Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
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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.

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5
37.1%
4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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November 16, 2011

Pros:

- Builds new face
- Repairs scars
- Eats acne(cysts/pimples/whiteheads/blackheads)
- Dry skin(good for me)
- Steroid for your skin

Cons:

nothing bothered me more then my ugly face witch disappeared in 7-8 days!

but i had muscle cramps, memory loss, headacahe, organ pains, vision loss, stomach pain, hair loss.

i've been on 20mg accutane for about week and my face has totally new layer of skin. I dont have cysts, red marks or blemishes anymore... i cant believe it!! i can wake up in the morning with dry skin.. no more oil! This works like a wonders for me! And people who claim the side effects - At this point i didnt give a poop what chemical or poison i would take to get my skin to look normal. I didnt even knew how i looked with clear skin. This is like a steroid for my skin.. in one week... i was effing crater-face. TAKE IT! if you do not want to take accutane then your acne isnt serious to bother you. But im gonna keep taking accutane for sometime, nobody want this thing to come back. Oh yea, ive done eery possible diet, antibiotics and masks there are available. i just wash my face 2x a day with special soap, sebufed. God bless you all!:)
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November 14, 2011

Pros:

Clear Skin
Healed most acne scars
Confidence boost

Cons:

Nose bleeds
Dry Lips

I loved accutane! It saved my skin!! I had bad acne on my face (cysts, pimples, black heads and some whiteheads) and body acne on my upper back which scarred. But once I started taking accutane I saw great results from the beginning!! Although I did have occasional nose bleeds from a dry membrane so I used a non-prescription nasal spary called Ocean, and I did have crusty lips in the beginning but used plenty of beeswax chapstick 24/7 and I didn't have any problems after about 2 months. Those complaints are not a big deal or a deal breaker what so ever. I was on the dance team (dancing about 30 hours a week) and never had any joint or stomach pains. I've taken 2 treatments of accutane so far and about to take a 3rd treatment. When I stop taking accutane my acne flares up again and I'm surprised becuase I've forgotten what it's like to have acne again. But I'm excited to start another treatment so I'll have clear skin again! I get a 30 day prescription every month (don't remember the dosage), but I only take 1 pill a week and stock up, and I'm good for about 1 year. My doctor knows about this and he trusts me becuase I've known him for a long time and and I'm a trustworthy person. I would never do anything to jeopardize me, my health,my future baby, my doctor, or my status in the iPledge program. Although I didn't want to start another treatment (becuase of all the long term risks, which have never affected me over the past 5 years), I realize it's the only thing that 100% cures my acne. Definitely worth the risk. I can't wait to start another treatment!!
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November 13, 2011

Pros:

Cleared up ALLL my acne totally

Cons:

Dry lips - just while on the medication
Slight lower back pain when excercising

A true God send, I tried everything and only accutane worked. I have hardly had a single spot since coming of accutane a yr ago. Just make sure u have a cummulative dose of 120mg per kg of body weight! I.e. If you weight 70kg, take 70mg once a day (1mg per 1kg of body weight) for 120 days, so that you would of taken 120mg per kg of body weight. This dose is what's needed to stop any acne returning (I'm a medical student and have studied this).
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November 6, 2011

Pros:

-Clears ALL acne
-Replaces all kinds of creams and lotions with just one pill
-Drys out hair, which is good if yours tends to be extra oily
-Massive boost in self-confidence

Cons:

-Dry, cracked lips
-Dry scalp
-Occasional joint pain (for me, my lower back)
-Slightly drier eyes (annoying if you have contacts)
-Will morph your fetus into a hideous mutant

As far as acne treatments go, this is like burning a house down to get rid of a termite problem. It doesn't directly attack the acne - rather, it eradicates 99% of its habitat (sebum). Accutane also does not cause an initial breakout - the folks that are crying about it in reviews here are probably not considering the fact that when you start on Accutane, you stop all other treatments. And, since it takes a week or so for Accutane to fully affect new skin cells and oil glands, acne will indeed flare a bit. The bottom line is that your skin will definitely dry out but your acne will almost always go away within the first few months.
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30 user(s) found this helpful

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November 1, 2011

Pros:

Cleared away 85% of acne, and 95% of cysts.
Great hair during treatment!

