Acne.org Products
Oral Retinoid
Efficacy
87%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Use with EXTREME CAUTION: Causes severe birth defects and fetal death.
Oral Retinoid
Acne.org’s Real World Take
The nuclear option. It works reliably and provides long-term remission of acne, and even severe acne, in about ⅔ of people who properly take an adequate dosage. However, it permanently and irreversibly changes the skin and the body forever and users may experience long-term side effects for the rest of their lives. It’ll nuke it, but there is no going back.
Oral Retinoid
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
February 2, 2008
Cons:
Nothing too bad! DRY LIPS, SORE MUSCLES
For the month ive been on it,GREAT! Hoping its worth it=))
January 23, 2008
Pros:
I took a 6 month course when I was 19 and had AMAZING results. Did not have acne again until last year, at age 26. I went back on accutane 10 days ago, and so far my skin is worse, and all I have are side effects.
Cons:
*headache, dry skin, acne worsened
If you haven't tried it, go for it. It was awesome for me the first round. As for if you need a 2nd course, I have my reservations. I am hoping as I go into week two of the medication the acne actually clears, instead of continuing to spread.
January 14, 2008
Pros:
I guess my skin is a little less oily..but really not much
Cons:
EVERYTHING. Terrible Breakouts, I mean HUGE 10x bigger than I've ever had you get new pimples you don't usually get and your lips are awfully dry. Severe depression and recent thoughts of suicide. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD don't take this prescription.
DON'T!
DON'T!
DON'T!
DON'T!
DON'T! I've been off the regimen for 4 months (took it for 7) and really NO improvment just made it a whole lot worse.
January 8, 2008
Pros:
I have not had a single pimple since the 2nd month on accutane. my skin is smooth to the touch and less oily. After 3 months I stopped taking it, but now, over 2 months later, still good and no painful acne YES it really did work.
Cons:
Being on the drug is like being sick. The 2nd day, symptoms start. First, the awful cracking of the lips (which are only healed with Aquaphor). I had dry, itchy patches all over my arms, legs and hands which was the worst thing. (still SCARS!)
I got a prescription cortisone cream for the dry patches which really helped heal them over time. I went on a 3 day trip with no sleep and that made my skin go haywire and my entire right hand looked like it had a huge scab on it of dry skin. My nose was always stuffy with dried blood which made me feel unwell compared to other people and hemorrhoids??. My spine would feel weird (the joint pain people refer to) and I just felt sick. There were no mental changes at all though. I hated the painful breakout during the first month and a half, but I was committed to endure the side effects since my acne had been so PAINFUL and ugly since 10th grade to now my junior year of college. I would start to forget to take the dinner pill. It was such an emotional ordeal getting the drug, having to take birth control, getting monthly labwork, but when my hair was oil-free (nice!) and skin clear, I just had to stop because the side effects were too much, so I stopped @ 3 months in hard nursing school!
December 11, 2007
Pros:
No oily skin. Thats it so far.
Cons:
Ance is way worse. I used to have moderately bad acne with a few systic lumps. Now my entire jaw line is convered in lumps - incredibly painful. Dry Lips. Super Dry Skin. Rashes on Back of Hands and on Top of Arms. Generally depressed.
IT SUCKS SO FAR!! However, my sister went on accutane a few years ago and her skin cleared up in 2 weeks! She has had maybe 1 pimple a year for the past few years. Her skin is perfect. I was expecting similar results, and am very dissapointed to say the least. Sometimes I forget to moisturize and my face basically completely peels off. SO EMBARASSING. It's been a lifestyle change for the worse, with no positives as of yet. To make matters worse, I am an athlete and I have been experiencing some mild chest pain and shortness of breath that is unusual. My doctor knows about all of these side effects but she seems unconcerned. I am presently taking 80 mg a day. Hopefully better results lie ahead for me in the future, and I can get rid of this terrible acne that has completely drained my self confidence.
December 10, 2007
Pros:
It worked well during the time I was taking it and about half a year after that.
Cons:
So far I have taken Isotretinoin Accutane / Roacuttan 3 different times. Each prescription was half a year. It looks that my forth prescription is needed.
