Isotretinoin (Accutane®)

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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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Madi

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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Stevie

September 22, 2008

Pros:

Cleared up my hormonal acne like magic!

Cons:

It wont last forever! About a month after finishing i started developing whitheads but thats it. No pimples!

It works wanders. I was on it for 5 month at a very low low dose and was clear by the end of month 4. After finishing i started using differin and duac and taking Vit A and Zinc. Seems to be working well.

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Amy

September 22, 2008

Pros:

I've been taking this drug for a month now and my skin feels sooo much better. Yes it's a little dry but I haven't got raised pimples anymore which I was very self-conscious of. I'm not thinking of my skin all the time, which i was before.

Cons:

Dry lips, mood swings, slight joint aches, dry eyes, dry skin (hands, face). But nothing too awful yet!

I'm 25 and after suffering from frequent bouts of mild acne from early on in my teens, I then developed severe acne during my teacher training course last year. Probably linked to stress, it was just awful. I put up with it for a year just persauding myself it might get better and I tried everything to clear my acne. Eventually I went and got a referral to a specialist and was prescribed Roaccutane. I'm on 30mg/day and although I've felt better, I'm not wanting to wear a plastic bag over my head everytime I walk outside. I'm starting to get a bit of confidence back at last and I would say to anyone who has sufffered through their teens and now twenties, just go for it, otherwise acne rules your life. I've still got a long way to go by all that I've read about the drug but I am pleased I sort help and am now taking Roaccutane. Costs a bit if you go private but we may do it differently here in the UK. Good luck to you all!!

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lamisu

September 22, 2008

Pros:

it really cleared all spots , my skin was smooth , less oil production, during the period i used it i could wash my hair only 2-3 times a week.

Cons:

expensive , VERY DRY skin when using it I even had to apply pure shea butter on it ;D very dry lips and eyes, it takes very long to cure your acne , if you squeeze a pimple it heals much longer than without accutane and it is temporary not permanent

I haven't got acne for about 5 months after it but now it started to show again and i have to use some treatments again , i will try not so serious ones , but if my acne will get worse i will use accutane again.

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Jon

September 22, 2008

Pros:

No oil
Skin looks much better

Cons:

Dries you up
Make sure to use chapstick and lots of moisturizer

I have had acne for about 4 years now. Antibiotics didnt help much, nothing seemed to work. I have been on Accutane (Roche) for 50 days now, and I have seen a big improvement. I still breakout but its much less frequent and much milder. And I still have 4 months left so things will get much better :) Also besides a few nose bleeds, dry lips and skin I dont have any side effects. Accutane is a powerful drug, but if you are in contact with your doctor you have no reason to worry. Acne is depressing, and accutane is the only real "cure" for it

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Stuart

September 20, 2008

Pros:

So far so good. Nothing changed my face yet but its getting there

Cons:

Cost alot of money if you dont have insurance. My face is starting to get dry and itchy. I only had this product for 3 days.

I only used this product for 3 days. So far nothing has happened. I'm hoping it'll get better. Is there hope for me?

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Becca

September 20, 2008

Pros:

Less oily and clear skin.

Cons:

Dry lips, cracked mouth, nose bleeds, achey joints/muscles, some tiredness.

I have suffered from acne for 13 years on my face, chest and back and had tried literally everything for it with no success. I finally went on isotretinoin and took it for five months and can say that skin wise they have been the best five months i have had in the last 13 years. My skin was never so clear, of course i got the odd couple of spots but not nearly as many or as severe. I did suffer from dry lips and the sides of my mouth cracked a few times which was painful. I also experienced nose bleeds, and the last couple of months more tiredness than normal and from time to time my joints ached but could be due to the fact that i am very active and didnt cut back. I didnt have any pyschological effects, infact i dont think ive been happier! However...i have been off it for nearly two months now and i noticed a change about a week after coming of the drug, eg. more pimples, oiler skin however not nearly as bad as it was before. I love this stuff!!!

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sarah

September 16, 2008

Pros:

less oil production,reduction in sebaceous glands

Cons:

dry lips,exessive hair on face,dry eyes.

im suffering frm acne since last 6 yrs,normal antibiotic treatment didnt workd so my dr. suggested for accutane(roaccutane by roche) at dose level of 20mg/kg . its my 3rd month using it n after seeing these comments i got scared to use it further...though with aforementioed sideeffects its gud otherwise.

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Kellie

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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Megan

September 16, 2008

Pros:

Temporarily helped my acne.

Cons:

Dry skin, emotional problems for teenagers- lack of focus and depression.

Ok, I took this stuff when I was 17 and I am considering going on it again. I stopped taking it a month or two before my derm recommended because I was feeling depressed and anxious a lot, and could not focus in class. (I still have terrible acne, came back a few months later but they say the 2nd round usually zaps it for good) But now I know a lot of that had to do with the fact that I was a hormonal teenager and I am also hypoglycemic so I have to eat a little differently. Now I am 21, a graduate student, and I hate people telling me I look like I'm 18 or 19 because of my acne, so I am giving this another shot. I'd recommend this: Do not be afraid to go talk to a therapist as a young person, especially if you are on this medicine. Also be honest about whether or not you are prone to depression, as I was.

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