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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Read All About Isotretinoin (Accutane®)
Compare To Other Treatments
5
37.1%
4
34.1%
3
15.3%
2
7.3%
1
6.2%

Used Isotretinoin (Accutane®)? Rate It:

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March 23, 2010

Pros:

Clears acne. Gets rid of oily skin.

Cons:

Hair thinning, dry lips, bloody nose, dry skin, dry eyes

My acne cleared up and my skin was not oily during my 6-7 month course. I did not get a severe initial breakout. Hair thinning was stressful and my entire body was so dry despite lots of water intake. 3 months out now, my acne has returned but very mild compared to before. My skin is once again oily just like before. If my acne remains mild it was worth it, if not...then i'm not sure. I'm conflicted to be honest with you hence the 3 star hedge. My hair is still thin and the side effects were pretty tough. It was also expensive as I had to pay the full cost at first and then get reimbursed later. $250 for a month. Plus seeing the doctor every month and getting blood test was tough with my work schedule.
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March 20, 2010

Pros:

I clears acne after a few weeks. Co-pay for me $20 and i'm sure i'm like $150 or something without copay.

Cons:

Caused a lot of headaches, back, neck pain. Dry skin, hair thinning and falling out. My doctor said it doesn't make your hair falls out but i think it obviously does as i can feel and see it becoming less and less each month. Of course, the first three weeks was a lot more acne as most people say. It makes me very sleepy, but my doctor told me that's not the side effects. I'm sure it is because i was so sleepy during my day taking it and i sleep longer each night.

First of all, all the review i read doesnt' let me know the age..which i think is important for some of us. I'm 33yrs old and acne prone since 15yrs old. I started out my first month with 20mg and the first 3 weeks it broke out as expected. Now i'm on the 40 mg for my second course..i believe i have one or two left to go. My face is indeed very clean and acne free, but i'm very afraid of one side-effect the most..hair loss. My doctor told me it jsut thin your hair but i'm sure he's wrong. My hair was thick and grows very fast and long, but it so obvious now i cant' even run my hands through my hair without feeling like i had a buzz cut and i havent' even cut my hair since i started this treatment. I knew the side effects but i really needed it for my face to clear on my wedding day, else i wouldn't recommend this as a treatment to anyone. Just remember once you stop taking it acne will come back.if you lucky to fall in that very very small % that it will permanently go away after the treatment then take the chance. Good luck.
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March 17, 2010

Pros:

clears skin to perfection

Cons:

nasty side effects including depression

My mother had acne when she was pregnant with me for the first and last time in her life, the fact that my acne was contracted genetically has made it almost impossible to clear, i tried antibiotics (2 types) the pill, topical creams/ointments (differin, duac, ect...) plus over the counter remedies which of course did nothing, my acne showed up at age 12, at age twenty i was offered accutane from a private dermatologist, it took five months to take effect with some harsh side effects including depression, hair change, and extreme dryness, but after the course my skin was clear, and for a year it was perfect, one year on exactly and my spots have started to return, but no where near as bad, and at the moment i blame the irritation from my latest face wash, i would definately recommend this drug becuse even though its a long haul, it gave me the confidance i never had in over a decade. you wont be perscribed it unless your skin is severe but i promise it WILL work, and probably never return, as it shouldnt, unless your acne is genetic too :)
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13 user(s) found this helpful

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March 16, 2010

Pros:

acne goes away
beautiful skin
oil free
you wake up every day so happy that you dont have any new bumps on your face

Cons:

joint pain
fatigue
dry skin
dry hair
acne seems to come back within time

I took it for 9 months, happiest 9 months of my life I couldn't believe how beautiful my skin was. So you will experiece some side effects big deal they go away after you stop the treatment. If there was something else that works as well as accutane I will be the first person to post it on acne.org, but for right now people who have acne that doesn't go away with benzoil peroxide wich is the best creams for acne right now, or with antibiotics, then you can try Accutane. I can tell you one thing you wont regret it
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10 user(s) found this helpful

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March 12, 2010

Pros:

Skin cleared in about 5 months and no longer oily.

