
Precautions
You should not consume Accutane if you have an intolerance or allergy to vitamin A in general . Given its danger in circumstances of low medical force, it is necessary that your purchase be made only by showing the prescribed prescription of a specialist with a fairly broad knowledge of the patient’s history, illness, grade, general health ...
Why you should never take Accutane?
- Dry skin requiring the frequent use of moisturizers
- Dry and cracking lips
- Nosebleeds
- Itchy skin (pruritus)
- Thinning hair
- Excessive peeling, especially of the palms and soles
- Muscle aches and pains that are worse with physical activity
- Increased sensitivity to the sun, causing sunburns more easily
- Elevated triglyceride levels 5
What does isotretinoin treat?
I really do believe that Accutane was worth it for the fact that it cleared up my severe cystic acne and that I stayed clear. The amount of confidence I got to finally be happy with my skin is priceless.
Is Accutane worth it?
Weight loss is not listed as a side effect of Accutane nor is weight gain. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, it is sometimes used to treat other skin conditions or even some forms of cancer but is not used as a weight-loss drug.
Does isotretinoin cause weight loss?

What is the current use of Accutane?
This medication is used to treat severe cystic acne (also known as nodular acne) that has not responded to other treatment (such as benzoyl peroxide or clindamycin applied to the skin or tetracycline or minocycline taken by mouth). It belongs to a class of drugs known as retinoids.
What is the new version of Accutane?
Recently Accutane has been replaced by most prescribers with a newer generation prescription called Epuris. Epuris might be slightly different, but it still has a lot of the same qualities that Accutane has with increased effectiveness and typically less side effects.
Is isotretinoin still on the market?
Generic versions of the acne drug, called isotretinoin, are still available from several manufacturers. But Roche, which has sold the drug to 13 million patients since 1982, will not be one of them. The decision was made for "business reasons," Roche announced in a news release.
How long is isotretinoin treatment?
A treatment course of isotretinoin capsules usually lasts for 16 to 24 weeks (around 4 to 6 months). Acne will usually keep getting better for up to 8 weeks after stopping treatment. Most people have clear skin after that time, but some will need another round of treatment.
Can I switch brands of isotretinoin?
Absorica® capsules should not be substituted with other forms of isotretinoin (eg, Absorica LD™, Accutane®). Different brands may not work the same way. If you refill your medicine and it looks different, check with your pharmacist.
Are there different types of Accutane?
Isotretinoin is available under the following different brand names: Amnesteem, Claravis, Myorisan, Absorica, and Zenatane.
Is Accutane still on the market 2021?
Accutane (not currently marketed in the US) Amnesteem. Claravis. Myorisan.
Do dermatologists still prescribe Accutane?
What are the requirements for taking Accutane? A dermatologist will only prescribe isotretinoin after all other methods of acne treatment fail.
What's the difference between tretinoin and isotretinoin?
Tretinoin is a topical medication that's used to treat mild-to-moderate acne. It speeds up the life cycle of skin cells, which helps to keep pores clear. It may also be used to treat wrinkles and sun damage. Isotretinoin is an oral medication prescribed for severe acne or cases that may cause scars.
How many rounds of isotretinoin can a person take?
3 – Most People Only Need One Course of Accutane Treatment After completing the course of medication, the vast majority of people will not need any additional rounds of . While they may see a few pimples or mild breakouts, most never have flareups that are ever as severe again.
Does isotretinoin work permanently?
Most dermatologists agree that Isotretinoin is one of the few medications that can give prolonged control of acne even after the treatment course for many years, and in some instances, it is a permanent cure.
Is isotretinoin 10 mg effective?
Low-dose isotretinoin, e.g. 10 mg per day, is effective for most patients.
How does isotretinoin work?
Isotretinoin, like other retinoids, works by altering DNA transcription. This effect decreases the size and the output of the sebaceous glands .
What are the side effects of isotretinoin?
Isotretinoin therapy can also cause the following less serious, but potentially annoying side effects: 1 Dry skin requiring the frequent use of moisturizers 2 Dry and cracking lips 3 Nosebleeds 4 Itchy skin (pruritus) 5 Thinning hair 6 Excessive peeling, especially of the palms and soles 7 Muscle aches and pains that are worse with physical activity 8 Increased sensitivity to the sun, causing sunburns more easily 9 Elevated triglyceride levels 5
How long does it take for isotretinoin to clear?
