Oral Retinoid
Efficacy
87%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Use with EXTREME CAUTION: Causes severe birth defects and fetal death.
Oral Retinoid
Acne.org’s Real World Take
The nuclear option. It works reliably and provides long-term remission of acne, and even severe acne, in about ⅔ of people who properly take an adequate dosage. However, it permanently and irreversibly changes the skin and the body forever and users may experience long-term side effects for the rest of their lives. It’ll nuke it, but there is no going back.
Oral Retinoid
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
May 4, 2007
Cons:
Can lead to very serious lifetime disorders
In my late 30's my cycstic acne still wasn't going away so decided to try accutane (which I'd stayed away from for a long time due to the reported side effects). After only two weeks I severe intestinal problems that are only beginning to clear up after one year. Additionally, my acne exploded. Recently, I've found two co-workers (much younger) who now suffer from Crohn's Disease after taking accutane for the full 4 or 5 month period. Luckily, I stopped after two weeks and feel like I will recover. After stopping, my dermatologist gave me Nicomide and Azelex cream to use. After 3 months of using it, I rarely break out and when I do, it clears up 4 times faster. Evidently, some women really respond to Nicomide (its just a perscription strength multi-vitamin). Please try everything else before accutane.
March 13, 2007
Pros:
I dont know yet? I havent been on it long enough.
Cons:
no results yet after three weeks.
My skin got really dry the first two weeks but now its fine. I still have dry lips. But im braking out more. I dont see any improvement in my skin and im on my thrid week. I have been taking erythromycin as well but i think im going to stop. im going to try to let accutane work by itself and maybe i will see more resluts. but as of now i still feel bad because my skin is not good at all.it really brings down your self confidence. i really hope this stuff works!
January 10, 2007
Pros:
It did, briefly, and while I was on it, reduce the number of spots I had, it by no means stopped them.
Cons:
Very very dry skin, this is how it works, waking up with my pillow completely soaked in blood from a nosebleed. Hideously painful dry lips. Having to go on the pill at age 12 - I insisted it was unnecessary, Docs insisted it was.
Please, please, please do not expect a miracle cure. Yes, for many it is, for you it may well be, but NOT FOR ALL!!!!!
_That_ is the reason its use has been linked to depression - thge Docs tell you it will work, it will work, it will work. Darn right you're depressed when it doesn't!
My brother and I were on it for 6 months each about 10 years ago, and, despite promises of the opposite, 7 different anti-biotics have not cleared my skin subsequently. The only time my acne got better was in a particularly stress-less time up in the north of scotland, where the air was cleaner etc. This lasted just 5 months.
As a side note - I waited just 4months to get an NHS dermatologists appt. and the drug was free as I was under 16 at the time.
December 24, 2006
Pros:
Completely eliminated acne and unwanted facial/body oil
Cons:
Caused PERMANENT, never-ending lip dryness that requires constant use of lip treatments
Gets rid of your acne, but may cause other annoying or even serious side effects. Many believe it has ruined their health. I would highly, highly discourage anyone from using this drug. I have NEVER had a days time where I didn't feel extreme dryness on my lips and needed to use products on it throughout the dry. And I mean NEVER, even though it's been almost 10 years! Do you want to carry around supplies of lip care for the rest of your life, constantly putting it on on an almost hourly basis?
November 11, 2006
Pros:
Acne got better but not entirely
Cons:
SEVERE dry skin and eyes. I could no longer wear contacts my eyes were so dry. 1 year later the acne returned. Monthly blood tests were a pain and they showed high cholesterol. My joints ached.
It was good in reducing the amount of acne for a time but it is not worth the side effects and the fact that my acne returned a year later.
October 29, 2006
Pros:
It cleared up most of the acne for a while.... but... 4 years later, its back, not as bad as it used to be, but my skin is definitly nowhere near as clear as i'd like it to be... and i don't know if its worth it to go back on accutane..
Cons:
it helped quite a bit, but its hard to tell if it was worth it when i compare the results i got to all of the negative things i experienced associated with it; such as the horrible mood swings and depression, and awful dry and bleeding skin and lips.
to begin with, i have had acne prone skin ever since i was 10, but it didn't get really bad until i was 15. at that point i had awful cystic acne all over my face, neck, chest, and back, and my dermatologist had me on several different prescriptions, i had even tried proactive (which was USELESS). now i know for a fact that most of my acne is due to hormonal problems i have, but even being on birth control pills didn't help much, so accutane was the last shot. but it drove me CRAZY. i almost lost my mind while i was on it. i would get the most awful, psychotic, suicidal mood swings. my family was afraid of me for a while, and for the 5 months i was on accutane i broke so many household objects by going on anrgy/depressive rampages and throwing things.. it was scary.. after i was off it, my skin cleared up a lot. but never completely. i still have acne, just not as bad... this pill has a lot of long term effects on your body as well. really read up on it before you take the risk.
October 28, 2006
Pros:
cleared my severe cystic acne during high school for one year.
Cons:
the Cysts came back worse and in greater numbers. the depression during hsc was crippling.I lost a few of my close friends because i was so depressed and couldn't make them understand.
my self esteem was low to start with and now i think it is non existant. i am 19 and can't show any skin above my waist to my collar bone. i am going to have another try in january. i tried benzoyl peroxide and the pill and various other creams and tablets but this is the only one that improves things. I have the support of my sister and that is the greatest help.
October 5, 2006
Pros:
This truly is a crazy drug, it works wonders and you can automatically feel like your getting somewhere the moment you start taking the pill.
By my 3rd month my skin, although flaky and bleeding sometimes, was as clear as day! My confidence too.
Cons:
The bleeding of the mouth, the mood swings and emotional side of it
having to take birth control along with the accutane
the flaky skin everywhere, nose bleeds, muscle aches, and my acne came back 5 months later just the same as before.
If you want something to help, at least for a little while not caring about anything else do this. Its not cheap, its not fun, its a horrible drug for your body, but for a small period of time it does clear your skin.
Pros:
Evidently, works for a lot of people