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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February 12, 2012

Pros:

FINALLY CLEARING ACNE!
Non-oily hair
Non-oily face
Gaining confidence day by day :)

Cons:

Dry lips
Dry skin (body)
Doctor visits
Preggo tests
Blood tests

I'm into my second month now, my doctor increased my dose from 40mg the first month to 60mg my second month (I'm about 126 lbs). OH MY GOD I'M FINALLYS SEEING RESULTS!! I posted earlier during my 3rd week about how I was getting breakouts, and for the girl below who was asking if it was normal not to see any results after two months, YES it's normal. Everyone is different. Some people will see results in as little as the first week, and others might not see results until the third month. Just talk to your doctor about it, and maybe an increase in dosage is needed for your case. Your face and hair is already non-oily though, so you're getting a positive reaction to the drug. Don't worry though, just perservere through it, and it'll be worth it in the end :) But yeah, so I'm finally seeing results and it's been a month. The bumps on my skin are flatter, and I haven't gotten a breakout in a while! (I used to get breakouts on a daily basis) All that's left is the redness, which will fade away with time. I can't wait until my 5 months are up :) Good luck to everyone out there who are starting their medication! And to everyone who's about to finish their course with positive results, congratulations!! (ALWAYS REMEMBER TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON YOUR HEALTH. IF YOU EXPERIENCE ABNORMAL SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS, STOP THE MEDICATION AND SPEAK TO YOUR DOCTOR) Peace out peopleee!
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February 1, 2012

Pros:

Completely Clears Skin
Long Term Effects

Cons:

Dry Skin
Nose Bleeds
Blocked Nose

It works and before you read more reviews about people whining about it and theyve only been on it for a week, the fact is it clears 90% of people Im 4 months into my 5 month prescription and my skin is really clear I would definitely recommend this.
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January 30, 2012

Pros:

Clear skin. Hurray!

Cons:

Dry skin (face/body, lips, eyes)
Pain in the joints (mild)
Irritation
Extensive visits to the dr
Advise: DO NOT PICK AT ACNE

I am a 28 yo female and am doing 60mg/day treatment of Claravis. My story: When I was a preteen or teen never had any acne before except an occasional pimple here and there. No acne history in my family either. Since I moved to Florida, a few years ago, my skin had been getting duller and duller. I always had oily skin but no problems. Then finally I started get real acne. Gasp! So fast I went to the dermatologist and tried it all over the counter washes, tonners, facials, peels, clinique, neutrogena all the acne products prescription and non prescription available. Nothing worked. Here I was spending so much $$ and no results. It drove me nuts till one day I just decided.. de hell with it lets try accutane. I reviewed and reviewed all the information online and I gotta say it scared the crap outta me. Should I do it or not? - was the question. So, here I am on day 10 while on claravis and yes the skin is dry, yes the eyes get dry, chapstick works well. I found palmers cocoa butter really helps at night to get me fully moisturized. I dont have any depression symptoms but get irritated easily. I think its the stress knowing of all the side effects and wondering if all the discomfort will be worth it in the end. I do see the face peeling slightly and it does stink as it feels like a sunburn around my nose and mouth. I do see that the bumps are no longer there though ...they have flattened already. I had a mild initial breakout on my body but it was gone within a couple of days. Have to say that while on it you need to make sure you have some money aside to do all the drs office visits and blood tests. Its time away from work and out of pocket money that costs ya. I will keep you posted at the end of my journey. So far nothing major other than the regular discomforts.
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January 25, 2012

Pros:

Greatly improved my hugely embarrassing acne problem.

Cons:

Thinning hair.

I was on isotretinoin before Roche's patent expired. I paid $500.00 per month for the pills because my insurance company considered the treatment "cosmetic". I would do it again in a heartbeat. A 3-month course cleared up 90% of my acne for years. Now that it's been a decade, I rarely have a breakout. This treatment was well worth the price.
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January 25, 2012

Pros:

Cleared my face up completely

Cons:

Hemorrhoids
Dry eyes
Initial break out

I was on Accutane for 5 months. Was supposed to be 6 but I ran out of prescription coverage for the rest of the year. It does dry you out so I made sure to drink 8-10 glasses a day of water. I also took multi vitamins and probiotics to keep me healthy with such a strong drug. The worse part about it was the hemorrhoids, no matter what I did they were always there. I was so afraid to go poo. :( I found that taking fiber soften things so that made it easier. I also stayed away from a lot of protein because that made the poo harder. When I know I'm going to have a large meal or a lot of protien I would use preparation H suppositories before I went to bed. Worked wonders! Its been a year post Accutane and Im still clear. I get a couple pimples every now and then but its not nearly as bad.
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January 23, 2012

Pros:

On my 5th or 6th month now of Accutane, honestly my skin is about 90% clear and now i get a pimple every once in a while. I still have scars but they're starting to fade.

