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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Steven

September 9, 2008

Pros:

its cheap in Australia
its almost completely cleared my skin.
complexion has improved.

Cons:

sore knee joints
dry lips, dry eyes, at times feel tired.. not sure if its from the medication though.

i have been using this product for 4 months, and i still have 2 months left, it has almost cleard up all of my acne, it does take a while to see results but its worth the wait if you want clear skin. i have not experienced any mood swings or depression, and the side effects have been very tolerable, they're barely noticeable.

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Andy

September 7, 2008

Pros:

Cleared acne everywhere on my body.

Cons:

All the dry skin and bloody noses

I worked. I had 2 seperate treatments. Both lasted only about a year or two then it came back just as bad. I am now 21 and still battling acne but without insurance or money to get accutane ever again. I suggest it, only if you know you can continue using it forever because it DOES come back. I'm trying out zinc right now along with bp. We'll see how that goes.

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Mike71

September 7, 2008

Pros:

I don't have anymore breakouts. I don't have to worry about having a shiny, oily face. It has made my self - esteem so much better.

Cons:

Regular derm visits, blood work and it gets pricey after all is done.

If you have tried different products with little results, then I suggest you give accutane a try. I haven't been more pleased and happy in my life. I have struggled with acne for so long, and I am so glad that after years and years of trial and error, I decided to give it a try. It's been the best thing I have ever done. And to be completely honest, this is my 3rd month and the only side effect I've experienced is chapped lips, which really aren't even that bad. It's as simple as taking one pill, and the rest is history. I have been prescribed so many topicals, and it ended up being so expensive... especially if they didn't help your skin at all. If you're tired of acne, please give accutane a try. It's been well worth it for me.

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Andrew

September 6, 2008

Pros:

Clears skin pretty quick

Cons:

Dry lips, Diarrhea, Headaches, Mild Depression

Just about done my first month and I'm already seeing major improvement. It takes a while for it to start working but it's well worth it if you're patient.

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Kira Cousatte

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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sam

September 3, 2008

Pros:

does exactly what it says helps clear acne

Cons:

dry skin and lips

i have been on 30mg for 6 weeks no bad sign effects for me all small whiteheads and blackheads completely gone, back completely clear, derm now put me on 65mg for 8 weeks cos still getting pimples daily but no where near as bad i recommend this for anyone who wishes to try it and suffers from acne, follow instructions to the book. good luck to all

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simran

August 30, 2008

Pros:

worked extreamly well acne gone i mostly had those puss filled pimples not too much of the red ones and it cleared those away made me happy

Cons:

for everyone who are about to take it read about all the side effects and rethink bout it becuse dont regret later im 16 im done now but found out it stuns your growth made me sad also dry skin and lips very dry and made me mad 24/7

idno take it it works but dont just make a quick decion because you might just end up saying a few years down the road i wish i had never taken it. messes your whole normal life style. also thers a huge chance your acne might come back

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Becki

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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Girly girl

August 27, 2008

Pros:

Good if you have health insurance, Clears up nodular acne, dries out blackheads

Cons:

Not a permanent cure, Gets worse before it gets better

I have always had light acne with blackheads and a rare cyst every now and then, since about 12. At 18 my face exploded in cystic-nodular acne (it's genetic in my case). I, for some strange reason, avoided seeing a derm even though I had health insurance for a year. Because of this I have scarring. As soon as my derm saw me she wrote me a script for Accutane. It definitely got worse before it got better. I loved how all my blackheads practically committed suicide and fell out of my face. I wasn't totally cured, but after treatment I would only get a couple before my period. Still have to use makeup because of scarring, but people actually compliment me on my skin now. I was looking this up because my acne is back (6 years later) and am considering using it again. Hair loss.... Now I'm totally petrified!!!!!!!!!!

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Ash

August 26, 2008

Pros:

cleared my face for straight 5 years,but..(read the cons). Well had skin dryness(acceptable compared to face full of acne),mild burning of eyes, chapping of lips, nothing much.

Cons:

its 5 yrs since i took accutane, but now its back to bad face days,and its back with vengeance, damn! getting them again on face, back, and hips(i shampoo almost daily, so don't suggest dandruff). have some hair loss too.

Use it, it surely cured my severe acne problem. but 5 yrs down the line, i am back to square one. i have vampire horn like bald areas on both sides of my head. Plus a peace of advice for some silly docs, acne is really not related to diet, or uncleanliness, but something else.. wish i knew that.

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