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
March 25, 2011
Cons:
Dry lips and dry eyes sometimes. Migraines, shivers and extreme tiredness for first few weeks only. Abstinence from alcohol. Possibly slight depression whether it´s due to tablet or not who knows.
The brand I use of Roaccutane in Spain is called Isdibin. I have taken it consistently for 5 months and have one month left. Definitely worth taking as long as your GP monthly checks your blood. If you have a bad reaction, simply stop the treatment. I have eaten high protein foods to prevent hair loss (this terrified me) and I have grown more hair! My acne wasn ´t constant but when it came it was cystic and on three occasions I needed hospital treatment. Mainly on face but also bad on back and legs.
March 15, 2011
Pros:
+ Acne dissapears for a year or two
+ Skin becomes very flawless
+ You feel better (for a while)
Cons:
- After the first month of using it, your whole body have a major breakout. Very bad!
- After you finish using it, acne comes back (in a year or two) and generally it's worse than before
- VERY bad for your liver
- makes your whole skin very dry.
- chapped lips, elbows, knees etc.
I would NOT recommend this product at all! It the heaviest and most dangerous drug I've ever used in my life. Yes, it makes your acne go away but it comes back eventually. I don't like this. You shouldn't have to kill your liver for this. I recommend using other products...
January 5, 2011
Pros:
It works
No longer have oily skin
Nearly flawless skin
Cons:
Very dry skin
Headaches
Backaches
I did not have severe acne, probably closer to moderate . However, I have been dealing with acne for over three years and couldn't stand waking up in the morning and feeling crappy as soon as I looked in the mirror. I did find lots of success with minocycline for about 10 months, but it stopped working like so many other acne persciptions. I finally talked my dermatologist into allowing me to take claravis (isotretinoin). The first week I had headaches and what felt like pressure behind my eyes. This lasted about four days. The second week brought extremely dry skin. My ears, face and scalp were pealing lol- it was kind of gross. The second through late fourth week were hell for me. My face continued to break out with this annoying dry skin. In about the fifth week, things turned around. My face started clearing dramatically, but this was when I began to experience backaches in the mornings. The sixth and seventh week I had some breakouts, but not nearly as bad as the first month. Now, I'm in the ninth or tenth week and my face is not oily whatsoever and almost 100% clear. No new pimples, just healing old ones from a couple weeks ago.
I 100% recommend this if things like benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin and different tetracyclines fail you. It's great waking up in the morning and feeling good about myself once again, no more worries:)
Hopefully this helps with anyone trying to make the accutane decision, there are side effects but they were SO worth it for me!
Good Luck!
November 12, 2010
Pros:
-(personally) REDUCED acne and scarring
-incredibly potent and highly effective (for most)
Cons:
-dry EVERYTHING (contact users, wear glasses)
-initial breakout 2-3 months
-can cause hormonal imbalance
-suicidal thoughts
-monthly blood drawn (and ept for girls)
-flaky skin
-decreased night vision
I thought that even though it was the most powerful stuff on the market for acne, it didn't do what it needed to. However, for roughly 5-10% it has been much less effective (that was where I was.) it did help though, and I only get 5-8 red bumps perpetually. this is the medicine for those who have tried everything else.
personal note: I was on it for 10 months rather then 6, this is because the acne was still there. my acne was all over and now the only areas of concern is the face and once in a while the shoulders.
August 26, 2010
Pros:
Im acne free!!! the only medication who really worked for me!!!
Cons:
I had a really bad allergic reaction to it and had to go to the hospital. Big itchy red plaque all over my body. Huge red ears and lips.
Buy it if you want to try but there is still a risk of allergic reaction and others bad things
December 16, 2009
Pros:
my skin is slightly clearer.
Cons:
HORRIABLE dry lips to the point i almost cant live with them, blood nose. dry in the places i dont need it to be. face is bring red and make up doesnt cover it. blury vision due to drying eyes.
unfortunatly i have not a good result like some people. by doing accutane i found myself being less confident then i was before the drug. i had to be put on it for and extra month because it was not working. my doctor would have suggested i take it another month but i refuesed because already have taken it longer than planned.my skin is always bright red and uneven. the dryness of my lips is unberable. the burly vision is impossiable to live with especially if you are a student like me and drops dont help to the extent i need them too. i now also have scaley arms and hands.my skin is still not clear and i still have to do plenty of other follow up scrip drugs.i would not suggest it to anyone and have already told other to try other things.
December 2, 2009
Pros:
Back and Chest cleared up!
Cons:
Severe Headaches, nose bleeds, dry skin, dry lips, Cholesterol went up, skin rashes, depression, nausea, diarrhea, and night blindness
Every possible side effect u could get I got! I spent the first month locked up in my apartment to depressed to come out. Then all the other side effects started. Taking the drug was a big mistake, something that has that many warnings and federally mandated like it is must be. I only took it for a month and a half until I finally couldn't take it anymore. You should look at all the lawsuits against it before you make the decision to take accutane.
November 6, 2009
Pros:
took accutane 3 yrs ago and it worked great for me... prior to that i had pretty bad acne for about 10 yrs and tried antibiotics and topicals but never great results... the accutane worked great but seems like it is coming back.. i will use again
Cons:
dry skin. chapped lips. upset stomach on occasion
it worked sooo well for me and it seems like i will have to go for another treatment... I would love not to use any drug but unfortunately my skin has been pretty bad..... drink a lot of water!!!! and take with meal and should be fine... i feel worse when my skin is bad then when i was on this medicine.
October 14, 2009
Pros:
Takes away oily skin
Takes away acne
Confidence
Cons:
Dry skin and lips
Blood tests
Staying out of the sun
I've been taking this for about four months. I went to the doctor the other day and he said i might need to be on it for about another 2-3 months. Its already made a great difference. My brother was on it too. He has finished his treatment and his skin looks amazing. I can't wait untill i can stop taking them tho'. But its sooo worth it. My face wasnt that bad but my back was pretty severe. The end result is well worth the side effects. I recommend accutane for anyone who has tried many things but just have not worked.
October 5, 2009
Pros:
Hoping it will clear acne when finished
Cons:
Dry lips and face, dry skin on arms.
I started on 40mg a day for 1 month then my doc bumped it up to 40mg twice a day. I've been on 80mg for about two weeks and just started breaking out bad with cystic acne around jaw line. Nothing else has worked for me so I will stick it out with the Accutane and hope for results.
Pros:
Amazing results. What you dream of!!