Acne.org Products
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
October 19, 2009
Cons:
(Continued from above). Her logic falls short now. It seems as if the medication affected her mental and emotional abilities. Of course, it could have been coincidental, but I have another friend who's depression became much worse, permanently...
(Continued from above) after he took accutane. In case it matters, my mother was 43, and my friend was about 28.
December 17, 2008
Pros:
Cleared up my skin completely within a month!
Cons:
Monthly blood tests, acne may come back after treatment is over.
My face was covered in large painful acne all the time and antibiotics and other creams and washes did nothing to help. My doctor prescribed me accutane and my skin was clear within a month, by the third month my scars were almost completely gone. In the beginning my face was really dry and peeled allot, but that soon subsided. Accutane changed my life, I don't have to wear loads of make up anymore or constantly feel self conscious of my skin! I was scared to take accutane at first because of all of the side affects. I did not experience any side affects.
July 13, 2016
Cured!
I was quite sceptical when taking it at first because I noticed no difference in my skin in months. The whole treatment actually makes your skin and acne worse before it gets better (100% worth it and the only way to cure it). This is completely normal and is just your skin releasing all the horrible greasy toxins to get them out of your system as they cause acne. While on the drug admittedly only the last few months did I see improvement, and I expected instant overnight changes, but in the real world this isn't the case. After I had been discontinued from the drug I was completely cured of my acne a month or so later, with minor scarring which will soon fade!
Couldn't ask for more, it's brilliant Note: Can affect mood while on the drug, I noticed quite a few lows, but of course makes up for the massive high I get every morning looking in the mirror now!
July 15, 2016
Can't wait to see the miracle!
December 31, 2015
Very Greatful.
I had severe cystic acne and the scars it left me with were terrible & I was in pain alot. I took isotretinoin for only TWO MONTHS, and my skin didn't completely clear right away but was literally completely clear a couple months after being off of it. The side effects were barable, my only complaint would be the chapped lips. also 5 months later i have a zit here and there and my scars have faded. I felt this product deserved a review from me.. I was sceptical at first and did alot of research but this product has boosted my self esteem and helped me so much!
December 10, 2015
LIFE CHANGING!
This cleared up ALL of my acne on my face and body! I'm so happy I can not have to worry about constantly putting creams on my face and such. I experienced chapped lips the most and some bloody noses but totally worth it because acne controlled my life!
June 14, 2015
Stick with it!!
Until aged 19 I never had any problems with my skin. However when I started university I started to break out slowly and within a year had a full face of cystic acne. I tried many different treatments (none of which made any difference) and finally my doctor referred me to start isotretinoin. For the first four months I felt like there was no change however after that, my skin seemed to clear up extremely quickly (almost in a matter of weeks). I found it easy to copy with the dryness with intense facial moisturising in the night and the morning every day from the beginning of the treatment. I also kept lip balm on me at all times and applied regularly. Of course I still suffered from slightly dry skin and lips but it was easy to cope with and SO WORTH IT. Towards the last month or so of treatment I also found I had a stiff back and hips but again, it was easy to cope with and so worth it. I would highly recommend this treatment to anyone suffering. My self confidence was knocked for so long and I am finally (after about three years) able to leave the house without make up on. I suffered no depression of any sort but instead continued to feel better and better throughout the treatment as my skin improved. Stick with it, it is not a miracle drug and needs time to work!
December 27, 2014
Best thing i ever did
Should of done this sooner. I'm 40 and have suffered from 12 tried every medication and nothing ever worked. Just finished a 7 month coarse and my skin is clear. Was wary of going on it because of what I read but needn't of been, got the chapped lips and joint aches some days but nothing too bad . Was well worth it.
June 16, 2014
Years of Clear Skin
I started getting blackheads and whiteheads in elementary school so by the time I was entering high school I had full blown acne. It was more pustules than the deeper cystic acne, though I did occasionally get those too. My dermatologist gave me Accutane right away. This was over a decade ago now so it wasn't as big a deal like it is now. I believe I also started on the highest dose, 40mg 2x daily. During the entire time I was taking Accutane my face looked terrible! Red and flaky yet greasy from the A&D ointment I slathered on. The only side effects I had was dryness, skin, hair, mouth, eyes, nose you name it. I had blood and pregnancy tests every month without complication. I stayed on that dose only 3 of the 6 months I was supposed to because I had a vacation planned and didn't want to be a red flaky mess. I stopped the pills and as my skin came back from the dryness it was perfect! No spots, enlarged pores, excessive oilliness of my hair or face. My skin stayed in this perfect state until I was about 24. Even as my skin became oily again and I started getting clogged pores it did not return to the previous state until I turned 30 last year. So I have had, in my mind, 13 years of great skin for a few months of mild discomfort. I have struggled with lifelong depression and I didn't feel any worse when I was on the medication, having the hope of good skin actually made me feel better if anything. I would actually like to try another course/cycle of Accutane now that my acne has returned, perhaps not as aggressive as the first though. Accutane was a huge success for me and I wish more people had the same experience.
November 16, 2013
DON'T DO IT!
Cons:
Painful, bleeding ulcers for the rest of his life
Acne returned
Lots of medical costs for the rest of his life
Accutane is NOT worth the high risks. Use a TOPICAL treatment instead. My son had moderate to severe acne at age 14. He took an accutane generic for about 6 months and now has Severe Ulcerative Colitis. This means that he will have a lifetime of battling BLEEDING ULCERS throughout his colon which then causes severe pain and diarrhea. Now, at age 18, he had to do a medical withdrawal from his first year of college because his symptoms were so severe. He takes 3 medicines 3 times a day and it still hasn't helped enough. He will soon begin a new treatment whereby he has to go to the hospital and hook up to an IV line for about 4 hours every few weeks. Furthermore, we can't sue the drug company because the Supreme Court recently said that you cannot sue the maker of a generic medicine. In addition, my son still has moderate acne.
October 20, 2013
LIFE SAVING
Pros:
Clears you of all acne, everywhere
Brings back confidence
Works well
Cons:
Expensive
Dry lips
Dry face, and extreme sensitivity to sun
I was so depressed. Let's start with my whole life story. I was always that cool kid in middle school, tons of friends, every girl liked me, barely home cause I was always with friends. My freshman year I was the same, totally fine. Then sophomore year came, I started to get acne. My brothers had it too in their high school years, so I was like well crap, I better start treating this stuff. I was put on bactrim. That never did anything. Finally summer after freshman year my face was SOOOO bad I knew I had to do something. I never left the house all summer except for vacations, and only with certain friends I knew wouldn't judge. I had people always calling to hangout and I couldn't. ACNE RUINED MY LIFE. Then I took accutane.... First 2 months were extreme dryness, and my face would hurt. Then month 3 and 4 came along and I couldn't be happier to this day. I am literally 100% clear of acne, all I have is scars left over, and even those are about gone! I am so happy !! I reccomend to everyone, if you have bad acne, the results outweigh the side effects!!!!
Pros:
I felt compelled to post this review because my mother took Accutane in 2005, and then had a nervous breakdown. She's been on anti-depressants since then, and has not been the same. It's not just her moods. Her brain doesn't seem to work as well.