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 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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Arbel

January 10, 2007

Pros:

clear

Cons:

DRY

User 99 from Japan does not know what she's talking about... the dryness of the lips are TEMPORARY. if you have bad acne, i'm talking cystic bumps that are full of puss and red, etc.... get out there and use ACCUTANE and clear it up ASAP.....if u don't do anything and brush it off, ur gonna be left with CRATER LIKE SCARS until the day u die......and trust me, these laser treatments will not wipe them out....if anything u'll get minimal to moderate improvement...THE TEXTURE OF UR SKIN WILL ALWAYS LOOK LIKE CRAP.......GET OUT THERE AND GET RID OF IT>>>DO NOT WAIT

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shona

January 5, 2007

Pros:

The idea that the acne could be gone forever!(with mild breakouts of course)

Cons:

The lips! My lips from week 1 on have been so sore and nothing seems to do the trick (vaseline works okay, but somewhat sloppy)
My derm told me not to consume ANY alcohol (which none of the above comments mentioned) due to the impact on the pancre

my sis was on it and it did wonders for her, so I am staying positive and if the dry lips and back aches are part of the investment, then so be it! I have always wanted my skin back as I did not break out into acne until age 18, now 21 I will pretty much do whatever it takes.I believe that with a confident derm, a good understanding of the medication (85% of people who take accutane get rid of acne)it will be a wise investment. And as far as the price goes I live in canada and have bennifites so i pay about $18.00 canadian each month.

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Yan

November 28, 2006

Pros:

Has worked well while I was on the medication
Skin is less oily now

Cons:

Bad breakout at first
Depressing feelings & concentration troubles during treatment that never completely got away
Acne came back

I've been prescribed that twice (for 6 months each) a couple of years ago for MILD acne. Even though my skin was almost clear at the end of the treatment, acne never failed to come back both times although it's about 30% better now. I think it must really work for people with severe acne, but in my case, mild acne, doctors were just trying to prescribe me their stuff. A diet change (atkins), liver flushes, healthy habits and investigating on candida and digestion worked for me more than accutane

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November 25, 2006

Pros:

clear forehead, jaws... except cheeks. T_T

Cons:

Extremely dry lips, dry face. more severe breakouts during end of the first month.

there is scarring, red marks on my cheeks ever since i went to shanghai. (china is really badly polluted) i am taking 20mg per day after the heaviest meal. normally it is at night. some topical gels apply 2x daily at pimples. I just start using it for 1 and 1/2 months, so i shall not jump to the conclusion so soon. normally the procedure to cure acnes topical gel -> antibiotics -> isotretinoin

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Jennifer

November 12, 2006

Pros:

It works very well, but it is not permanent.

Cons:

The side effects are horrible, the severe chapped lips and dry eyes were the most irritating side effect, and the mood swings could get pretty scary. Do not think you will not get the side effects, because you will.

I have taken Accutane twice, both were 6 month regiments and both times after about 2 years of having clear skin my acne returned, but a little less severe each time it has returned. Now my acne is managable with topical treatments. I am going to recommend this drug because you will see results, but it is HORRIBLE while you are on it. The side effects may sound unreal but they will happen in some form, so I highly suggest researching this medication before deciding to take it, to make sure it is the right thing for you. If severe side effects and having blood tests done every month are not your thing, then neither is this drug.

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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.

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johnny

October 22, 2006

Pros:

NONE

Cons:

many many side effects

I'm 28 years old and took accutane for 1 1/2 months when i was about 19. I had every side effect there is for this stupid medication. My bones would hurt. My eyes and lips got extremely dry. My acne made me sad but no suicidal. One day the medicine freaked me out. I started having weird thougts and almost killed myself. Its now many years later and my eyes still get extremely dry. I still struggle with acne but i would not recommend accutane to anyone. I do understand though that everyones body is different and some people might not get the side effects. I for one wish i would have never taken that stuff.

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Willoughby

October 17, 2006

Pros:

Going really well on isotane, best stuff ever!!!

Cons:

Little small scars digging in.

Get it.

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Shannyn

January 28, 2013

Pros:

Cleared acne for several years

Cons:

The list is huge! Interstitial cystitis, which isn't listed as a proven side effect, but has been linked to this drug and has caused me 15 years of bladder pain is by far the worst!

Please do your research before taking this drug! I would go back and deal with the acne again any day over having to deal with these bladder issues the rest of my life!

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JubilantFlow

September 30, 2015

Why would they leave a one star review saying "Please do research before taking!" if it didn't affect them negatively . Do you think they want to put fear into people for no reason?

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Kelly

August 2, 2012

Pros:

Clear skin
No more oily skin
No more greasy hair
Raised confidence & self esteem

Cons:

Side effects, see below.

Lips - Dry & cracked, I had sores at the sides of my mouth during the whole course regardless of what lip treatments I used. Prone to coldsores during course. Eyes - dry, infections, itchy, blood shot, felt grainy, next to no night vision, occasional blurred vision. Nose - very dry inside, and sore, causing amazing nosebleeds. Sex drive - None existent. Periods - irregular despite being on hormone free birth control. Mood - Paranoid every time I cried or had a short temper, but nothing unusual to report. Skin - awful pigmentation, now having to do chemical peels to resolve. IB was crap and lasted for 3 whole months, came clear the first week of the fourth month. Hair - thinned out, luckily I had very thick hair to begin with. Social - I did drink occasionally during the treatment, suffered extreme hangovers even after only 3 glasses of wine. Blood - I only had 3 blood tests during a 4 month course, which I dealt with. Urine - very dark and smelly in the first month, please drink plenty of fluids, you will dehydrate. Joints - painful, achy knees and back. Headaches - daily. Tiredness - Oh so tired!!!!!!!!!!!!! Activity - I actually quit the gym as I couldn't cope, I did have days where I didn't want to leave the house, my social life was definitely effected. My bottom line is, this medication is extreme and I wouldn't recommend it, at all, to anyone who hasn't got 6 months available to feel and look like complete and utter sh*t. Everyone I know has reacted differently to this medication, some are left feeling suicidal, some seem to breeze through the treatment, please listen to what your body is telling you and form an honest relationship with your derm, do not be scared of them taking the meds away from you, they may just have to adjust your dose. I am acne free, finally, at 30! I wish I had done it sooner. Despite the side effects, it was worth it, for me :) Good luck to anyone considering

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