A standard course of therapy is 16 to 20 weeks. At the end of 16 weeks, about 85% of patients are clear. 6 The beneficial effects of isotretinoin do not stop when the drug is discontinued.
What is the name of the brand of acne medicine?
His research has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Isotretinoin (formerly sold under the brand name Accutane) is a medicine that revolutionized the treatment of acne. (Other brand names include: Claravis, Amnesteem, ABsorica, Myorisan, Zenatane, and Sotret.) 1 .
How long does it take for acne to get worse after isotretinoin?
The length of the treatment course varies but generally lasts from 16 to 20 weeks. Some people notice that their acne initially gets worse after starting isotretinoin therapy.
What is the name of the medicine that is used to treat acne?
Isotretinoin (formerly sold under the brand name Accutane) is a medicine that revolutionized the treatment of acne. (Other brand names include: Claravis, Amnesteem, ABsorica, Myorisan, Zenatane, and Sotret.) 1 . Isotretinoin belongs to the family of medicines called retinoids, which are similar to vitamin A.
How long before birth control isotretinoin?
Women who are taking isotretinoin should use two forms of birth control during this timeframe: a month before treatment begins through the end of the first month after treatment ends.
What is isotretinoin used for?
Expand Section. Isotretinoin is used to treat severe recalcitrant nodular acne (a certain type of severe acne) that has not been helped by other treatments, such as antibiotics. Isotretinoin is in a class of medications called retinoids.
What to do if you are allergic to isotretinoin?
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to isotretinoin, vitamin A, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in isotretinoin capsules. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the inactive ingredients.
How should this medicine be used?
Isotretinoin comes as a capsule to take by mouth. Isotretinoin is usually taken twice a day with meals for 4 to 5 months at a time. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take isotretinoin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
How long after isotretinoin treatment can you donate blood?
Do not donate blood while you are taking isotretinoin and for 1 month after your treatment.
How many negative pregnancy tests are needed for isotretinoin?
You must have two negative pregnancy tests before you can begin to take isotretinoin. Your doctor will tell you when and where to have these tests. You will also need to be tested for pregnancy in a laboratory each month during your treatment, when you take your last dose and 30 days after you take your last dose.
How long do you have to take birth control before you can take isotretinoin?
You must use two acceptable forms of birth control for 1 month before you begin to take isotretinoin, during your treatment and for 1 month after your treatment. Your doctor will tell you which forms of birth control are acceptable and will give you written information about birth control.
Can you take isotretinoin while pregnant?
Isotretinoin must not be taken by patients who are pregnant or who may become pregnant. There is a high risk that isotretinoin will cause loss of the pregnancy, or will cause the baby to be born too early, to die shortly after birth, or to be born with birth defects (physical problems that are present at birth).
How Does Isotretinoin Work?
Exactly how isotretinoin works on a cellular level is unknown but we do know that it helps combat the four ways that acne develops .
How long does isotretinoin last?
Low dosing: Traditionally, most doctors prescribe high doses of at least 1mg/kg/day for relatively short periods of time (15 - 20 weeks). However, because many people develop severe side effects, more recently researchers started testing lower doses of isotretinoin administered over a longer period of time.
Why did Accutane discontinue?
In June, 2009, shortly after a jury awarded $33 million in damages to people who claimed Accutane caused bowel disease, Roche decided to discontinue selling the brand name, Accutane. The company cited declining sales as their reason.
When did isotretinoin become depressant?
Patients have reported depressive symptoms since the drug hit the market in 1982. Whether isotretinoin causes these depressive feelings remains a subject of intense debate. There are, after all, millions of people taking the drug, and there are bound to be people experiencing depression amongst them.
When was iisotretinoin first used?
Iisotretinoin, originally known for its brand name Accutane ®, or Roaccutane ® in parts of the world, was discovered in 1979 when it was first given to patients with severe acne, most of whom reacted with dramatic and permanent clearing of their acne symptoms.
Is isotretinoin good for depression?
The dermatological literature suggests that acne is an independent risk factor for depression and isotretinoin could be used to improve depression by treating acne and improving self-image.
Does isotretinoin help with acne?
Efficacy: Isotretinoin works to achieve partial or complete clearance of acne in about 95% of people who complete a course, regardless of whether they have inflammatory or non-inflammatory acne. 14 About 2/3 of people who take it experience long-term remission of acne symptoms.
How to prescribe isotretinoin?
Due to possible side effects, your dermatologist can only prescribe this medicine if you: 1 Enroll in a program from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 2 See your dermatologist for follow-up visits 3 Sign forms that state you know the risks of taking isotretinoin
What is the name of the brand of isotretinoin?