I was quite disappointed since I hope the result to be quite forever. I have had acne more than ten years now. I have tried everything. Isotretinoin Accutane / Roacuttan works but in my cast the result lasted only for a half a year after medication. I really would not want to take the medicine fourth time since now I already think that it will last only for a while and then I am back again :( But at least it works for a while really well.
Dont want to be like this forever
October 8, 2007
Pros:
It clears up the acne (at least it did for me and several other friends).
Cons:
Chapped lips, sensitivity to sun, dry cracked knuckles and skin which were all alleviated with lip and skin moisturizers and staying out of the sun. Must drink lots of water as you really get dried out. Expensive if you don't have insurance coverage
I took Accutane for 6 months in 1989 when I was 23 and had battled with moderate to severe acne for many years. I am now 41 and I still don't have any problems with acne. If I get lazy and don't wash my face properly I might get one or two blemishes once in a while but otherwise I have no problems. In a nutshell, it worked for me and after 18 years I am still acne free! I honestly can't tell you how much Accutane was in the late 80s but my insurance paid for it. Consider all the money spent on topical solutions, antibiotics, etc. and you'll probably spend more on those in a lifetime than Accutane. As far as the side effects especially birth defects, I had to sign so many documents stating that I understood how severe birth defects could be. It is a major drug and the warnings should be taken seriously. I know a handful of other people who took Accutane when I did and none of us suffered from depression or had suicidal tendancies. We were all so happy that are acne was cured!
September 26, 2007
Pros:
It def took care of my cystic acne, i didnt have acne until i was 22, i was devastated, it seem to work right away.
Cons:
i had most of the side effects, achey joints, severe depression, mood swings, nose bleeds, lips peeling etc. after ending my round of accutane i had laser treatments done on my face and i was flawless for about two years than i needed another round
the bottom line. . . acne has consumed my life im now 27 and after two rounds of accutane, laser resurfacing, daily antibiotics and topical treatments im still battling this DISEASE, i really want to believe i have beautiful skin but i cant help feeling ugly everyday. ive exhausted all remedies, diet, excercise, medications, not wearing makeup, wearing makeup, lifestyle changes in general! i dont know what to do anymore. im desperate for a miracle. my poor dermatologist has become my pyschologist every 6 weeks! my face actually hurts and im depressed! is there anyone out there that feels as bad as me and as in much pain as i am?
August 10, 2007
Pros:
1st product that has ever worked for me in 15 years of having acne
Cons:
hard to get a script, dry lips
So worth it... I wish I had not been so scared to use it in the past, otherwise I would not have rolling acne scars. For me, it worked instantly and I wasnt expecting it. Within 2 weeks I was down to 1 cyst. I have experienced dryness, but nothing in comparison to Retin A or Benzoyl Peroxide, etc. Paula's Choice Lip and Body Balm and Aquaphor are highly recommended. Any negative side affect is NOTHING in comparison to both the physical and emotional scars of acne.
August 5, 2007
Pros:
Works amazingly well. It's the only thing that has worked to clear up my acne.
Cons:
Dry skin, though if you moisturize every morning and night you should be okay. Dry lips. Nose bleeds. Takes a while to work.
I've been on Accutane for 5 months and have just started my final pack of Accutane. My skin is nearly entirely clear. I now only get the occasional pimple, whereas before my treatment began, I'd always have pimples all over my face, including the cystic variety. Before beginning Acutane, I tried so many different types of medication for my acne, but nothing worked before this. While my acne was not incredibly severe, I am still incredibly glad that I went on Accutane. It is fully worth any side effects that you may experience. The nose bleeds are the most irritating, but there are different sprays and things that you can use to combat them. It can be a bit discouraging in the first few months of the treatment - my acne took at least 2 or 3 months to start clearing up - but after a while, you will notice your skin has cleared up a ton. I would recommend Accutane to anyone who wants an almost sure way to rid themselves of acne.
Pros:
SO far SO good. Only been on it for a month. Face is really dry but no actives AT ALL!!!