However i've noticed my hair shedding at a much more rapid rate than usual after 4 months into accutane. It's nothing scary yet, but i'm quite worried if it continues... My doctor said all the side effects like chapped lips, dry skin feeling, being sensitive to light is temporary, it'll stop after my treatment. I've also been reading about people saying their acne have returned. My doctor said accutane heals my skin forever... i can only hope for it to be the truth. Otherwise it just doesn't worth it.
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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