Brand names for isotretinoin include Absorica ®, Accutane ®, Amnesteem ®, Claravis ®, Myorisan ®, Sotret ®, and Zenatane ™. Isotretinoin (eye-soh-tret-in-OH-in) is a prescription medicine for severe acne. This type of acne causes deep, painful cysts and nodules. These can be the size of a pencil eraser or larger.
How long does it take for isotretinoin to clear acne?
One course of treatment takes about four to five months.
Can you get pregnant while taking isotretinoin?
Take required pregnancy tests before and while taking isotretinoin. Avoid getting pregnant. Patient safety is a dermatologist’s first concern. If this medicine is an option for you, your dermatologist will talk with you about how to take this medicine safely and what you can expect.
Is isotretinoin under medical supervision?
If isotretinoin is an appropriate treatment for you, you will be under close medical supervision while you take this medicine.
What Is Isotretinoin and How Does It Work?
Isotretinoin is a powerful medication used to treat severe inflammatory acne. Isotretinoin ( not to be confused with tretinoin) is classified as a retinoid and is made from a synthetic form of vitamin A. It is taken orally, in pill form, once or twice daily. 1
What are the side effects of isotretinoin?
Probably the most widely discussed side effects of isotretinoin are depression and suicide. There have been reports of depression, psychosis, suicide attempts, and suicide in people taking isotretinoin. 5
Is isotretinoin good for acne?
Isotretinoin has proven to be a successful acne treatment. For those who suffer from severe inflammatory or cystic acne, it may be a viable treatment option, especially if your acne has not responded well to other medications. Ultimately, you and your dermatologist must decide if isotretinoin therapy is right for you.
Do pimples come back after isotretinoin?
Some people do require a second course of treatment to completely clear the skin. 2 . After treatment is finished, pimples rarely come back. But if needed, after your course of isotretinoin you can be transitioned to a topical acne medication to maintain your newly cleared skin.
Can you get pregnant while taking isotretinoin?
Isotretinoin can cause miscarriage and severe birth defects in babies whose mothers take the drug while pregnant. It's very important that you do not get pregnant while taking isotretinoin, as well as for at least one month after stopping treatment. You also may not breastfeed while taking this medication.
Should I Take Isotretinoin?
Isotretinoin is best for moderate acne to severe acne. If you have mild acne, your healthcare provider will likely have you try other acne medications first. 7
What are some things I need to know or do while I take ISOtretinoin?
Tell all of your health care providers that you take ISOtretinoin (systemic). This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
What are some other side effects of ISOtretinoin?
All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:
What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take ISOtretinoin?
Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
How do I store and/or throw out ISOtretinoin?
Store at room temperature protected from light. Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
How long after stopping isotretinoin can you donate blood?
Use care when driving at night or doing other tasks in lowered lighting. Do not donate blood while using ISOtretinoin (systemic) and for 1 month after stopping. Treatment with ISOtretinoin (systemic) may lead to higher cholesterol and triglycerides. The effect of these changes on heart health is not known.
How to avoid driving with ISOtretinoin?
Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert or have clear eyesight until you see how ISOtretinoin (systemic) affects you.
How many pregnancy tests are needed for isotretinoin?
You must have 2 pregnancy tests that show you are NOT pregnant before starting ISOtretinoin (systemic). You must have pregnancy tests done while taking ISOtretinoin (systemic). Talk with your doctor.
What is the best treatment for acne vulgaris?
Acne vulgaris is the most common skin disease treated by dermatologists. It can be severe and result in permanent scars. Isotretinoin is the most effective treatment for acne and has the potential for long-term clearance. Prescribing and monitoring protocols can vary widely among prescribers.
Is isotretinoin good for acne?
Isotretinoin is the most effective treatment for acne and has the potential for long-term clearance. Prescribing and monitoring protocols can vary widely among prescribers. Recent studies, reports, and consensus statements help shed light on optimizing the use of isotretinoin for acne.

Contraindications
This medication is used to treat severe cystic acne (also known as nodular acne) that has not responded to other treatment (such as benzoyl peroxide or clindamycin applied to the skin or tetracycline or minocycline taken by mouth).
May Treat: Severe recalcitrant nodular acne
Brand Names: Absorica · Absorica LD · Accutane · Amnesteem · Claravis and more
Drug Class: Acne Therapy Systemic - Retinoids and Derivatives
Availability: Prescription Required
Pregnancy: Do not use. This medication may be harmful to an unborn child.
