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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May 9, 2010

Pros:

Beautiful skin. Lost a little weight.

Cons:

Major depression (I wanted to kill myself), Made me crazy, overaggerate, and angry..I lost a couple friends because of it. Dry eyes..but I had contacts and it made my eyes water all the time. Dry scalp and skin. Very tired all the time. Couldnt concentrate. Bad anxiety. Bags under my eyes. My cons outweighed the pros..Unfortunately :(

I took accutane twice..the first time my acne started to come back after three months and then I took it again with the same side effects and stopped through my 2nd course because I couldnt deal with them all over again. and I was only on 10-20mg the whole time. I love how it made my skin look but I dont think I would ever take it again. Its not for everyone. Please look more into it before taking it.
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May 8, 2010

Pros:

Your Acne Clears Up

Cons:

An endless list of Side Effects
I experienced hair loss, depression, and hyperlipidemia to name a few.

Accutane is a serious life screwer if anyone out there is considering taking it I suggest you read this article first [link removed]
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March 24, 2010

Pros:

I always had a really bad skin.Very very oily face and hair the same time. I always knew there was something wrong with my hormones. I've tryed every single advertised and not advertised cream, lotion, gel,face mask, face scrub,with and without alcohol things and nota single thing did worked on me. I lost a small fortune on the items(Lancome,Elizabeth Arden,Clinique,Simple,Garnier,Loreal etc)

Cons:

I'm 28 now and got quite late acne...I gues scince I was 19. I mean my face was getting so oily that after I did washed my face in the morning maybe 1 hour later It became so oily that I could remove the oil with my hand and my hand was shiny from it.

Anyway I got offered Accutane 3 months ago, I'm starting my 3rd box now. Ant I think I got evert possible side effect that's underlined on leaflet.....

I have very very dry lips.There's nothing i can do to moisturise them.Every day day and night the skin is pelling and cracking. Dry rest of the body skin. Eczema on both of my hands Nose Bleading, Depression and Suiccidal thoughts(I had them for a month)not they are gone. I was really sleepy and lost my energy-Ussually I'm very enthusiastic and active person. Diarrhea My hair are falling out as well, much more than ussualy My skin did improved but when I thought Its gonna stay like that I got a invasion of spots just few days ago. I got really got pissed thinking I went all the way and was suffering for nothing....
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December 28, 2009

Pros:

still waiting

Cons:

very expensive and still waiting

im on my 6th week on accutane and my skin has never looked as bad. ive started to get spots in places where i would never get them before i went on this. i asked my derm about this and apperantly you gotta wait 3 months to see improvement and the reason my skin is getting so worse is that the acctune is causing all the bacteria to draw out of my body. my acne has never been worse as it is now! a lot of people including me will think that this gets to work straight away but this is far from true. with some people it does but with others you have to let it get worse before better which can be very frustarating. like i said 6th week skin has never looked worse and im still waiting
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December 19, 2009

Pros:

It makes your acne go away while you're on it. Make sure you have a doctor that discusses this med in depth w/you. Ask a lot of questions, bleeding when you go to the bathroom isn't normal. Your triglicerides should always be monotored monthly.

Cons:

My acne came back about 3 months after stopping this product. I did three courses @ 40 mg. Caused a lot of headaches, back, neck pain. Dry skin, skarring, hair fell out. Do not take Tetracyclines(birth control or antibiotic)while on this med.

My doctor was not monotoring this medication well, and other physicians are not aware of the counterindications of this drug. You should never have surgery on this drug. If you have headaches you should stop the medication altogether. I had a c-spine epidural while I was on this medication (also do not take any corticosteroids--read the fine print) to make the pain go away in my neck (common side effect) which no doctor knew was from Isotretinoin. I developed an epidural hematoma, and went paralyzed. I then had to have c-spine hematoma evacuation and a lamenectomy at 3 levels. I had trouble with clotting the entire time I was on this medication but I was also prescribed tetracyclines by doctors that don't know how to pick up a PDR. Because of the steroids and medications they gave me for my back and the ammount of accutane I was on, I then had an acute adrenal crisis & almost died. This drug is a cancer tumor chemotherapy, only use if you absolutely must.Try organic/hormone free diet
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December 18, 2009

Cons:

DRY LIPS AND FACIAL SKIN, MADE ME WEAK.

AINT WORKEDE ITS MADE MY SPOTS MUCHH WORSE :(
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November 30, 2009

Pros:

nil

Cons:

major disruptive side efects

Discontinue offering this product.It's dangerous.My daughter has suffered in the extreme and has continued using it.This drug is now on the Canadian list of drugs to avoid.Naturally she is feeling better.
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November 19, 2009

Pros:

it works immediately..my acne cleared up as soon as i started taking the medication...

Cons:

if you dont have insurrance it is expensive the blood work and consistent dermo appointments...constant back pain, mood swings, fatigue, headaches, decreased hunger

i started on 30mg for two months then got increased to 40 mg and started to feel different. i was way to tired to function in college and constantly felt depressed. currently i am on 2omg, hoping that i will start to feel like my normal self again...ifyou are thinking about accutane, seriously consider the side effects and if you can handle having to go off the medication if needed...my face is much clearer but i still get break outs along my chin. i am starting to wonder if it is even worth being on such a strong medication for acne that is not that bad in the first place
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November 19, 2009

Pros:

improvement, clearer skin

Cons:

Monthly blood tests, Severe chapped lips, back pains, dry hands, slight depression, severe irritability & other cognitive implications such as memory loss, trouble focusing and coming up with the right words.

I've been taking accutane for almost 3 months and I have seen mild results. My face does look better however I still suffer from constant breakouts. I'll keep my head up and hope that the next three months of treatment will result in clearer skin.
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November 14, 2009

Pros:

Luckily we Dont pay for any medication in the UK (NHS)

Cons:

Cracked, dry swollen lips , nose bleeds, dry flaking inflamed skin

Have been taking 60mg of Accutane for 5 weeks now with very little improvement , infact I have gone from having mild acne to severe in the last week or so ! I guess that this is the breakout stage of the treatment so im going to hang in there . No signs of depression ,thank goodness .... Just short tempered ! The Skin on my face and neck is flaking and feels raw .. Antibiotic topical lotion does help with drying the spots up. .Cant wait for some improvement. After reading your comments from people in the US , I will continue taking it , thanks ... Jord (15)
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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