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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5
37.1%
4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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October 4, 2007

Pros:

I never had acne until i was 22. After that i got severe cistic acne. I tried everything to get rid of it. Things only got worse. That is until i started taking accutane. With in two weeks all but two of cist on my face were gone.

Cons:

The only side effect I had were dry lips. I used Dr. dans when it gets bad or otherwise i use the blixtex every two hours and my lips don't look dry

This works. The only reason i didn't start this treatment before because i was afraid of getting depressed. However I had so much more self-confident with treatment that it had the opposite effect. I started having the time. The reason that i think i had good results was because I made sure that i always wore sunscreen on my face, always drank tons of water, ate super healthy, bought some dr. dans chapstick and blistex. It helped with old scars as well. Do it.
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October 3, 2007

Pros:

its clearing my face pretty well. Ive been on acutane for about 2-3 weeks and my face looks alot better. My self confidence has gone up and im feelin good

Cons:

dry chapped lips, i usually use aquaphor and regular chapstick. Dry skin on arms and legs different moods

accutane is worth the 5 months or wateveryour time peroid is. i can tell this is the one thats goign to work. my acne wasnt horrible but it wouldnt go away and my face was oily. Acutane has reduced this be alot and the oil is dying down. I love accutane and i recomend it to anyone who has tried other acne treatments and failed.
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October 3, 2007

Pros:

Got rid of my active acne.

Cons:

Extremley dry lips, nose bleads, got chest pains when i first started my treatment, expensive without insurance, also the blood test every month can become expensive if you dont have insurance.

The Medicine works! isotretinoin is highly effective. now i dont recommend this for everyone to take becuase of the serious side effects. I took this medication for 6 months an all of my body organs are still doing good. Increased my cholesterol levels but after the treatment went back to normal. At first i was really freaked out by taking it just because of all the sideeffects. but looking back i would take this medication again if i had to. To this date havent had a huge break out do get occasional pimples on my forehead but nothing to what i used to have.
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October 3, 2007

Pros:

No idea as of yet...

Cons:

have a headache, dry lips, flaky skin, tiredness

We'll have to wait and see if it works... am very worried about side effects
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September 27, 2007

Pros:

IVE TRIED EVERYTHING for acne. I've only been on Sotret(generic accutane) 40mg once a day for 2 weeks and my acne has already improved.

Cons:

dry lips, but nothing too bad, Blistex Medicated and Aquaphor work well. Chest muscle pains...? Not sure if this is caused by the medication or not..

Had persistent acne for years but this summer I broke out soooo bad. Ive had moderate-severe acne (cystic, and all the other kinds of pimples all along my jawline, cheeks, and chin) since May. I started researching accutane. The side effects and stories scared me as Im sure it scares everyone, but the Doc said if you live a healthy lifestyle and get your bloodwork done every month its a great drug for treating acne. This medicine was really hard for me to get through my insurance and the ipledge and blood draws are a pain but I finally got Sotret early this September. I am 20 years old and I have a very small build (5'5, 110 lbs)so they started me on a low dose of 40mg once a day (start very low to get your body used to the medicine and you will have very slight and tolerable side effects. Its only been 13 days and my face is already smoother and clearer. I am still red but I am very hopeful. I can;t wait to finish my course! Ill be posting another review in a few months
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September 27, 2007

Pros:

It cleared up my skin from the time i started. I been on it for 6months,got off of it August now its September and my skin is looking great.

Cons:

I still have the marks that my acne left behind but they are slowly fading. There are still times where i will wake up with a HUGE ZIT on my face...when i mean huge bigger than what i ever had, but it goes away with some BP in days.

It helps, but takes times.You might see a pimple here and there but nothing like the time u first started it. So thats a good thing.
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September 26, 2007

Pros:

none

Cons:

On the 3r day I had a chest pain and I decided to stop taking it.I went to my derm and I have to get a blood test to check if it is affecting my heart if not , I am gonna to take it

dont know yet I just want it to go away
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September 26, 2007

Pros:

Clear skin, clean pores, huge boost in self confidence. My marks from previous breakouts have begun fading.

Cons:

Dry lips, sometimes dry nostrils

I love Accutane. It makes such a huge difference. My face is so smooth and I'm not even done wih my course! If you are worried about liver problems, take liver supplements. Everything has been going pretty smoothly for me.
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September 26, 2007

Pros:

It def took care of my cystic acne, i didnt have acne until i was 22, i was devastated, it seem to work right away.

Cons:

i had most of the side effects, achey joints, severe depression, mood swings, nose bleeds, lips peeling etc. after ending my round of accutane i had laser treatments done on my face and i was flawless for about two years than i needed another round

the bottom line. . . acne has consumed my life im now 27 and after two rounds of accutane, laser resurfacing, daily antibiotics and topical treatments im still battling this DISEASE, i really want to believe i have beautiful skin but i cant help feeling ugly everyday. ive exhausted all remedies, diet, excercise, medications, not wearing makeup, wearing makeup, lifestyle changes in general! i dont know what to do anymore. im desperate for a miracle. my poor dermatologist has become my pyschologist every 6 weeks! my face actually hurts and im depressed! is there anyone out there that feels as bad as me and as in much pain as i am?
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September 26, 2007

Pros:

Acne cleared finally and minimal pimples since treatment stopped. Nothing and I mean NOTHING else worked. 16 years old looks human again!! Skin is clear, no scars-like my relatives and my self esteem is much improved.

Cons:

Extreme dryness resulting in freq and occas. long lasting nosebleeds, HUGE expense if you don't have insurance coverage (Would have been over 1000 monthly due to the very large doses I had to take) alittle bit of moodiness, dry body skin.

Needed 90-100 mg daily (based on weight and resistance to medication). TOO expensive for private pay! Very few people could afford this amount if it was out of pocket--but my insurance was GREAT. Nose bleeds, dry skin and lips, shorter tolerance for contact lenses. All very worth the 8 months on medication because now only occas. individual pimples on face, no cystic acne and nothing on my back. My self esteem has soared. Must bear in mind the potential for birth defects and take this very seriously!!
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website