Lactation: This drug should not be given to breastfeeding mothers
Prevention
Risks
Results
Preparation
Diagnosis
Treatment
Pathophysiology
Prognosis
- The side effects of isotretinoin therapy have prevented some people from considering it as a viable therapy. Despite its side effects, isotretinoin remains the most powerful and promising therapy for moderate to severe acne. Used in a prudent manner, with careful monitoring, it can change the life of an adolescent or young adult.
Treatment
- Isotretinoin must not be taken by patients who are pregnant or who may become pregnant. There is a high risk that isotretinoin will cause loss of the pregnancy, or will cause the baby to be born too early, to die shortly after birth, or to be born with birth defects (physical problems that are present at birth). Do not donate blood while you are taking isotretinoin and for 1 month after your treatment. Do not share isotretinoin with anyone else, even so…
Side effects
- A program called iPLEDGE has been set up to make sure that pregnant women do not take isotretinoin and that women do not become pregnant while taking isotretinoin. All patients, including women who cannot become pregnant and men, can get isotretinoin only if they are registered with iPLEDGE, have a prescription from a doctor who is registered with iPLEDGE and fill the prescription at a pharmacy that is registered with iPLEDGE. Do not bu…
Overview
- You will receive information about the risks of taking isotretinoin and must sign an informed consent sheet stating that you understand this information before you can receive the medication. You will need to see your doctor every month during your treatment to talk about your condition and the side effects you are experiencing. At each visit, your doctor may give you a prescription for up to a 30-day supply of medication with no refills. If you are a woma…
Risks
- Tell your doctor if you do not understand everything you were told about isotretinoin and the iPLEDGE program or if you do not think you will be able to keep appointments or fill your prescription on schedule every month. Your doctor will give you an identification number and card when you start your treatment. You will need this number to fill your prescriptions and to get information from the iPLEDGE website and phone line. Keep the card in a safe pl…
Epidemiology
- Your doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer's patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when you begin treatment with isotretinoin and each time you refill your prescription. Read the information carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You can also visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs), the manufacturer's website, or the iPLEDGE program website (http://www.ip…
Programs
- You must have two negative pregnancy tests before you can begin to take isotretinoin. Your doctor will tell you when and where to have these tests. You will also need to be tested for pregnancy in a laboratory each month during your treatment, when you take your last dose and 30 days after you take your last dose. You will need to contact the iPLEDGE system by phone or the internet every month to confirm the two forms of birth control you …
Research
- Stop taking isotretinoin and call your doctor right away if you think you are pregnant, you miss a menstrual period, or you have sex without using two forms of birth control. If you become pregnant during your treatment or within 30 days after your treatment, your doctor will contact the iPLEDGE program, the manufacturer of isotretinoin, and the Fo...
Analysis
- Exactly how Accutane works on a cellular level is unknown but we do know that it affects four ways that acne develops.
Health
- Although acne may get worse within the first month of Accutane use for about 30% of patients, the ultimate results are usually dramatic.13Accutane works to achieve partial or complete clearance of acne in about 95% of people who complete a cycle, regardless of whether they have inflammatory or non-inflammatory acne.14The majority of people who take it experience long-term remission of acne symptoms. Studies show relapse rates be…
Diet
- Low dosing: Traditionally, most doctors prescribe high doses of at least 1mg/kg / day for relatively short periods of time (15-20 weeks). However, because many people develop severe side effects from Accutane, more recently clinicians started testing lower doses of Accutane administered over a longer period of time. Initial data is showing that pat...
Discovery
- Intermittent dosing: Intermittent dosing (taking Accutane only one week of every month) also produces fewer side effects but may not work as well. It has been studied twice. In both studies people receiving an intermittent dose ended up receiving a lower cumulative dose, so we do not know if the poorer results are due to the intermittent administration of the drug or the lower cumulative dose. The first study compared an intermittent dose to a regu…
Controversies
- Accutane is a systemic medication that affects the entire body. Side effects are numerous and widespread, and affect almost all patients.1-35Side effects can be moderate and reversible, but in some cases can be severe or long term.
Uses
- Clinical research shows extremely high risk for birth defects if Accutane is taken by pregnant women.3The effects and risks of Accutane on unborn children are so severe that the FDA approved the iPledge program, which requires female patients of childbearing age to commit to using two (2) forms of birth control while on Accutane.4