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
July 10, 2009
Cons:
it came back shortly after i was finished with the course and very dry skin
well it is good for bad acne but some people have remision as my self 2 -3 months after my course was through it came back not as bad as it once was like cystic acne but it did cum back pretty bad
July 8, 2009
Pros:
it is the best acne drug I have ever used and will use it again. I had big nodular cysts on my neck and I was very depressed until I got introduced to this drug. I am so happy I am on this
Cons:
dry lips, dry eyes and bleeding nose sometimes aches at the back of my legs every once and a while, nothing severe.
bottom line if you want a clear complexion and you have tried everything else in the drug store this is the best drug to use.
July 7, 2009
Pros:
It works! My skin is clearer than it has ever been, and I have even been receiving compliments on my complexion now. I had tried everything and nothing else seemed to work - Proactive, Mary Kay, Avon, over the counter treatments, and prescriptions.
Cons:
Very dry lips, crack open and bleed, dry nose, dry skin on face. Very sensitive to sunlight - burn very easy even with sunscreen. And now, just as I'm nearing the end of treatment, stomach cramps and diarreah.
Overall, it has been worth it for me. Everything has cleared up nicely and seems to be staying that way. My skin isn't oily anymore. I did have some breakouts a little while ago and a very bad sinus infection which the doctor said wasn't related but I belive it was. Also, my sister had been on the drug a number of years ago and had trouble getting pregnant later in life, again doctor said there wasn't any relation but I believe otherwise. Now I have had the stomach cramps and diarreah for about two weeks. I called in to see if this would cause problems, I have a history of colitis and irritable bowl syndrome in the family. I was told it wouldn't matter or have any effect, they actually told me it wasn't related at all. I'll be very glad to get off of the medication.
July 4, 2009
Pros:
It works.
Cons:
Severe lip dryness and vision blurriness
I used Accutane about 4 years ago after nothing else my dermatologist gave me would work. I was on it for 5 months, and for the first 4 months I noticed no difference in my acne. But my lips were extremely dry and my eyes were really bloodshot and blurry. About 3 weeks before I was finished my acne seemed to disappear overnight. I still had the red marks from the acne, but my skin was completely smooth. 4 years later, I have probably had a total of 6 zits since then that were so small it's almost funny. This drug worked wonders for me, but be prepared for harsh side effects. Also, my friends said that my personality changed dramatically, apparently I was more irritable and gloomy, but definitely no suicidal thoughts like others have suggested.
July 4, 2009
Pros:
clears pimples!
can wear less makeup
only product that actually works!
Cons:
dry lips and face, headaches
i have only been using isotane for two weeks. the doctor said it would get worse before it got better, but after 2 weeks, i have had no itial breakouts, my skin is clearing and so far my skin isnt too dry, neither are my lips. just wondering if the scars are going to clear though.
definately reccomend it.
July 1, 2009
Pros:
getting clearer faster than other products
Cons:
dry lips and face {but i was using othe medicine wth it}
go get it im 17 and i had sever acne for years i tries exposed,acnefree,clear skin, and even proactive. this is the only one that had a hoard hitting effect its only a shame that i dident try it earlier
July 1, 2009
Pros:
Hair never gets greasy, same w/ face, acne somewhat subsiding
Cons:
fatigue, nightmares, dry/sensitive skin, chapped libs, dry nose & eyes, slightly thinning hair, can't drink, negative affect on athletic performance
Side Effects -
It seems like I have a lot of cons, but it looks worse when I write it out than it actually is. I try to subside most of the cons; skin - spf/moisturizer, lips - chapstick, eyes - eyedrops . . . make sure to take multivitamins without vitamin A. I've never been frightened enough by the nightmares for it to really affect me. I will say the fatigue is pretty bad, I've been an athlete my whole life and have never felt so run down so often for how much I workout and should be in very good shape. Acne -
My dermatologist is having me start at 20mg a day for a month, then 40 mg /mnth . . . . 60 mg . . . . 80mg (just started 3rd month). She said that she would work me up to 80mg and still go another 4-5 months on that. That seems like a lot, I think, but i'm a pretty big guy (6'4" - 215). It seems like after each monthly change my acne gets worse then gets better towards the end of the month, so I'm confident that it will work well once I am a couple months into
June 26, 2009
Pros:
It cleared my skin! Absolutely Amazing! Still works after treatment, for a few months!
Cons:
Dry skin. Limited sun exposure. Oil production was cut off big-time! Some mild acne continue to show up after treatment.
Do it. Its worth it all the way. I read about all these dangerous side affects, but it turned out it was worth it. Nothing else would work for me, and this did it!
June 23, 2009
Pros:
it works
Cons:
it works
i used this product for mre than 1 year it actually cleasred my skin completely but after one year when i leaved it my worse acne started again and i dont no i went to the doctor he said your skin is never gonna clear but may be age wise it get cleard.but i m really very dippressed now.
June 22, 2009
Pros:
decreased oil production, smaller pores, cleared acne and made scars fade
Cons:
sunburns, dry skin, dry lips, dry eyes, mild back pain, seeing the doctor every month for testing and a new prescription
This is my last resort acne treatment because I have tried every single prescription and over the counter acne therapy. I never had severe acne, but it was so stubborn. Nothing worked! Even things that cleared me a little made me so oily I didn't want to take them. I have been on accutane for 2 months now and already I see a big improvement. No more oily, yucky skin and hair. My pores look smaller because they're not filled with oil. Acne, red marks and blackheads are clearing up. A scar I have on my arm from surgery is fading dramatically. It's a great product! Only downside is the annoying dry lips and eyes, but constant moisturizing takes care of them.
Pros:
it worked while i was on it and 2 months after