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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4
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3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

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April 20, 2010

Pros:

Skin looks the best it has in years. Confidence.
No messy creams/gels to apply multiple times a day.
You take it with food. No starving yourself for hours before taking it like you have to on antibiotics like tetracycline.
THE ONLY THING THAT HAS WORKED FOR ME. It finally feels like I'm not wasting money on some chemical junk that never works.

Cons:

Like everyone else says... Dryness of everything. The lips and nose don't bother me as much as my eyes. it has made my vision much worse.

The biggest side-affect for me has been insomnia. About 2 months into the course I started sleeping less and less. If I'm lucky, I get up to 2 hours of sleep per night. The weird thing is that I feel wide awake throughout the following day... Kinda wondering if it's all going to catch up to me when I finish my 5 month course next week.

As far as the deal with depression and suicide/mental effects goes, I went into this thing thinking that most of the people that took the drug and reported depression were just doing so because it was all in their head that it was possible to become that way just because someone else did. I have to admit that there were a few times where I felt "weird". I don't really know how to explain it but it didn't start until I was well into the second month. I swear I was the biggest skeptic (sp?). I guess the best I could describe it is a feeling of being "empty" but that doesn't really do it. I suppose it could of been the stress of moving to the new house. But the low of it all was when I woke up in the old house on the last day I was in it before moving the last few things over in the morning. It was about 1 in the morning an literally it was just me and my bed in the room. I just had this creepy feeling like everything was "done", like there was no reason to do anything anymore. to me all of this is weird as I'm a very positive person. I'm usually the one that doesn't take anything to serious and I'm always making a joke out of everything. Idk, I just had random weird feelings like that. This was just my experience and wanted to share it because I was kind of shocked by it all. If you are debating whether or not to take accutane. DO IT!!!!!! It will make your skin look amazing. Don't be scared of the side effects, stay strong and it will be better before you know it... Life will be better before you know it. just remember that if you are one of the unfortunate who do experience strange feelings, it's just the medicine making you feel that way and your not going to have to feel that way forever (some of you are probably going to argue that statement). The truth is that we are all different and the accutane is going to affect us all differently. Without giving it a second thought, I would ta
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April 17, 2010

Pros:

I have been off this medicine for a year now, and my skin is nearly flawless. I cannot say enough good things about this medicine. This completely cleared my skin, and after completing the course of treatment my body produces less oil over all - so where prior to treatment I'd have greasy skin and hair by the end of the day, now my skin behaves normally and is neither too dry nor too oily. I will occasionally have a pimple, but it is rare and they are just near the surface of my skin.

Cons:

Like everyone says, this drug causes very dry skin. Living in Denver (where it is already very dry) I had to be especially vigilant and actually used very heavy moisturizers on my hand and (I know this is gross) on the inside of my nose. The acne got worse for the first month of treatment, but it got better from there, and my skin was flawless at the end. Accutane can be harsh, but if you want a real and lasting solution for acne, this is really the only way to go.

If you have moderate to severe acne and are just sick of dealing with it, this is really the only way to go. My only regret is that I didn't do the treatment years earlier!
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April 17, 2010

Pros:

The only thing that completely got rid of my acne.

Cons:

My acne is coming back. It's not as bad, but accutane works for people differently.

Totally worth the chance. Just make sure you do it correctly and be honest with your doctor. I'm glad I did it. I was scared because I was sufficiently warned beforehand, which is always good, but it turned out well. My acne was completely clear for months, but it's coming back but not as strong. Only do this if you have insurance though because it is expensive.
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April 15, 2010

Pros:

Beautiful skin forever!
Targets any cause of acne, including hormone based acne which may in many cases may be harder to cure on a long-term basis
In most cases at the end of your treatment, you are never plagued by your acne again (except for a few here and there during periods for women) I have been off Accutane for three years and have nearly flawless skin!

Cons:

Dry lips and sensitive skin. Occasional bloody noses. Cannot wax during treatment and cannot resume waxing until approximately one month after you have finished your treatment. Can be irritating for female patients

I had every skin treatment possible by the time I begun this product in April of my freshman year of high school. I had blue lights, peels, regular facials (all at my dermatologists office) used ProActiv, I even took medication given to me by my dermatologist! Nothing had a lasting effect, and I was desperate to be able to not leave the house with my face slathered in makeup. The treatment was not a cakewalk, and because my acne was hormonal, it took me two five month cycles to keep it from coming back, multiple cycles may be necessary but it is so very much worth it! This medication will change your life!!!!
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April 14, 2010

Pros:

Clearer skin, but just for a few weeks

Cons:

After a month all the pimples came back. Later my skin condition became even worse than before the treatment.
Adverse effects: severe burning scars on my hands, my lips completely dried, burning and scarry.