Cons:

Very dry skin in the mornings, had to put on a lot of lotion. Difficult to get a prescription.

Does what it's supposed to and cleared my skin completely.
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26 user(s) found this helpful

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March 11, 2010

Pros:

90% clear skin

Cons:

Some joint pain
Some hairloss
Tired when I wake up.
Dry eyes, lips and scalp
tiredness, muscle ache
mood swings

My dose was 52mg/kg so it was a low dose. I think a lot of people underestimate how powerful this drug is. Start with a low dose and if that doesn't work then bump up the dose. I also ate a lot of healthy fats while on Accutane, I think that made it more effective. Only use this medicine after you have tried everything else. The pros won't outweigh the cons if your acne isn't severe and you haven't tried everything else before trying Accutane.
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March 5, 2010

Pros:

clear skin, loss of painful cystic acne, confidence

Cons:

dry skin, flaking around mouth, headaches, loss of energy

Despite the dry lips and flaking around the mouth, If you want clear skin you have to suck it up. I don't regret taking accutane at all and really recommend it for those of you out there that are sick and tired of eating healthy foods, taking immaculate care of your skin, and exercising for your skin, and not getting any results in return. It changed my life.
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February 27, 2010

Pros:

Clear Skin :)
No more oily skin!
No more oily hair!

Cons:

Initial Breakout-DRRYY Lips- Flaky Skin- Lots of redmarks left after pimples that last for a really long time- headaches-leg pains-eczema rash on hands and arms-hair loss :(

This medicine was no picnic for me. I started to get really bad cystic acne around 18 when I got off of Yaz, and right away my dermatologist recommended Accutane. I really wasn't afraid of the side effects, and the dry lips didn't bother me too much mostly because I just don't really care about that kind of stuff. While my cystic acne really hurt and got REALLY bad by November '09, it was never on my cheeks. Rather, I would get 10-15 deep cysts all on my forehead, chin and around my jawline. I had a REALLY intense IB for the first three months of accutane. It was horrible, I had HUGE, painful cysts pop up all on my cheeks when I was bumped up to 80 mg on my second month. Thankfully, I have a great dermatologist who tried to help me in everyway and put me on a Septra and a couple of courses of prednisone to help with the severity of my initial breakout. Oh boy. I wanted to quit this medicine and flush it down the drain SO many times because the breakouts were truly heinous. Thankfully, I listened to the advice of about 5 dermatologists and stayed on it. After my third month, everything started to clear up and the red/purple marks slowly started to fade and my skin looks better and better everyday. STICK IT OUT. EVEN IF IT SUCKS, REALLY REALLY BAD. There is a reason dermatologist absolutely RAVE over accutane. It's because 9 times out of 10 it produces DRAMATIC results that are long term. Don't give up! I know it's hard. But you will be so happy with the result in the end :)
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February 26, 2010

Pros:

Aparently is a cure to acne

Cons:

-Dry Lips
-Severe Joint Pain
-SEVERE SPINE PAIN

Hi, I used Accutane for 5 days and it cuased me a world of complications. On my second day I was sitting on the couch and this sharp pain started to strike my back. I didnt know what it was I assumed I was probably lifting too much at the gym. I carried on taking it and the pain became more severe, so i looked at the net and found out it plays around with your bones. Like I said im a dedicated body builder and joint pain is a real let down. but the pain has gone away now since i stoped using it (been 2 weeks since i stopped). Any ways im not telling you guys not to use it, but im saying if you do find any unwanted side effects take note and research. if it wasnt for my re search my doctor said I would of been through major spinal complications that might not be reversable. Just take care guys this drug isnt a joke.
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15 user(s) found this helpful

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February 20, 2010

Pros:

clears skin COMPLETLEY
course only lasts 5-6 months
ultimate exfoliator
wake up oil-free

Cons:

bad initial breakout
lots of dryness in skin, mouth, lips, scalp
tiredness, muscle ache
mood swings, behaviour change

it makes you worse then good then great. side effects are obvious, but are not unbearable. this will likely give you clear skin. hang in there for the 5 months or so.
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30 user(s) found this helpful

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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