Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Results
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.

 [more]
3.9
2449
Read All About Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Compare To Other Treatments
5
37.1%
4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
Sort by: Most Helpful
Order:
November 7, 2012

Pros:

Gets rid of Cystic Acne

Cons:

Depression
Irritability
Dry Skin (Arms and face)
Dry Lips
Minor back pain
Insomnia
Rashes during the last couple months

I've literally just gotten back from my skin doctor and have just finished my 5 months of Accutane. I had many side effects, but I feel as though that they were all worth it. I remember during my Freshman and Sophomore year of high school I didn't even want to come to school sometimes. My face would be in extreme pain, and would swell because of the cysts all over it. It was hard to put on a football helmet, or wrestle other kids in practice. At the end of my Junior year I started taking Claravis (Accutane). The results started showing maybe after a month or two. However, my face was dry and I was very moody. I had to carry around blistex with me. My lower back hurt very little. I felt depressed, but I knew it was the accutane and tried not to let it bother me. I've always had insomnia, but accutane made it worse, so it was hard to sleep at night. I still had a few cysts when I decided to up my medication from 40mg to 60mg a day. Shortly after, I broke out in hives on my back and had rashes on my arms. I then had it changed back to 40mg and stuck out my last month, and here I am. My acne is pretty much 98% gone. My face is VERY clear and my family and friends tell me how good it looks often. My honest opinion is if acne is ruining your life like it was doing to mine, you'll "suck it up" and stick out through the side effects. Trust me, you'll be happy you did. P.S.: If you have trouble with facial dryness, ask your doctor to prescribe a cream. Mine gave me Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream USP, 0.1%. Put it wherever you are dry or having rashes. Should help.
This Was Helpful

7 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 6, 2012

Pros:

It completely got rid of my acne
The acne has stayed away.
Made me more confident
Made me a happier person in general

Cons:

Price
Dry hands and skin
Chapped lips

Using accutane was the best decision of my life so far. After trials of tetracycline and minocycline that didn't work for me my dermatologist told me that the only thing that would help me would be accutane. Although my lips were chapped for the majority of my 7 month trial (carmex is a life saver while on accutane) I was still happy the entire time i was on the drug. I used to be afraid to go out in fear that I would be judged for the hideous amounts of acne on my face. Now I have all the confidence in the world thanks to accutane and the beautiful clear skin it brought me. My parents were worried with its link to chron's disease and links to depression and suicidal thoughts. Apparently there has only been one documented correlation between Chron's disease and accutane. And I didn't see myself getting depressed or upset if the drug would be taking the biggest problem out of my life. After a year being off accutane I still don't get breakouts. I've had maybe 7 or 8 small pimples since I got off in June. I would reccomend accutane to anyone who suffers with their acne as much as I did. It does help and it does make it better.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 6, 2012

Pros:

Cleared acne VERY QUICK
cleared whiteheads
made skin much, much smoother

Cons:

very dry lips. my lips bled day and night
first week I had a bad appetite and trouble in bowel movement.

Accutane is a great product. It may have side effects, but for me, it worked fine because my acne stopped popping up after just 3 months. It was amazing. Acne simply stopped. My skin got a lot smoother too. However, I recommend users to consult a doc first. It might have bad side effects for others.
This Was Helpful

4 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 5, 2012

Pros:

Completely cleared my skin.
Skin is smooth and pores are minimized.
Confidence is back, I can go out without putting any face powder/foundation.

Cons:

Dry lips
Dry eyes
Dry skin
Dry hair
Excessive sweating

I had just completed my 7 months course of accutane and I would highly recommend this to anyone who has persistent acne and has tried every single products left on the market. Was hesitant on taking on this drug as I have read mixed reviews about depression and hair loss but I think the side effects varies in each individual. I did not any nose bleeds/hair loss. To avoid dry/chapped lips, please drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated as this medicine dries you out tremendously. Please bring along your moisturizer and invest in a good lip balm and eye drops and bring all these items with you AT ALL TIMES. I had my blood tested before commencing the medication and started off with 10mg in March for 2 weeks as the doctor wanted to see my body's reaction to accutane. Then the doctor increased my dosage to 20mg for the next 2 months, mid-June. The INITIAL BREAKOUT was really bad but the doctor had me on steroids so as to control the breakout. Really thank God for the steroids. In mid-June, I started noticing the pimples disappearing bit by bit. The doctor also increased my dosage to 30mg, which I took for a month but I felt the dryness getting to me. I was so thirsty I actually drank 10 LITERS of water a day. I told the doctor that so he down my dosage to 20mg, which was in mid-July. My complexion started improving gradually from mid-July until September. I started going out of the house every single day. I was on 20mg, and I did not have a single pimple at all, even if I am on my period. My complexion continued improving all the way. And I took my LAST pill end of October. And still, not even one single pimple. My friends and colleagues who have seen the condition of my complexion earlier in March this year now all looked at me in awe, asking me "What facial products did you use? What did you do? Your skin improved so much!" I absolutely have no regrets taking this medication at all. I would recommend this i
This Was Helpful

10 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 4, 2012

Pros:

-Cleared severe acne almost entirely
-Skin no longer oily

Cons:

-Needed frequent blood tests
-Dry skin, although not too bad

I have had severe acne ever since I was 10 and tried almost everything for six years until I simply couldn't take it anymore. I've tried proactive, accupuncture & basically everything under the sun. I cannot speak highly enough of accutance. My mum was really opposed to me trying it because of all the possible side effects, but EVERYTHING has side effects and one must consider were those who got depression from accutance just looking for something to blame. My doctor also said a side effect of panadol is death because everything has to be reported. Bottom line, yes it is risky and yes you must follow all rules that come along with such a potent drug and if, and only if you are willing to do this you may be as lucky as me. Also, if you have depression perhaps it's not the best drug to go on if you think it might worsen it. I had hundreds of pimples on my face at any one time, not just tiny ones, I had pimples on pimples, the whole lot. My skin was also very VERY oily and putting fountation on it was probably the only reason I got by with acne for so long. On accutane I incurred very little side effects other than skin sensitivity and some dryness, particually on the lips. It has been 2 years since I've been on accutane and I still get a few pimples but overall my skin has improved so much and has gone from severe to very light. If you have tried everything and are willing to use this drug wisely I really think it's worth it because I know there are worse things in this world than bad skin but I know first hand the toll severe acne can have on ones confidence. Good luck x
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
November 1, 2012
Accutane

Pros:

Cleared acne

Cons:

Acne came back a year later

70mg a day for 5 months. Acne unfortunately returned a year later.
This Was Helpful

Report
October 31, 2012

Pros:

-Permanently cleared SEVERE back acne
-Significantly improved facial/chest acne (not permanent)
-Increased confidence
-Overall far less oil production (perk: no oily face, didn't have to wash hair very often!)

Cons:

-SEVERE hair loss (mostly all grown back, but hair seems permanently less thick, less texture, and more prone to damage)
-Headaches
-Vision Problems (impaired night vision)
-Nosebleeds
-SEVERELY dry eyes (used gel moisture eyedrops daily to make it tolerable)
-dry lips/skin (manageable, actually liked the dry skin effect, no oil!)
-Joint pains, lower back pain
-Dry hands/body (LOTION!)
-Raised cholesterol (almost had to discontinue due to this)
-effects not permanent f

READ MY REVIEW FROM AN ACCUTANE PRO Bottom line: If you suffer from severe acne, TAKE ACCUTANE ONE TIME ONLY. It is totally worth it. But if you break out again after, do not take more rounds (minus a few isolated cases). Anything that is going to be cured will do so after the 1st round. I speak from experience, I've been on accutane 3 times. I have suffered from SEVERE ACNE since I was 15 (now a 22 y/o female). Both my parents had severe acne and both had taken accutane. MY SKIN IS TOTALLY CLEAR TODAY... here's a brief of my story and insights: I tried everything before I resorted to accutane when I was 16. I had moderate facial acne and SEVERE back acne. For my first round, I 60mg/day (I was 110 lbs) for 6 mos. Completely cleared my skin and PERMANENTLY CURED MY SEVERE BACK ACNE. But within 2 years after my face broke out again. Took another round of accutane. Cleared skin again (remember my severe back acne was completely cleared after the 1st course). Broke out again within a year. Took a 3rd round in college. Clear skin again, but this time broke out after within 6 mos. At this point, I tried SPIRONOLACTONE instead. LADIES, if the first course of accutane doesn't clear you completely for good, TRY SPIRONOLACTONE next. This has been a WONDER DRUG. Please note, IT IS VERY SLOW ACTING. Be patient. Many people start spiro, stop after 3 or so months and say it didn't work and resort to accutane again. IT TOOK LONGER THAN THAT FOR ME and does for most people, up to a full year! Also works better taken in combo w/ birth control pill, & don't miss doses. I'VE BEEN ON SPIRO FOR 1 YEAR NOW, just in the past couple mos. it has completely cleared my skin. Here is what I do now daily for COMPLETELY CLEAR SKIN: 200mg spiro Microgestin Fe 1/20 BC pill Wash: Neutrogena 'Clear Pore' Face Wash (am/pm) Treat: Neutrogena On-the-Spot treatment (use over WHOLE face, am
This Was Helpful