Cons:

-Dry lips
-Dry skin
-Nose bleeds

I would recommend this to anyone, just be careful of the side effects :)!
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January 18, 2012

Pros:

: IT WORKS
: reduced oiliness

Cons:

To be honest, none.

NOW, I think the reason why it worked so well for me is because the doctor gave me very low doses of this, 10 mg, and told me that I could continue taking Roaccutane for 8 months, when my acne would've completely gone away OR take it every other day when my skin is clear. But anyway, I had acne on my cheeks and 90% of it cleared up by 2 weeks. It's been two months so far and I have completely clear skin. My suggestion : LOW DOSE OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME = LESS SIDE EFFECTS. There is research on the benefits of low-dosing as opposed to high-dosing. Look it up, it's not just coming from me.
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January 12, 2012

Pros:

- Smooth, clear, acne-free skin
- Huge confidence boost
- Self esteem boost
- Gained my life/freedom back (acne takes you hostage)

Cons:

- Dry, cracked lips (Aquaphor did the trick)
- Dry, peeling skin (need a good amount of moisturiser)
- Joint pain & cramps (especially lower back and back of neck)
- Made me feel tired/low on energy most days
- Rather annoying visits to the doctor to do monthly blood tests

I was prescribed roaccutane by my doctor in August 2011 after having been on Doxycycline (100mg a day for a month), Trimethoprim (200mg twice a day for two months) and Minocycline (100mg twice a day for a month), as well as being prescribed various topical creams and gels (mostly adapalene and bonzoyl peroxide gels). After the first month, the acne on my face has become less bumpy, less red and less irritated, and the acne on my chest and back had mostly faded away. I got the best results after the third month (end of october), when nearly all of the acne had cleared away, and now my face is flawless, with zero bumps, no redness, no acne, and as a result my confidence and self-esteem have been significantly boosted because of this marvellous treatment :) I got the roaccutane on the NHS, so it wasn't expensive to pay for every month. Although my acne wasn't severe, cystic acne, it brought down my confidence and self-esteem, and turned me into a reclusive, lonely, socially isolated person for 4 1/2 years, before deciding to do something about it last year. I can't recommend this enough; as long as you can handle the annoying side effects, this medication can transform your acne-inflicted skin, into beautiful skin in just a few months.
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January 8, 2012

Pros:

treats all forms of acne
reduces scaring
confidence boost
pores reduced
works fast

Cons:

terrible dryness(lips,eyes,body)
back and neck pain
hassle and extra expense of the monthly blood drawings
expensive
itchy skin
have to religiously take it 2 times a day at set times

its honestly incredible. first month they say your acne gets worst, but my acne had flatten in 2-3 weeks and became so much better!!!! its been the 3rd going on to 4th month and i literally cry when i see the improvements. i had terrible bad acne, tried 7 topical creams and every drug store products and my doctor gave me many washes but i had acne that was like a sick dream. i had a zit that was on my face for 2 months that went away in 2 weeks. it the best thing of my life, i'm 16 and finally in 2 years i have clear skin. my skin is red but my derm. said within 2 months the redness with disappear.
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January 4, 2012

Pros:

- Clear skin
- Decreased skin oil
- No initial breakout
- No aches or joint pain

Cons:

- Insanely dry lips

I wavered for a long time about whether to use this drug. The horror stories of a nasty initial breakout and creaky joints kept me away for a long time. I am on 80 mg/day for 5 months. I have one more month to go. I realize I'm not done with the drug, but I wanted to encourage others to ignore the naysayers on this board. Everyone wants to complain about horrid initial breakouts and whatnot, but I experienced none of this. Besides pinkened skin, my face has improved nearly every day since beginning treatment. Make the decision for yourself. Don't shy away because some internet goon swears the drug ruined him/her for life. I'm glad I went on the drug. I also recommend Dr. Dan's hydrocortisone balm for lips. I tried Aquaphor but it didn't work that well for me.
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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