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
33.4%
3
15.6%
2
7.4%
1
6.6%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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April 30, 2012

Pros:

-Clear skin on face and body
-Reduces oil on skin and hair
-Confidence

Cons:

-Initial Breakout
-Dry skin and lips
-Initial Depression

I've been on Accutane the full 6 months and it's been a crazy journey! The initial breakout was horrible and it took a few months to clear up but it was completely worth it. It took much longer for the acne on my shoulders to clear up but now in the 6th month, I'm acne free. I completely recommend Accutane! Especially before you or your children develop acne scars which are irreparable. It's a tough journey but I have battled acne all throughout my adolescent years and 6 months on Accutane is much better than years of struggling with acne. I'm 20 now and I have acne scars that won't ever go away and I only wish that I would have done Accutane when I was younger. I went through a few days of depression during the initial breakout but it lasted no more than a few days and wasn't detrimental. I just didn't feel like going out or being with people due to the initial breakout. For those of you who are going through the initial breakout, stick with it! It hasn't been until just recently that I've seen consistent results so don't give up after month 4 and 5. Also, my doctor told me that the majority of Accutane users see more results after they get off of the Accutane. 6 months goes by faster than you think so hold on, you'll see clear, beautiful skin soon!
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April 4, 2012
I finally have my skin back after years of misery. The image obsessive media and shallow people in the world made me feel like a freak, now i no longer have to worry about people judging me which is all i wanted from this drug. Thanyou accutane!
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December 24, 2011

Pros:

Completely eliminated acne
No redness
No cysts
No spots/yellows
No blackheads

Cons:

Really dry lips
Came back within 2 months!!!
minor joint pain

Isotretinoin was one of the best things I ever did. It got rid of my acne completely and boosted my confidence sky high. Didn't really suffer that many side-effects, but I was on the lowest dose for my bodyweight. The really bad thing was though; it came back!!! Within a month or so, it my acne came back with a bite, but at least I no longer get cysts and is now only moderate, I am back on it now, hoping to rid of it again soon!
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December 15, 2011

Pros:

some improvement in skin texture

Cons:

dry cracked lips
body aches
worse break outs than before

I've been on Amnesteem for almost 4 months, I'm just now finishing month 3. I'm getting really nervous that its not working for me because my skin is not clearing. In fact, once month 2 hit my skin broke out and flared in places it never has before, with big painful cysts. After being put on a steroid, my skin calmed down, but I'm still waking up every morning with new cysts... THEY HURT! My back acne especially...Does anyone have any advice? Please tell me it's going to get better and I'm going to get the "perfect" skin everyone else brags about after going on this stuff. I'm really losing hope and my self esteem is really being affected. So frustrating.
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December 6, 2011

Pros:

Temporary clear skin

Cons:

Everything..... Results are only temporary
Causes so many problems and at the end of it your acne comes back

The more people I can stop from taking this medication the better. Acne started at around 16, took all the antibiotics, oxytetracycline, 2 types of minocycline, erythromycin, amoxicillin and lymecycline. Took these for years, nothing worked. At same time had benzoyl peroxide, zineryt, clindamycin, retin a, differin, duac. The effect of these topicals was very minor, and they caused irritation and redness. Finally referred to a derm, and was prescribed accutane 30mg for first 2 months, 60 for next 2, and the last 2 dose dependant on how well it was working. Cut a long story short, nearly all my hair fell out, the redness and flushing was unbearable, sever gastro problems, nose constantly pissing with blood, severe joint, muscle and tendon pain, lips so dry they bleed. I looked and felt this way for 6 damn months, acne didnt start clearing until month 4, acne came back after about 6 months. Not worth it. This medication damages your body beyond belief. The flushing and facial redness is much worse than spots, believe me. People, there is no cure for acne, all this crap we take either doesnt work or it makes us red and masks the spots and we think its working. I was one of the people who was on the internet every night, researching accutane, deciding whether or not to take it. I wish I had never put this poison into my body, because now i'm so messed up its unreal, all for a few spots. Spots will go away in time, just be nice to your skin and if they bother you, buy a quality concealer. Please dont take this poison; I will never be the same a
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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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March 23, 2011

Pros:

-Made my face completely clear for 1 year
-Was the only thing that worked
-Made me lose water weight- I 'felt' skinnier
-Miracle Drug!!

Cons:

-my acne came back after 1 year after treatment
- my Dr. is making me try every other treatment again before going on a 2nd regimen of accutane(it is hard to get it prescribed)
-had slightly dry lips and skin

I was awesome!! It made my skin beautiful!! It is truly a miracle drug! It has been a year now and my acne is back :( My doctor is now having me use retin-A with cephalexin. Has anyone has success treatment with this post- accutane??
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February 7, 2011

Pros:

cleared skin

Cons:

suffered very bad side affects, severe headache, sight problems, joint ache etc.

worked but not worth the side affects, i was literally bed bound from the second day of use. it took three days from stopping the treatment to return back to normal.
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June 17, 2010

Pros:

You know it's working --> relief
No more greasy hair/skin
Fast results

Cons:

Chapped lips
Nose bleeds
Dry skin/scalp
Limited drinking
Monthly derm. appointments/blood tests

I'm a 20 year old guy who first started getting acne at 17. It never got that bad during high school, but once I got to college it escalated drastically. I've been using minocycline/doxycyline for about a year and a half. They tapered the acne at best. When my derm put me on the tane last month, it was only about 70% of the worst it has been (still pretty bad). I'm on day 30 of accutane at 60mg/day, and I'm about to start an 80mg/day regimen. I know some people go higher, but I have a phenomenal derm who highly recommends not going above 1mg/kg, and I'm 6ft 170lbs. I convinced her that I should go to the elevated dose b/c I'm trying to complete a cycle in 15 weeks (I want to be off the tane when I return to college --> I like to drink heavily :D but i do care about spiked triglycerides and liver failure). So it's been a month now, and I'm already looking better than I have in years. Most people don't seem to get results this quickly; maybe I'm just lucky. The initial flare-up lasted from about day 7-14 with a couple nasty cysts, but nothing apocalyptic happened. Then, all of a sudden, everything sort of faded. Sidebar: my moderate back acne got zapped even more effectively. Okay, so negative aspects. The chapped lips are killer. Aquaphor is great for it, but it's not very portable. I gotta re-apply chapstick at least several times a day. Another bad side effect is joint pain, specifically the back. I 've never had problems like this before. If I'm not very active it's fine, but working out can be really excruciating. I'm also working at a paper mill doing manufacturing work this summer [read: I'm doing heavy lifting and various other manual labor --> my back aches constantly]. Also the whole dry face thing can be taken care of with aquaphor; it makes your face look AOK. Oh, and the dry skin thing isn't a bid deal for me, but then again I have eczema (something the rest of you should be thanking god you don't have; it's just as
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December 2, 2009

Pros:

Cleared totally!

Cons:

Dryness and irritation

Took 40 milligrams and skin was clear after 3 months. DO NOT STAY ON SUN! (I did same and I become so black :) Made post about it [link removed]
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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