Isotretinoin (Accutane®)

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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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Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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John

September 22, 2011

Pros:

Amazing skin
Confidence!
Cured my hopelessness

Cons:

Chapped lips
Dry skin
(both temporary)

I had the worst acne ever. Everyone thinks theyre acne is bad but I hated going to school because every day I was constantly aware and checking my face in my phone's reflection, even though I wouldn't be able to make it look better. Nobody said anything (usually) but I knew they noticed, especially since they told me when it got better. My cheeks were incredibly inflamed, my face was as chubby as a baby's while I'm a pretty skinny guy, and that was a normal everyday thing. In fact, I just saw an old picture on facebook where you can see it clearly, and that's what reminded me to write this. I have chiseled cheekbones and I have a completely clear face, except for the marks of some old acne, but that's been going away with time. Accutane is a MIRACLE DRUG. Sure it has some side effects, but if you do youre research, the serious ones are INCREDIBLY UNLIKELY, and almost all of the others are only temporary. I have so much confidence now, girls like me (more than my girlfriend is comfortable with), and I wouldn't mind taking pictures of myself just with my cell phone and putting them on facebook all the time (except that that'd be weird haha). Anyone who mentions my face looking good, I tell them all about accutane. Not just oh yeah, thanks, I took accutane. I give them the whole story. And I'm begging you, if you're having problems, try this. The side effects are easy to deal with (don't be afraid to use mousterizer guys), and it is amazing. It really changed my life. 3 months after my accutane is done and I still worship it.

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WestGirl

September 21, 2011

Pros:

Clear Smooth Skin, Not as Oily throughout the day, Wear less makeup

Cons:

Chapped Lips, Can't drink, Can't Wax or have facials, Sensitive Face

I was very nervous about starting Claravis (generic to Accutane) because of the possibility of long-term side effects and liver damage, but I must say I am very pleased. I am 24 year old female and I just finished my 1st month and my face has definitely cleared up and gotten smoother. I still get breakouts on my face and body but I know it will decrease as the months progress. Chapstick is my new best friend, but luckily I can say I haven't experienced any other side effects such as moodiness and depression. I would definitely recommend thinking about it before you start because everyone is different. I will definitely keep up with routine blood work and doctor visits after I have completed the treatment because I want to make sure there won't be any long term side effects which I fear. I am very excited to see how great my skin will look at the end of the treatment. Keep you posted!

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gracey

September 21, 2011

Pros:

no more acne even whiteheads and blackheads are all gone.
clear smooth skin
shine free skin

Cons:

expensive
chapped lips
dry flaky skin

I used roaccutane for 4 months 20 mg. I can say that this drug really do wonders on my skin. It dramatically clears my skin. I had severe acne since I was in high school until before I used roaccutane,(now I'm 26) My self confidence then was too low. I visited lots of dermatologist and gave me tons of facial wash and creams but still the severity of my acne is still the same. I even had regular facials to remove the white and blackheads just to lessen my acne. When i came to Saudi, I went to the Dr, and he directly prescribed me with roaccutane. I did blood works to see if everything is in normal. So i started taking the pill and i didn't noticed any major side effects that would worry me. My skin was so dry so i just increase my fluid intake to hydrate myself and used vaseline as a moisturizer. Just make sure before using this drug that you know the side effects and used it with caution because this drug is so strong and teratogenic. Now I'm so happy that i used this drug. I just hoped that i used this years ago. I gain self confidence and my life back. I have no regrets on using this drug 'coz its really effective on clearing your acne like no other drugs can. I'ts been 7 months now after using roaccutane and my skin is still acne free. I just really hope that it won't relapse as some user experienced. Now i'm just maintaining my skin with isotretinoin cream and benzoyl peroxide facial wash. Don't be afraid to use this pill because it's really worth every penny. Hope this is helpful. Goodluck...=)