9 user(s) found this helpful

Report
October 30, 2012

Pros:

Cleared up my acne altogether (after a few months)!
Totally worth it!
Insurance paid for it.

Cons:

Extreme dryness; made my acne very severe the first 2 months or so (worse than it's ever been); sometimes redness; a pain in the neck to renew every month; also raised my cholesterol (not extremely, just thought I should add that as a note)

I have to admit that accutane is not the easiest/quickest way to clear your skin, but it has been very effective for me. I've had acne/backne since I was 12 (I am now 18) and I've tried almost everything. My skin cleared up for awhile while I was on birth control pills (the doctor said that those might be able to help with my complexion). I gained weight on those so I quit them. For a few months all was well and then my skin got very bad. My dad was on accutane when he was a teen, so he recommended I try it. My younger sister and I both got accutane together and when we started, our skin was worse than it had ever been. We had cystic-like breakouts as well as dry skin. The first two months we both had very low self esteem and didn't want to leave the house at times. My advice to you is to stick with it!!! It is SO worth it in the end! I now have only three weeks left and my skin is completely clear! Granted, it is still very dry but the dermatologist says that it should get back to normal the week after we finish our last dose. Even my backne (which has never improved) is gone. Very very satisfied. I definitely recommend it!
This Was Helpful

1 user(s) found this helpful

Report
October 27, 2012
I'm only in my fourth month of treatment, but I thought it might be helpful for others to have some information about what this will cost if you do try it. Clavaris, 40 mg, for 3 months -- $288.70 X 3 Clavaris, 80 mg, for 3 months -- 570.88 X 3 Labwork, once a month, 8 months -- 129.70 X 8 Doctor visits, once a month, 8 months -- 100 X 8 Total cost - $4,416.34 I called all the approved pharmacies listed on iPledge and found Walmart by far the cheapest, and the lab I used said they were giving me a 50% discount for not having insurance. So far it hasn't helped my acne at all, but I'm hopeful things will be clearing up soon. Good luck to you all.
This Was Helpful

1 user(s) found this helpful

Report
October 26, 2012

Pros:

Cleared my acne for almost ten years.

Cons:

For me, the only side effects were dryness and one bloody nose.

I took accutane in 2000 for moderate/mild acne after my acne wasn't responding to antibiotics and topicals. My skin was beautiful until about 2009, when the combination of law school and my grandmother's death made me start breaking out pretty badly. I took proactiv, which worked for a short while. Then I went back to a derm., and asked for yaz and spironolactone after reading reviews on here. That worked pretty well, my skin wasn't great (large pores), but it was tolerable. Then I switched from yaz to lo-estrin, and my skin just started getting worse and worse. Even after switching back to yaz and upping my spiro to 100mg/day, my skin still wasn't improving, so now I'm about to start my second course of accutane. I hope to have the same results, except this time instead of almost a decade of clear skin, I hope to not have any more skin issues. This drug has worked wonders for me in the past, and I highly recommend it. Our society has a tendency to litigate everything, hence the massive warnings in relation to this drug. But, it seems that severe side effects are rare and, if monitored by a doctor, you'll be taken off of this drug if it's not suitable for your body. It's worth the chance of having clear skin and peace of mind.
This Was Helpful

5 user(s) found this helpful

Report
Previous
1 … 42 43 44 45 46 … 202
Next

Relevant Article(s):

Relevant Review(s):

Relevant Forum(s):

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