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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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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Siava

September 15, 2008

Pros:

Months of no oil production. Can go more than 1 day without washing hair. Cleared acne quickly.

Cons:

A plethora of side effects: dry lips, skin, and eyes, fatigue, joint pain, fragile skin, photosensitivity, diminished night vision, mood swings.

This is not a drug for the faint of heart. It can cause serious issues and should only be taken after serious consideration. Maintaining good communication with the dermatologist is crucial. I'm sorry I didn't go this route before. After 12 years battling persistant acne, I finally feel care-free about my skin. I used Sotret, the generic, and it worked great.

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Kathy Chandler

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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samantha

September 14, 2008

Pros:

clear skin

Cons:

EXCESSIVE FACIAL HAIR

i really really wish someone told me this..thats the only reason im on here to write this post is to maybe help someone thinking about taking htis medication. i have never had hair on my face, well other than eyebrows, but about 4 monthsinto this medication, i started growing hair under my chin that went from just a few, to almost half of my under chin looking like a GUYS. i swear that on my life. it causes more depression than acne. ance you can cover, hair you CANT. i have to wax it weekly and it grows in, literally, like a mans hair, that THICK n BLACK look. its really depressing. i would rather have acne than depressing thick man-like facial hair..which i believe my doctor called 'hirsutism'. please, jjust take something else, i wish someone told me this. im getting married in a few weeks and im so depressed as to how i can cover such thick/black/frequent facial hair.

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Joshuah Smith

September 12, 2008

Pros:

Clear Skin. Fast Results!

Cons:

Dry Skin, Nose-bleeds, increased moodiness :)

When I was 18, I had tried everything for my acne. My zits began getting zits of their own! :) I tried every over the counter and prescription drug available. Finally, I went back to my Dermatologist, and he told me about Accutane. He warned that some people experience side effects, and took a blood sample from me for testing. After the test came back, he gave me my prescription and told me to take two pills per day. I took my first two right away, and when I woke up, my skin was 1/2 clear! The next day, almost no sign of acne! My skin was, however, very dry. After my skin dried completely, I made another appointment, and my doctor told me to only take one pill every other day. My acne was completely gone! The only side effects that I noticed was I had two nose-bleeds (never happened to me before), and I could get moody at first. To me, those were small prices to pay for clear skin. My self esteem was boosted, and people now compliment my skin all the time! (Didn't expect tha

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Katie

September 12, 2008

Pros:

At the end of my treatment (6 months) I had basically perfect skin.

Cons:

Dry skin, nose bleeds, fatigue, headaches, dry lips, bad breakout at first, monthly blood tests are a pain, and now that I've been off it for 6 months my skin is as bad as it was before it. Not worth it.

It's too much effort. I thought it would fix my skin forever and I am already breaking out like normal and looking for a new treatment. Don't do it, it's not worth it.

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Sally

September 12, 2008

Pros:

Been on it for 1 month so far and haven't had any major breakouts. My skin looks 100x better, it doesn't get oily and my pores shrunk. Aside from all of the "depressesion side effects"..those are wrong..Ive never been so happy (30mg) 2x a day

Cons:

Dry Lips. I go through a chapstick a week. Other than that everything seems normal, but then agian it's only been a month. The only drawbacks are taking blood once a month, and the way the pills are packaged

DEFINITELY GO ON THIS MEDICATION if you have bad acne. My body acne is 100% perfect and just taking this medication with positive thoughts makes you so happy and confident. Trust me, I read 500million reviews and was extremely nervous to try the pill considering all the terrible side effects. I am an extremely nervous person, but this drug so far seems harmless to my body. I smoke weed occasionally and take adderall sometimes and drink sometimes and even then, I act and feel normal. This medication is highly recommended.

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Rikki

September 11, 2008

Pros:

It worked. 5 months post accutane my skin is beautiful and I rarely break out.

Cons:

Dry skin and lips. Major sensitivity to the sun. I flushed really easily. Aches and pains. Thin fragile skin. ipledge is a pain in the ass. Blood tests and birth control.

Going on accutane was definitely a long drawn out journey, and I had a love-hate relationship with it while I was on it. After I was off for a month or two my skin started looking wonderful. I rarely break out and I don't have to do much to keep it clear. I get compliments all the time. It's a pain, especially with the dry lips (aquaphor sucks too...make sure to get something better) but it was worth it in the end and I would do it again if I had to.

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Lucy

September 11, 2008

Pros:

Decreases production of oil, not as many major breakouts

Cons:

Very chapped lips throughout treatment, bad headaches at the beginning of treatment

I've been on a low dose of 10mg/day for 2 months. I've had severely oily skin for as long as I can remember, and no topical or BCP has worked in the slightest to decrease oil production. While my complexion isn't totally clear (still have some minor breakouts), I don't have to blot my face every hour/worry about looking like an oil slick/makeup sliding off within an hour. So far, so good.

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