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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Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate 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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May 5, 2010

Pros:

Beautiful Skin, High self-esteem, confident, Happy!

Cons:

Dry lips (completely under control w/ AquaPhor), Sensitive/Dry Face (Again, nothing that AquaPhor couldn't help!), Occasional Hip & Chest Pain (in the second month only), Occasional Severely Dry Anal, causing a couple of painful bowel movements, and weirdly, eyebrow sweats no matter what my body temp is...(the eyebrow sweats may not be related to accutane as I have not shared this possible side effect with my doctor)

AMMAZING RESULTS! :) I am on my 5th & final month of taking 2 generic forms of Accutane; Amnesteem 10mg (1/day), and Claravis 30mg (2/day), 70mg/day. I made it through high school with no acne and developed moderate acne at the age of 18. I am a model/actor/student and the acne was a night mare, absolutely horrible on my self-esteem and confidence! I tried several prescribed meds with no help. I was aware of Accutane through close friends who took it & I was fearful of it even though they did have amazing results from it however sites like this one scared me. Finally my acne got to where it was very painful and intolerable, at that point my Dermatologist recommended Accutane and I was now willing. I am highly involved in sports and only experienced occasional hip & chest pain in the 2nd month of taking, I believe, 40mg/day. I had not noticed any other aches or pains except those natural to the workouts & conditioning I do. My dry lips and dry skin are tolerable w/ the constant use of AquaPhor, (found at Walgreens). When starting Accutane my doctor started me at a low dose and upped it each visit until the 3rd month when she upped it 70mg /day' it finally worked. The 2nd & 3rd month I had a huge acne flare-up! After the middle of the third month my skin was beautiful, no pimples, not one!!! I'm acne-free! I have flawless skin! I would recommend to anyone dealing with moderate to severe acne that he/she takes with a (large) grain of salt many of the scares that are out there regarding this large vitamin A Derivative. In my opinion, It's All Worth It!!!! :) The, Dry lips (completely under control w/ AquaPhor), Sensitive/Dry Face (Again, nothing that AquaPhor couldn't help!), Occasional Hip & Chest Pain,(in the second month only), Occasional Severely Dry Anal, causing a couple of painful bowel movements, and weirdly, eyebrow sweats no matter what my body temp is...(the eyebrow sweats may not be related to accutane as I have not shared this possible side
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May 5, 2010

Pros:

Made my skin better. Did not stop acne but diffidently reduced the severity.

Cons:

Dryer eyes (contacts are no fun)
Red, sensitive skin while on the treatment.

While not completely stopping my acne, it did reduce the number of pimples my face makes by a lot. Went from 5-6 pimples in a day to 1-2.
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May 2, 2010

Pros:

Works for a while...

Cons:

Expensive, and its not a final solution, when i stoped using the product (after 2 years) i lost all my work.

Nothing at all....
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May 1, 2010

Pros:

Your skin will clear up, exfoliate at a rapid rate and begin to look better than you could have ever imagined. You will acquire a new found confidence!

Cons:

Dry lips...thats about it?

If you have acne that wont go away, it clears up and comes back, it is causing you stress and emotional pain DO THIS! i have had acne on and off since i wasw 13, i am now 23 and wish i would have done this ten years ago. Its amazing stuff, it really works :)
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May 1, 2010

Pros:

clears skin

Cons:

so brutal on the organs! gave me nausea, extremely dry skin, insomnia and more. and about 6 months after treatment the acne was back

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone! It does a lot of damage that you can't see. But I do understand why a lot o people do try and are very happy with it - it clears everything! fast.
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April 30, 2010

Pros:

Very powerful
Begins to work within the first week
Better than anything else i have tried (i've been on everything.)
The only thing that works.

Cons:

very dry lips and skin
itchy skin
nausea
dry hair
but so worth it.

