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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Read All About Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Compare To Other Treatments
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 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.
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October 25, 2006

Pros:

It works GREAT! I have been done with the treatment for probably about seven years, and my acne has been under control ever since. But you have to follow the directions and stick to it through out the entire treatment period.

Cons:

DEPRESSIONS! I was on this in high school and it drove me very deep into depression. Also it dries out your skin severely. My lips got used to me applying chap stick constantly and they do not produce moisture anymore. So now I cannot live without

It's a great product to take care of acne if you can tough it out throught the depressing treatment period and be able to handle the long-term side effects of dry skin and lips for the rest of your life. I would recomend it if you have severe acne and nothing else seems to be working. I would try something a little less harsh first.
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October 25, 2006

Pros:

Cleared up my acne extremely well. took a while, but cleared skin, and made stopped it from coming back for the most part. the acne got worse during the first month of treatment, but then was suddenly much better.

Cons:

side effects, especially dry skin, chapped lips. if you don't take it regularly it will not work well. the acne gets worse for the first month of treatment.

Acutane works great when nothing else will. the side effects can be bad, make sure you have good moisturizers, and read all warnings and side effects, make sure you understand what you are getting into. it works very well
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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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October 22, 2006

Pros:

wonderdrug for acne

Cons:

severe side effects

I've taken accutane twice. It cleared up my skin tremendously the first time, but the acne came back a year later. I started taking it a second time at a smaller dose, but the side-effects were much more severe. I had noticeable hair thinning, dry lips, and developed severe depression. Please read everything you can before taking this drug. As of this September, it has been linked to depressive behavior in rats (I used to think the depression of patients was a result of their acne). It has also been shown to cause permanent changes in sections of the brain that are associated with depression. If you are like me, you will probably still do whatever you can to get rid of your acne. But remember that acne usually goes away with time, whereas severe depression, once you're in it, is very difficult to cure and can be much more debilitating in every aspect of your life.
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October 19, 2006

Pros:

effective long-term/permanent

Cons:

Gets worse before it gets better because it has to 'flush' it out of your system, up to 5 months of Extremely dry and sensitive skin and very very dry and chapped lips

Very good product. I first took it when I was 16. Took it for 5 months and had very clear skin. I had been on a low dosage since I was young so the acne came back about a year and a half later. I took it again when I was 18 and was put on a dosage 3 times higher. after about 2 or 3 months I had to have it lowered do to a strong dull pain in my brain-it was then 2 times higher than the first time I had taken it. It again cleared up after the 5 months and have been clear until recently. I'm 21 and have started breaking out a little bit. Nothing like previously so I was advised to take tetracyclen 2 a day for 3 months and then will take 1 a day for a couple years until I'm either pregnant or feel that I will be fine off it. We will see. Also, Aveeno products have been really good and gentle on my skin and more effective than clean&clear and nutrogena type cleansers
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October 19, 2006

Pros:

amazingly beautiful and clear skin. self confidence

Cons:

price, ipledge program, monthly blood tests. side effects. dryness, bad lower back pain.

started at age 27. was on high levels of antibiotics for 7 years. my body built up a resistence and the medication stopped working, and i started developing problematic side effects from having been on antibiotics for so long. i had stayed away from accutane due to all the horror stories i had heard. my only regret is that i didn't do this sooner - had i known how well this drug works, i would have started it years ago. i had to see an eye dr for dry eyes - i wear contacts and had to switch to accuvue oasis, and using special eye drops, but that seemed to take care of that problem. my biggest concern is that i'm in my 4th month and having severe lower back pain. i'm very physically active, so i'm sure this isn't helping it. regardless, this medication's pros far out way it's cons. i'll deal with 5-6 months of being overly dry and achey to have beautiful skin and my self confidence back.
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October 19, 2006

Pros:

improves acne tremendously

Cons:

for certain people it can make you have hallucinations which is not normally something you have, it causes birth defects, it can cause major depression, and other horrible side affects which I dont remember

I am a 22 year old female who has suffered from acne since I was about 12 or 13. Nothing worked for my face. I even tried proactive, most people have great results but it didnt really help me, I tried numerous dermatologist recommend stuff, and nothing worked. My dermatologist finally wrote a prescription for Accutane. It made me psychotic. I went on it for like two or three weeks. I was having visual hallucinations which I had never had before in my entire life! I went off ot it because I went on birth control pills and it doesnt combine well with those. A couple years later my dermatologist put me on it again because I wasnt on the birth control anymore. The same thing happened. When I was off accutane I had no hallucinations but the minute I went back on it the hallucinations started again. It can also cause severe depression. I recall a story on the news where a teenager got so depressed while on accutane that he ran an airplane into flordia. This stuff should be off the market!
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October 18, 2006

Pros:

Acne relief, higher self-esteem.

Cons:

Dry flakey skin, seriously chapped lips (during the first cycle, I would tear my lips by smiling... during the second cycle, no such problems even at a higher dose).

It's been nearly ten years since I finished my second and final cylce of Accutane. The first cycle is undoubtably the worst, I was taking 40mg/day, 20 in the morning and 20 at night. My lips were seriously chapped and would bleed nearly every time I smiled. Also, the skin on my face was very dry and often flakey. Near the end of the first cycle, my acne went away. I was completely free of acne for about 6 months. Then it returned, this time all over the lower half of my face (previously it was only on my forehead). So back to the dermatologist I went. He put me on 60mg/day 40 in the morn and 20 at night (or it could have been the other way around, all I know is it was a gold pill and a purple one). The seocnd cycle went MUCH better than the first, even thought I was taking a higher doseage, I didn't have any issues with my lips being seriously chapped and my face wasn't nearly as dry as before. My acne cleared up and ten years later.. NO BREAKOUTS! Just an occasional pimple.
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October 17, 2006

Pros:

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

Cons:

Little small scars digging in.

Get it.
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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