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
April 15, 2009
Cons:
my joints hurt a little but it was nothing compared to the joy of getting rid of my acne.however, ive been off it for about 4 months and im breaking out again.sooo i dont know anymore...gotta go back.
it works.
April 15, 2009
Pros:
clears up acne, FOREVER. a true cure not just a treatment.
Cons:
incredibly expensive, side effects.
I experienced absolutely none of the side effects from this medicene and benefitted fully from its miracle powers.
I was on it about a year ago, and have had about two pimples since then.
I had moderatly severe acne and had been through everything from two years of anitbiotics to countless topical treatments. My derm finally brought this up to my mom and I, I was all for it.
There is monthly blood testing, not so bad. And appts. But it was SOOO worth it. Even my paretns (who were the ones paying through the nose for this stuff) agree.
The reason it was so incredibly expensive for my family was our insurance policy did not cover it, our perscriptions all go toward a ridiculous monthly deductable (we have since changed this).
April 14, 2009
Pros:
Completely cleared acne
Cons:
Experienced all the side effects
After trying everything from antibiotics, differin, retin-a, etc. the derm finally (as a last resort) prescibed accutane. This was nearly 6 years ago, I stayed on the drug for about 4 months. Unfortunately, I experienced horrible side effects such as aching joints, where it was actually hard to get out of bed, worst joint pain was felt at night and in the morning. My face was terribly dry and literally flaking off. I also experienced severe depression. If you are prone even slightly to depression, I would advise taking an anti-depressant before and during accutane. I was fine for the first month and then out of the blue started crying one day and couldn't stop. My GP put me on prozac and then switched me to Zoloft. I had never been on an anti-depressant prior to nor since being off accutane. However, even with all the side affects, I swear by accutane. I am starting the cycle again, this time w no insurance. The Dr. said it will average about $700 per mo. but it's worth every penny!!
April 13, 2009
Pros:
Clears up skin fairly well; smoother skin
Cons:
Didn't clear up acne completely, dry skin, chapped lips, severe headaches, back pain
Accutane definitely improved my skin, but after treatment (now a month and a half) every morning there are new pimples, although less extreme than before. Also, my face is extremely red still. I'm going to wait a month to see if the redness goes down and the pimples go away, but I'm a little disappointed with the results.
April 10, 2009
Pros:
clears up most of the acne, blackheads r gone, whiteheads r much less noticeable.
Cons:
dry skin, dry lips, terrible mood swings
overall this really helped me. i had very bad acne and i tried everything, i just finished accutane this past month and i read tons of reviews on all kinds of sites and after hearing of crazy side affects i was very hesitant. when i was on it my mood swings were the worst out of everything your always crabby and very emotional but as the months progressed i didn't have a problem with it. tips- use vasoline for your lips, it works like majic and any kind of chapstick or anything like that didn't work at all for me. also use clinique's dramatically different moisturizing lotion because it moisturizes your face without looking oily and if u use it often u will have no peeling and if u do it will only be a tiny bit. also make sure u do your ipledge right away or your account will get locked and its a big pain to call in and to a million things before u get your perscription. i think this is an amazing product and as long as u don't get pregnant and r safe while on it u should be fine
April 7, 2009
Pros:
Still on the 1st month & I've already had several people notice a difference! I now have very little oil in my hair & on my skin which has always been one of my biggest issues. My back & arms are almost all clear and my face is clearing up every day.
Cons:
Very chapped lips, almost makes it difficult to smile. Dryer hair and obviously skin. Little fatigue. Occasional headaches and joint pain.
Since high school, I have struggled with acne and have never found a solution other than birth control to fix the problem. Because I experienced mood swing on the pills, I decided to stop and my acne returned immediately. I have probably spent thousands of dollars on beauty and skin care products just hoping that one of them will do the trick. Although I have found an amazing makeup line called Jane Iredale that definitely does not clog your pores and a wonderful oil-free moisturizer by Peter Thomas Roth, I have yet to find a cure for my incredibly oily skin and consistent breakouts on my face, back, and arms. I am in the fourth week of Accutane and cannot believe how much of a difference it has already made. My back and arms are pretty much clear and areas on my face have already stopped breaking out. I still have small bumps under the surface of my skin and a few red areas but I know that over the next few months, these areas will continue to clear up too! Pretty amazing product!
April 6, 2009
Pros:
Cleared my skin up. ive had acne for 7 years and tried countless pills and creams but this is the only thing that worked. All my oil went away and acne slowly cleared up.
Cons:
easily sun burned and dry lips! probably the worst thing about it but it wasnt that bad. acnes coming back
do it. if ance is ruining your life like it has for so many just do it. the medication effects everyones body differently but it does the job. once my acne cleared up i became so happy and confident. bad news is ive been off of it for 8 months and ive been breaking out again so i may go on another course.
April 5, 2009
Pros:
this medication works, im starting my 3rd month and so far i have results, i feel better about myself, im regaining my confidence and self-esteem. i still have 3 months down the road but im happy i looking forward to a acne-free summer!! :D
Cons:
dry lips, skin, constipation
i think it is worth to take this medicine if you have severe acne, although the side effects are scary, which hold me back for two months, i have not experience any of them. the side effects are different for everyone, just be confident and positive, and follow your doctors advice. my blood results are good, everything is going well, i would strongly recommend anyone to start on it. it could be expensive if your insurance does not cover it 100 %. but i still believe is worth to do it. im happy these days, unlike months ago...:D
April 5, 2009
Pros:
Acne had ruined my life for 20 years but this treatment worked straight away. I experienced no problems with side-affects, and my confidence returned during the treatment and for a while afterwards due to my flawless complexion.
Cons:
This stuff drys your body out bigtime, so be prepared with a good moisturiser, vaseline and lipbalm, and drink plenty of water. Your face gets really red, which is slightly embarrasing, but better than having acne. Bloodtests are also a drag.
I've had acne since I was 13, I've tried most treatments available. Nothing worked effectively, and if it did it was only on a short-term basis. In 2007 (aged 33) I went on a 4 month accutane course which worked like a dream from start to finish. When the treatment ended I was acne-free and obviously very happy as acne in your 30's is a real downer. My dermo's last words to me was that accutane's success rate at eliminating acne forever is 80 % (although due to my age the success rate is higher). Unfortunately 9 months after finishing the treatment I started to get the odd breakout (every month or so), 4/5 months after this I'm at the stage where I seem to have permanent facial acne but not as bad as before I took accutane. I'm now considering a 2nd accutane course and hopefully I'll be acne-free forever. This stuff isn't for everyone, but it worked for me, although one course isn't enough, if acne returns it's not as severe. Rome wasn't built in a day I suppose.
April 2, 2009
Pros:
I am on my fifth month of treatment and very pleased. I get a bump or two a month, but my skin is looking almost as clear as it was when I was 10 years old. I have tried everything from Rx creams to steroid shots, but nothing has worked this well.
Cons:
I had pretty severe side effects the 3rd week (chest pain, nausea, lower back and abdomen pain). I also had constipation for about 6 weeks. Headaches would come and go and I am still experiencing joint pain. But it has been worth so far.
I fought through the side effects and they diminished for the most part, but consult your doctor because some sypmtoms can be life threatening (i.e. chest pain, abdomen pain, and severe headaches that effect your vision). However, Amnesteem has been the ONLY treatment that worked for me long term. I HIGHLY RECCOMMEND THIS MEDICATION!
Pros:
it cleared up my acne.