I'm 16 years old and have had acne since the age of 11 or 12. The severity of my acne has varied throughout the years. I have been on various oral medications, including oxytetracycline for 3 years, which did not work. After trying everything, i was finally referred to a dermatologist 3 months ago who was willing to do something productive. There are generally 3 strengths of the medicine: 20mg, 40mg and 60mg. The strength of pill you are prescribed depends on your weight and the severity of your acne. I began on the 40mg dose. After one month, they wanted to up my dosage but you have to weigh at least 60kg to take the 60mg pill, so i am one of the rare patients on 50mg pills. GPs can't prescribe it so you'd have to get a referral to the dermatology department at a hospital. Female patients are required to go on the contraceptive pill at the same time as taking accutane, because pregnancy during a course of accutane would probably result in a severely deformed child. In the first couple of days, my face was red and hot as if i had been sunburnt. My lips were immediately dry. Another few days later, the spots began to clear. Everyday my skin became clearer and clearer. All Blackheads disappeared. After taking the tablets now for under 3 months, i now have 3 or 4 spots on my face. I'm really happy with the results and think all severe acne sufferers should use it.
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April 25, 2010

Pros:

improved skin

Cons:

dry lips, thinned hair, random rashes, very dry irritated eyes, body aches, HEADACHES almost everyday, embarrassing dry skin if you don't moisturize every few hours,

I was on accutane for the last 6 months at 60 mg a day, and did not see results untill 5 months in. I am currently on my 7th month and was bumped up to 80 mg a day. I have fewer pimples, and STILL have cysts that are just starting to go away, Now im left with stubborn clogged pores and open pores from previous acne (that still tend to be active) since Ive been bumped 20 mg in dose I find Im so intensely irritable and have random breakdowns which has been concerning me.Lately I've also lost my appetite but it might be from stress? This is NOT a drug to be taken during university years at least in my case, I cant think clearly and have a careless attitude, preventing me from my studies, which is not like myself. I'm on the edge of dropping out. Although my skin has gotten a lot better, it is still rather problematic, and will most likely continue a few more months if my blood tests are good. but I'm losing my patience, nothing else has worked so Im sticking to it. plus Im praying for the success most others have, which gives me a little hope
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April 22, 2010

Pros:

CLEAR SKIN, CONFIDENCE, NEW LIFE

Cons:

just dryness around my lips and lips were very dry but was so worth it

i was very tired of going to local gp's who were prescribing me with anitbotics and topical creams...they didnt help me at all. then i decided to privatly see a dermatolgist as i could bear the pain of no seeing any one without make up. it is aweful when any body use to come to my house i would hide in the toilet soo that they dont see me.. i was so eshammed of my acne its undescribable.. so my dermotlist told me they pros and cons of the medication and i was a bit scared of depression as i was suffering from depressing of having acne.... BUT GUESS WHAT i didnt have no sad moods since having this ...what i have had is clear skin without any acne blemishes or new break outs ..touch woood! its the best decision i have taken! people out there with current break outs i feeel the pain u go though each day looking at the mirror PLEASE dont suffer give accutane the chance to transform your life.its a mircle drug ! can u imagine each day waking up with new progression on skin with amazing results ?
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April 21, 2010

Pros:

my skin became less oily literally the second day. my skin cleared up almost immediately and as the course continued my skin only got better and better. i had perfect skin by the end. it made me so happy i can almost cry thinking about it.

Cons:

chapped lips, dry skin, dry hair. actually the dry skin and hair were sort of a bonus because i could shower every other day as opposed to twice a day like i had to when my skin and hair was very oily.

this drug was a miracle for me. PLEASE don't be afraid to take this drug. it has changed my life in the most amazing ways. i am a happier, more confident person in every way. before i took accutane i woke up every day tormented by my awful skin. i refused to ever let anyone see my arms or chest and i hardly let even people who were closest to me see me without makeup. interacting with people caused me extreme discomfort. i never wanted to stand close enough to anyone to let them see my face, i felt horrible when i had to go out without makeup. my acne made me feel like a disgusting monster. i had moderate acne on my face, chest, and back and it was a nightmare for me. my life is so much better now. i touch the perfect skin on my arms, chest and back and i feel like it is a miracle. this drug was everything i ever wanted it to be. i can feel comfortable looking people in the face. this drug has changed my life more than anything else ever has. i am so grateful that all the suffering (from age 9 till age 21) is finally over. taking accutane was the best decision i've ever made. i am doing things i never would have though possible when i had acne: i've been asked out on dates (i never dated before because i was horrified by the thought of being intimate with anyone because of my skin problems), i can look people in the face when i talk to them, i feel like a normal human being for the first time in my life. the level of joy and happiness i feel about my skin is indescribable. the physical and emotional pain accutane cured goes beyond anything i can describe. my only regret was waiting so long to take it.
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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