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2ndnormalperson

September 15, 2011

Pros:

clear skin

Cons:

dry skin

I started having acne when I was about 11 until 25. I tried different kinds of antibiotics and over the counter and presciption creams but they did not work well. The antibiotics would only work while i was taking them and within a month my acne would come back. I also tried lasers to treat the acne, but they made it worse.It really worked wonders on my skin. At the age of 25 i was at my wits end. Quite a few of my friends had taken accutane and it had worked wonders for ridding them of thier acne. I remember crying myself to sleep after counting 30 some odd pimples on my face. I made an appointment at UCLA derm. for the folllowing week. The derm told me it was time for me to try accutane. Within the first month I started seeing improvement. I had to do blood work every month to ensure that the accutane was not hurting me. My sking became very dry and tight and my lips were always chapped. I used the oly serum on my skin and it really helped with the dryness. I was on accutane for 6 months, this was over 5 years ago. I have to say it was an amazing experience. My skin has been clear since with the exception of one to two minor pimples monthly. I wish I had done it sooner and if you're thinking about doing it please please please go to a good doctor who will check your blood monthly to make sure your health is not at risk! Now my only worry was the moderate acne scars left behind from over a decade of acne. About 4 years after I stopped taking accuntane I decide to do something about the scars, I believe you have to wait at least a year to do any kind of treatment after accutane. I've done 3 fraxel treatements. I saw an immediate improvement on my skin after the first one, but that's because your face becomes swollen the week after so it appears that the scars are gone, but within a few weeks most of the scars came back. After the first time I saw a 20% improvement. I was excited and made an appoinment 6 weeks later. the second treatment did nothing. I

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Ana

September 14, 2011

Pros:

It really works...Just be patient. I used low dose (20mg), for 4 monthes, and I got rid of acnes and greasy hair and skin for good. ItË™s been a year since I Â´ve stoped, and nothing came back. Woohoo... :)))) Keep the good faith and belive!

Cons:

dry lips, need to have chapstick all the time, dry face, not intensive, but still present mood-swings and that is it! ;)

Just belive, be strong and don ´t pick your bumps! I have a few scars because I was no good ;) Wish u all the best, be strong and get rid of those acnes for good! Kisses from Serbia Ana

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September 12, 2011

Pros:

It works
Does not require use of topicals/creams/gels. etc

Cons:

The course of treatment must be completed for it to be effective.
Dry eyes
Chapped lips
Blood tests thoughout the process
Can relapse / Flare ups

Roaccutane works; It cleared off my acne permanently. I have subsquently relapsed after 5 years due to an arising hormonal issue. It may be pricey and the duration(I took 5 months) may seem long but it is so worth it if you are looking for a permanent solution.

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bkingram

September 10, 2011

Pros:

+Cleared All Acne Including my Severe Cystic Acne !
+Dramatically Reduced Skin Oiliness
+Gained Confidence Back
+Changed My Life

Cons:

Normal Side Effects
- Dry Skin
- Very Dry Lips

Around Christmas of my Junior year in high school I started to get cystic acne. In about two weeks it progressed into severe cystic acne that persisted mainly on my cheeks. (* Note: Prior to the break I my face was 100% clear) I tried over the counter acne products for the next month, which I now realize was a horrible mistake, due to the fact, if I would of went to a Derm instead of wasting a month I would have a lot less scarring. However, that was not the case. After about a month I finally went and visited my derm, where she immediately started me off on Accutane. My dosing started at 40 the first month, 60 the next, then 80 after that. Unfortunately, when i was on the 80 my liver test came back a little high and my derm dropped my back down to 40. All in all, I ended up taking Accutane for 7 months. I never had an initial breakout or some of the side effects people have listed, such as sun sensitivity. I was even a lifeguard during the middle of my course, and never experienced any sun sensitivity. My parents ended up paying $3,200 because we do not have a pharmacy card, but it was completely worth it. When my acne was severe I strayed away from contact from everyone I knew. But now my face is clear and I'm extremely out going because I have regained my confidence. This drug was a miracle for me.

