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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Zoe Baker14

February 1, 2012

Pros:

It is starting to clear up my acne after a second treatment. First time on Roaccutane did not work very well.

Cons:

Dry skin
Skin rash on hands
Bruise easy, skin scratches easy
Dry nose
Nose bleeds
Bad mood
Burn very quickly in sun - sensitive skin

The first time I was on Roaccutane, i did not have a very good experience. I started to think that all the side effects that I was experiencing were not worth the treatment, as it wasn't even clearing up my acne as well as I thought. I've now been on my second lot of Roaccutane for nearly two months and I am seeing an improvement and I hope that it works for me this time. I'm already having to wear less make-up, although I still have visible spots on my face. It is not as bad as it used to be. If you can put up with the side effects, then it may be worth trying as it is definitely making me feel more confident.

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justywall

January 30, 2012

Pros:

helps temporarily

Cons:

didn't give me long term help and the side effects were extremely hard to deal with

i think this is dangerous medication the side effects aren't worth it

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Elle

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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nancy

January 27, 2012

Pros:

has been clearing skin significantly
no initial breakout
dry skin isnt so bad
no more oily hair
no more oily face

Cons:

dry lips
hair has continued to fall off a lot
back hurts

i have been on this for a little over a month. i am stopping because this medication is too strong for me. although the pros and great, my hair has been falling nonstop and my eyelashes have begun to fall. my acne is pretty minor and i will begin some natural remedies that were suggested to me and i have a great gut feeling they will work. accutane works for some, but i guess im not someone who should be taking it. i was on 40 mg a day. i wish you all the best!

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BCHI

January 26, 2012

Pros:

Perfectly clear skin for 6 months after treatment.

Cons:

low back pain, skin took on grayish tone, low energy, sore muscles, very low healing rate.

I've had acne problems all my life. I'm 30 now and still bogged down by how horrible my skin makes me feel. I took accutane about five years ago. It felt like I had every side effect I was warned about. I looked like the living dead and my bf was so worried about me. Unfortunately I don't remember the dosage but I took it for about a month, maybe more. I came off the meds because the side effects were too much to handle. Fortunately, for the first time in my life I had completely clear skin! No blemishes at all after I stopped the treatment. It lasted for about 6 months and those 6 months were amazing! Pimples started popping up slowly and very mild after that and they would go away a day or two later without any nasty flare up or scaring. 5 years later here I am with never before seen pustules on my face. Combined with regular acne pimples. My face is in pain constantly and the scaring is traumatizing... and again I'm reconsidering accutane. I'm that desperate! I've been on Doryx for about a month and its no longer working! Seeing my derma tomorrow, will see about a low dosage treatment. Good luck all!

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Julie

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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lalalexy

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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JordanTL

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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ktbuffinet

January 22, 2012

Pros:

Completely healed skin for 2 years

Cons:

i believe it caused infertility :(

Did a 6 month course of this when I was 20. I am a female so I had to do pregnancy test everymonth and do the questionaire before it could be filled. It worked! My skin was beautiful for 2 years but then it slowly came back, but not as bad as before! I was warned about all the serious side effects. I wasnt warned about infertility. I have been trying to concieve for 3 years now. Nothing, not even a miscarriage. And it's not just me, google accutane and infertility. So if you're a woman, please consider this.

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Patrick

January 22, 2012

Pros:

Worked very well while I was on it.

Cons:

Dry skin/eyes. (I wear contacts).
Sore joints, sore muscles.
Decrease in appetite.
Acne starting coming back 2 weeks after a 5 month course (40mg daily).

If it works for you great. If it doesn't it is a huge pain for nothing.

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