The following side effects are expected to occur during treatment with isotretinoin. Contact your doctor if these symptoms are severe and/or do not go away on stopping treatment:
How Common (based on clinical studies)
| Sore, cracked, or red lips | Up to 100% of all users |
| Dryness of skin, mouth, nose, or eyes | Up to 100% of all users |
| Skin peeling on palms and soles | Up to 92.9% of all users |
| Nosebleeds | Up to 66.7% of all users |
| Itching | Up to 57.1% of all users |
| Changes in laboratory tests, such as in levels of fats in the blood | Up to 57% |
| Hair loss or unwanted growth of hair | Up to 29% of all users |
| Soreness of the mouth | Up to 28.6% of all users |
| Fatigue or tiredness | Up to 27% of all users |
| Sleep disturbances / insomnia | Up to 22% of all users |
| Decreased appetite | Up to 17% of all users |
| Eczema (itchy and inflamed skin) | Up to 12.1% of all users |
| Sunburns | Up to 12% of all users |
| Changes in mood | Up to 7.1% of all users |
| Increased or decreased sweating | Up to 6.7% of all users |
| Cracking of skin or crusting | Up to 6.7% of all users |
| Dry hair | Up to 6.7% of all users |
| Pterygium (a growth on the eye) | Up to 6.7% of all users |
| Extreme sensitivity to light (photophobia) | Up to 6.7% of all users |
| Bleeding or swelling of gums | Unknown |
| Delayed wound healing | Unknown |
| Episodes of flushing | Unknown |
| Changes in the appearance of the nails | Unknown |
| Voice changes | Unknown |
| Symptoms of a cold | Unknown |
| Discoloration of the skin | Unknown |
Some side effects of isotretinoin can be serious. If you experience any of the following side effects, or any of those mentioned in the “Important Warning” or “Be aware of” sections, stop using isotretinoin immediately and contact your doctor or get emergency medical care right away:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Feeling faint or dizzy
- Episodes of fainting
- Blurring of vision or any other changes in vision
- Seizures
- Speech difficulty or slowing of speech
- Numbness or weakness of one side or one part of the body
- Abdominal pain
- Appearance of sores in the eyes, nose, mouth, or throat
- Difficulty or pain during swallowing
- New feelings of heartburn or worsening of existing heartburn
- Chest pain
- Diarrhea or watery stools
- Bleeding from the rectum or blood in stools
- Bone, joint, or muscle pains
- Back pain
- Muscle weakness
- Unexplained bruises or red patches on the legs
- Yellowed skin or eyes
- Dark yellow-brown urine
- Changes in hearing
- Ringing in the ears
- Rash on face or other areas of the body
- Pain in the eyes
- Persistent dryness of the eyes
- Skin peeling and blistering, particularly over the face, arms, or legs
- Unusually increased amounts of thirst
- Increased frequency of urination
- Pounding or fast heartbeat
- Itchy, red, swollen and teary eyes (pink eye)
- Fever
- Swelling in any part of the body
Isotretinoin may also cause other side effects that are not mentioned here. Contact your doctor if you experience any other troublesome symptoms when using isotretinoin.
References
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