Fully disappointed. My doctor (said to be one of the best dermatologists of the country) promised me for sure that Accutane will cure my skin problem, and the pimples will never come back again. I took Accutane more than one year long (two months taking, two month pause etc.) without any significant effect (just for the first few weeks).
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April 14, 2010

Pros:

Clearer Skin
Less Oil

Cons:

Extremely dry and irritated skin
Chapped lips
Dry, bloody nose
Sun Exposure
Joint Pain

Ive just finished my 5th month on accutane, 1 more month to go. Ive been optimistic since the day i started. I had severe acne for most of my adult life. I was on several antibiotics, topical medications, exercise, diet and topical medications. The affects of these were only minimal, it never went away. Finally i was able to obtain accutane from my Dermatologist. He started me at one a day for a month and that didnt do much for me. Followed by 2 40mg a day. Thats when it got worse. He told me it would get worse before it became better so i stuck through it. The extra acne diminished and was left with a smaller amount than when i started. After the 4th month my dosage was upped to 3 40mg a day. Reading forums i havent seen many who have had to do 120mgs a day. Ive still got clusters on my cheek area and under my jaw. My optimism is diminishing. Most of the other reviews reported that most of it was gone in the first few months and then a small amount towards the end, but mine seems to be a stalemate. The side effects are annoying but bearable. I started in the winter so the sun exposure wasnt apparent until spring. i was driving around with my arm out the window and after an hour i had a sunburn. Needless to say I purchased some sunscreen after that. The chapped lips can be solved with CONSTANT chapstick applications, and the dry skin needs to be moisturized several times a day. Also cortisone cream was a life saver. All in all im better of than i was 5 months ago. A lot can happen in the next month so im going to stick out the duration of the medication. I would def try this if you have the insurance seeing as blood tests and generics are costly.
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April 12, 2010

Pros:

-Perfect Skin
-Huge confidence
-No worries of acne
-Works FASST
-Dryness combated EASILY with AHA
-Dry lips sorted with LIP MEDEX (Blistex)

Cons:

-Start to realise acne wasn't only bad thing in your life

-A bit of depression, can be avoided by not watching sitcom marathons (eg. Waa I wish my life was as great as theirs, etc)

-Blood tests

Amazing treatment! I went to my dermatologist and got some (if you don't have a derm, go find one, they are great) The blood tests were unbearable, nothing worse in my life! (I hate needles) Very fast (within a week) people said my skin looked better. I was just waiting for the flare up.. But it never came. I got some insomnia, but stopped the treatment for a month, in which tiny bits of acne came back, and like 2 days after restarting, my acne is gone :) Still got 3 months left of my 6 month course too! Bloody fantastic medication, it has changed my life! Keep hydrated, and take an iron supplement! The last few days I watched over 100 episodes of a tv show, over 4 days. It has got me a little depressed, wondering what life'll turn out to be like, and hoping I am as happy as they look. Accutane can DEFINITELY cause suicide, so just be happy as much as you can, and don't, I repeat, don't watch too much real-life based tv, try to stick to things like family guy and south park. LOVE Accutane, just be careful and enjoy your new skin!
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April 11, 2010

Pros:

Supposedly somewhat clearer skin (Not worth it when looking at cons - find other methods)

Cons:

Possible, probable debilitating long-term side effects that will haunt you for the rest of your life.

[link removed] through these reviews and at this website along with many others if you use google you shall find warnings about how people have been effected negatively by this drug which supposedly was originally used on CANCER patients. Stories about stunted growth, back pain and surgery, the NUMEROUS side effects from taking this potent drug (Dan discusses them on his review - near top of this page) freaked me out. I was considering taking this drug but I now feel compelled to warn others. There are OTHER TREATMENTS out there that don't have the potential risk of crippling your body. Do you want to make a deal with the devil? A few years of good face (given through misinformation - there are other alternatives) for a potential lifetime of trouble? NO THANKS.
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April 11, 2010

Pros:

-Clear skin (clears up what other acne treatments don't)
-Confidence

Cons:

-Acne flaring up when dose is changed
-Dry and chapped lips
-Some depression/mood swings
-Frequent visits with a dermatologist and blood tests
-Caused some new acne in unaffected areas

I've been on Accutane for 6 months now and my experience with it has been mixed. So far, the medicine has done wonders to my face, but has yet to improve my back. Most frustrating, is the fact that my dermatologist says I will have to continue taking the medicine for longer than usual to prevent new cysts on my back. If you're considering taking Accutane be prepared for the side effects. They are numerous, and some can really suck. I listed some that I experienced in the cons section. Also, be aware that you may be on it for a while (like me), or have to retake it later in life if your acne returns. Accutane isn't prefect, but if nothing else seems to work for you it's worth trying.
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April 10, 2010

Pros:

Clear skin (obvious), confidence.

Cons:

Chapped Lips, dry eyes, dry naval passage, eczema, dry skin all over, depression, ANNOYANCE.

This is my fourth month on accutane. I am going to start by saying I am writing this review because I feel compelled to give feedback. During my worst times on accutane, I would continually check this forum for support. It would help me think about the future, as opposed to the terrible acne on my face. Accutane has changed my life. After my second month, the drug started to work. It completely cleared my acne and I had only a few tiny zits since then. But, that does not mean it was an easy ride. There are a few things that I had to compensate in my normal daily routine. The first - the capped lips. I used a few different products, but the fist I would recommend is Dr. Dan's Corti Balm. This chapstick is like no other. It is designed for people on accutane, and works like a charm. It repairs split corners too. The second is the eye drops. My eyes got SOOO dry. It is soo annoying, I know. But the best drops I found to work were GenTeal eye drops. The Moderate/Severe ones seemed to work the best. This may not be common, but I had a very hard time with my nose getting very dry. My nostrils would get very dry and on some occasions would bleed. When I remembered, I would use Cortizone, a cream that I used for the eczema on my arms, in my nose. I would simply swab a q tip with Cortizone, and wipe it around my nose. It would help so much. Again, I am writing here because I know how it feels to be on this drug, and it is miserable. But if you are sick of having sh*t-confidence, then it is very worth the side-effects. I did experience a little depression, but it is no worse then the depression that I felt looking at myself everyday, day after day with acne. Just dont worry. I cant stess this enough. You WILL get through this. Just wait for two or three months, use the products described above, and you will be fine. GOOD LUCK!
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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