Cons:

- Still left with many blackheads, and have occasional.
- Skin, eyes, and mucous membranes dried out during treatment. Aquaphor is a must.
- Complicated and strict schedule for getting and taking it.
- Expensive (had insurance that paid for most of it)
- High cholesterol from treatment
- Treatment took 10 months

Definitely worth it for me.
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October 31, 2011

Pros:

-Clear skin!!
-Not oily anymore

Cons:

-Using Aquaphor 24/7
-Monthly doctor visits/blood tests/quizzes online
-Dryness (eyes, skin, lips)
-Joint pain

The bottom line is that if you can't deal with the side effects, then your acne isn't bad enough. Yeah it sucks to have dry lips and joint pain. It is a huge pain to go to the doctor every month and get your blood tested. But seriously, if you can't handle those things then you need to try something not as intense. Taking accutane is a risk that people with really bad skin are willing to take. It took me 5 months for my skin to clear using accutane, but I wouldn't take it back for anything! Accutane gets such shady reviews, because people don't understand that every medicine acts differently in each person taking it. You may or may not have any of the symptoms I wrote about. But accutane is a LAST RESORT. If every thing else has failed, and you can't live with bad skin, then accutane is your only option. It's so worth it.
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October 30, 2011

Pros:

-Clear Skin

Cons:

-Joint/Back Pain
-Thirsty Skin (easily controlled w/ cetaphil cream)
-Photosensitivity (SPF all day, every day)
-IB on body

Results seen after 1 month. Had an IB on body, but not face. Just got better after 1 month. 3 months in, and clear. Dark Purple hyperpigmentation is gone. Side effects are completely bearable. From my understanding, all of the potential side effects are treatable and subside after treatment ends (obvious exception is the alleged causation of suicide). So I guess if the effects get worse, I can just stop taking the pill. My doc gave me a somewhat high dosage (about 1.5 mg/kg) for faster, longer-lasting results. Anyways, weigh the risks and decide if they're worth taking. I just wrote this to tell you that, for me, they were.
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October 24, 2011

Pros:

- No Oily Skin
- Sort of Cleared Skin

Cons:

- Bleeding noses 2 times/ day (Even with use of creams)
- Blood tests
- cracked splitting lips ( even with Aquaphore)
- Trouble with contacts
- Dry hair, scaly patches
- Increased Cysts in amount and size
- dry bleeding patches on face
- Temporary reduction of acne, then explosion
- Scars
- Abdominal muscle cramping
- Sore joints, muscles
- 30 pound weight loss
- Stomach issues

I was on a 30 MG dose, which was causing many side effects, saw a brief improvement in skin but then caused worst acne I've ever had probably 10 times worse then when I started Accutane. Constant symptoms, unexplained weight loss, and a hugely lowered self esteem were more than enough to make me stop. Family doctor more or less told me there was nothing she could do, since I was still on a low dose of accutane with no improvement whether small or big dose- so my DR sent me to a Dermatologist. Dermatologist told me I did not react well with the Accutane and should've ended it 4 months before. Now am on Doxycycline, went months without a single pimple now with school it has come back, So I may try Minocycline or an extremely dose of Accutane under heavy supervision. Accutane works for some, but there is a very good chance it may not work/ cause unbearable symptoms.
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October 24, 2011

Pros:

-no more cystic acne
-less oily skin
-haven't a pimple in months

Cons:

-dry lips
-my scars haven't healed

After going on a heavy does of solydn, I started getting cystic acne, needless to say I was pissed and starting college. I met a friend who had went on accutane and jumped at the chance. My face hurt so much sometimes I couldn't sleep on it. I was on it for 5 months and have been off for just under a month. I haven't a pimple in months, I do still have one cyst thats been there forever. The only bad thing is the scars from my old acne hasn't gone away yet. I'm praying that it will soon, I know sometimes it takes time. I recommend that everyone with bad acne take this before college. We all deserve to look our best, its the best cure and works amazingly. You aren't supposed to drink while you were on it, but I did. Your blood is checked on a monthly basis so if anything is wrong your doctor will tell you. Good luck and welcome to your new life.
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October 16, 2011

Pros:

dried up oil
cleared skin pretty quickly

Cons:

dry eyes
dry lips
dandruff
rash
severe joint pain
Can't drink alcohol
loss of appetite

I wished I had a better experience on Accutane. At first I really liked it. But after a month all of the skin peeled off of my arms and I got a rash, so my dosage was reduced. I was initially on 40mg a day but went to 40mg every other day. After another month, I had to stop taking accutane because of severe joint pain and loss of appetite. I've been off of Accutane for about 2 weeks and although the oil is still gone, my face has completely gone haywire. I am more broken out than ever before. I'm not sure if it's the accutane leaving my system. I have an appt to see my derm in 3 days so hopefully some light can be shed.
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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