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Michelle

September 10, 2011

Pros:

Completely cleared all acne AND SPOTS from face, chest and back. No acne, no spots
No more oily skin
makeup stays perfect all day
could go hours without washing face and still look fresh

Cons:

Initial treatment was to be 6 months. Ended up being 3 years
After a 3 year treatment I about to recommence treatment
Only works while taking the pill, acne returns once off the pill for a few months
horribly dry lips, eyes, nose and have to stay out of sun
DOES NOT cure acne for everyone. comes back
painful knees

Unfortunately for me this pill only works when I am on it. Once I come off the acne returns in a few months. This does not work since I am at the child bearing age and would love to be able to have children now. But since you can't get pregnant while on the pill I have to be willing to put up with horrible acne to go through a pregnancy. I have recently recommenced treatment and may have to stay on it for life if I want my clear skin to remain. But I hate how oily my skin becomes once I am off the pill and can't stand to see the acne return. So I would still recommend it but be prepared that it may not cure your acne and may only work when you are using it.

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Knass

August 25, 2011

Pros:

During Treatment...
-Pores become invisible
-Zero Oil
-100% clear skin
-Only had to wash my hair every couple of days

6 months after treatment...
-Still 99% clear
-some oil has come back but I'm still about 65% less oily than before
-all side effects (except the good ones :) ) have completely gone away

Cons:

-Hair fell out for about a month after treatment
-Excema on lips was a nightmare
-Excema on hands, arms, legs
-Burning, flaking, dry, red skin
-Initial breakout (only worse bc of accompanying side effects)
-Headaches at first
-must avoid the sun at all cost!
-developed IBS-like symptoms

I wanted to wait and review this drug until 6 months AFTER completing my course. Back when I was reading reviews and trying to decide whether or not to take accutane, I was frustrated that people were reviewing it after 2 days, 2 weeks or 2 months of taking it. My main concern was relapse rate and would it be worth all of the horrible side effects if my acne and oil were just going to to come back?? So here is my fair, honest, un-biased review after the initially bliss of clear skin has worn off..... I had severely oily skin (think 10 oil blotting sheets a day), persistant pimples, black heads, uneven skin tone, and usually 3-5 large cysts on my face at any given time. I took 20, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg per day for 5 months and it absolutely changed my life. Yes, the side effects were horrible. Yes, I was miserable the entire time. Yes, it is a serious drug with serious potential risks. But was it worth it? 100% Had I known what I was going to get myself into as far as side effects, I probably never would have taken accutane. Had I know what the results would be like, I would have taken it 10 years ago. Everyone must decide if taking accutane is worth the risks involved, so I'm not going to say that everyone should take accutane right now! I consider myself lucky that my worst side effects were a little hair loss and IBS. Bottom line, Accutane saved my life and I am SO glad I took it!

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Pheeebs

August 23, 2011

Pros:

Clear skin! Got my confidence back! Less oily!

Cons:

Back ache to begin with, horrendously dry lips (These go after you come off the pills), & slow progress (but stick with it the results are worth it)!!

After fretting over this for months & reading every review available on the net, I decided once I'd tried accutane i'd leave a review about my experience be it good or bad. Before using accutane I was a shadow of the girl I used to be. I was shy, awkward, hated people looking at me & was convinced I would never be able to be as pretty or as confident as the girls I saw around me every day. It was safe to say the bad thoughts inside me had taken over & I was spiralling in to depression & no self-esteem very fast! I was put on accutane after being refferd to my derm and was taking 3 20mg tablets a day for 4 months. In the first 2 months my skin became so much less oily & my one greasy hair was grease free pretty much all the time! The acne hung around until the last month, but eventually did go. I've been off the pills for a month now and I have ONE spot on by my right ear (and that I can certainly live with!!) I'm aware the acne does come back for some people and a repeat course is required, but at the moment everything looks fab! My confidence is on its way back & i'm making new friends & loving it! It's ridiculous how something as little as those tiny spots can be so damaging to someone's life, and those who don't have spots have no idea! I don't know what the future holds or even if my clear skin is perminant but given the chance again I wouldnt even think twice about taking accutane. It has been a god send for me & I really hope the rest of you get the same results! Good luck! Everyone deserves to be as beautiful on the outside as they are on the inside.

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