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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3.9
2449
Read All About Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Compare To Other Treatments
5
37.1%
4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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February 23, 2009

Pros:

perfect oil balance, acne diminshes quickly

Cons:

terrible side effects, not sure if it is worth it

skin feels perfect, not too oily, if you wash face every morning and night, oil balance is perfect. i saw my acne go away within the first week. not supposed to use any topical treatments, but i found that using a spot treatment works perfectly! dry skin is very manageable, must use a good mosturizer every morning and night and always carry chapstick w/you i love accutanes effects on my skin but have had miserable side effects: - can cause INCREASED INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE, constant pounding headaches for the first couple of weeks, eyes inable to dilate correctly lead to photophobia (light hurts eyes) - dry eyes, cant wear contacts - affected mood, made me completely unmotivated - hypersensitivity, no tanning w/out burning while my side effects are fairly rare, accutane just seems far to instable a medication. although having acne affects many other parts of my life, im not sure if i am willing to compensate having accutane drastically affect my life esp for
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February 22, 2009

Pros:

Noticeable results within first day, skin's dry but thats why we have moisturizers.

Cons:

I just wish it wasn't so expensive. Blood work! I HATE NEEEDLES =)

All these kids complaining bout the treatment are punks. Plain and simple, omg my face is soo dry omg my lips omg im depressed, so f**king what, that's what they warn you bout, its in the list of side effects and you're gonna complain bout it? Especially the people complaining bout the flare out in the first few weeks of treatment, if your dermatologist didn't warn you bout it then get a new one! I can't wait to see the results I'll be getting, along with a bit of my confidence back, it saved my friend's social life and hopefully it'll save mine. I just hit the 2nd week of it with 40mg dosage, and I have the flare up but I don't mind it cause that's what its supposed to do before it kicks the oil gland's asses. =)
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February 21, 2009

Pros:

Hopefully will get rid my very very oily skin..and acne. At least conrtrol a little bit.

Cons:

Very Dry lips

Will update soon.
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February 21, 2009

Pros:

After about three months of taking the meds, my face cleared up. Even my pores closed up. But this was all temporary.

Cons:

Serious hair thinning, very dry scalp, very dry eyes (permanent). I've been off the meds for about 8 months and my acne has returned in new places.

Try something else.
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February 21, 2009

Pros:

Does clear skin

Cons:

Drys skin like crazy, lips, face, everywhere, joint paine, my acne came back about a month after stopping treatment

Accutane does work! But it WILL NOT KEEP YOU CLEAR!! I had really bad acne and by the end of the treatment i was totally clear (around the 6th month). A month later I saw a few pimples and then more and more showed up until it all came back. Bottom line if you have bad acne try it because it really is the only thing that works. Accutane does change your skin though so it does do something long term. Skin treatments that didnt work for you before might work for you after accutane. I used to use tazorac cream for my acne before I tried Accutane and it didnt work at all, but Im on it now and it seems to be working well.
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February 21, 2009

Pros:

Cures acne in one or two 4 month courses, 9 months apart...rarely a third is necessary...
Free for me coming from england - gotta love the national health service :D

Cons:

dry lips can be a pain...no alcohol for 4 months isnt great either

Saved my life. Literally.
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February 18, 2009

Pros:

Dries up your acne relativley fast.
You can see improvement
Face appears smoother and you dont look all oily and shiny

Cons:

Horrid side effects, EXPENSIVE!makes your skin look scaley and way too dry!

My brother uses accuane. his skin looks better, but it looks like he constantly has sunburn, Also his lips are always cracked because accutane kills ALL of your oil glands in your face. So you will age much much faster! i would not use accutane! it is just wrong and i highly do not recomend it! try the Urine Treatment! It is like 1000 dollars less than Accutane and it works 100 times better!!
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February 17, 2009

Pros:

Cleared acne within 2 weeks. Moderate persistant adult acne literally disappeared.

Cons:

Not many side effects whilst on it, but as soon as I came off it the WORST side effects ever kicked in.

Still suffer from SEVERE JOINT PAIN, stomach upsets, mild ED and am often unable to do simple things. This product has ruined my once healthy life, ambition, dreams, relationships, everything. Acne eventually passes - accutane induced side effects do not. YOUR HEALTH IS SIMPLY NOT WORTH THE RISK.
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February 17, 2009

Pros:

Cleared up my skin 100%. Hair and skin are no longer oily. I have only been off it a couple months so I can't comment on the long term effectiveness.
I was on 40mg once a day

Cons:

Side Effects - Mild Chapped lips
Monthy blood work was a pain.

So I was scared to death to try Accutane after reading the reviews, but I didn't have any problems. I had no initial break out. I have a history of mental problems but Accutane did not change anything, I just stayed on my meds I normally take, no issues. I did NOT have joint pains, nosebleeds, bowel issues, vision issues, hair loss (maybe a little thinner but it went from oily to dry so it was really hard to tell), my skin wasn't even really that dry. Did I miss anything? :) I DID have slightly chapped lips (nothing I couldn't deal with) and sun sensitivity. I was tri training and marathon training the entire time I was on Accutane. Working out an average of 12 hours a week (swimming, running, biking, and weight lifting). I ran distances of up to 20 miles with no more pain than if I was not taking Accutane. I normally don't write reviews on things that I don't have problems with (like most people) but after reading so many scary reviews I felt I should add a
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February 16, 2009

Pros:

Good things about this medicine is the only medicine that will give u clear skin......

Cons:

Bad things about this medicine is that it won't last forever.I try it two times before. The first time I try accutane, it breakout like crazy and its totally unacceptable. Second time I try it, it come back after one month.

this medicine is the best method to cure acne. I didn't experience any side effect, but it doesn't work pretty well on me. Guys who taking it do not expect it will cure you forever. Because it does not work on me either. Final word: I hate acne. ACNE SUCK.
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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