While I did experience some side effects, many of them were among the most common dry skin, stiff joints, the occasional bloody nose. A few weeks after I went off the pill, they were gone. I have a mandatory check-up in six months, but my doctor is confident my skin will stay acne-free. Looking back, I wish I had gone on isotretinoin years ago, the first time a doctor recommended it.
I would have saved myself months of frustration, anger, and heartache surrounding my skin. No matter how healthfully I ate, how diligent I was about washing my face, or how many facials I paid for, nothing worked. I felt like I was failing my body. But, contrary to popular belief, acne is often unexplained. When it comes to health — especially in relation to beauty and medication — the internet is just as much a resource as it is a complete hellscape. Though some users do experience serious side effects while on isotretinoin, those effects are rare.
I wish there was more of that on the internet: more about the positive, life-changing results the drug has had for the thousands of people who have taken it and are now free of acne. Like any drug, isotretinoin is not for everyone. Clarissa Buch is a nationally published writer and editorial consultant based in South Florida. Learn more. This handout is provided to you by your family doctor and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.
Contact afpserv aafp. Want to use this article elsewhere? Get Permissions. Read the Issue. Sign Up Now. Previous: Clinical Briefs. Oct 15, Issue. Am Fam Physician. What is isotretinoin? General Information You should take isotretinoin with food. Before Treatment Starts Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has diabetes, liver disease, heart disease or depression. During Your Treatment Your acne may get worse when you start using isotretinoin. These side effects usually go away when you stop taking isotretinoin: Dry skin and lips your doctor can tell you which lotions or creams to use Fragile skin easily injured , itching or rash Increased sensitivity to the sun easily sunburned Peeling skin on your palms and soles Thinning hair Dry, red eyes you may find that you can't wear your contact lenses during treatment Nosebleeds Bleeding gums Pain in your muscles Decreased night vision.
If you have any of the side effects listed below, stop taking isotretinoin and check with your doctor right away: Headaches, nausea, vomiting or blurred vision Depression or changes in your mood Severe stomach pain, diarrhea or bleeding from your rectum Very dry eyes A yellow color in your skin or eyes, and dark yellow urine. After You Stop Taking Isotretinoin Your skin might go on getting better even after you stop taking isotretinoin. Only tiny amounts of isotretinoin get into semen, which is too little to harm the unborn baby.
Some medicines and isotretinoin capsules can interfere with each other, and make it more likely that you'll have side effects. Tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start treatment with isotretinoin capsules :.
There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements while you use isotretinoin capsules. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.
Isotretinoin capsules are only for severe acne. This is acne with lots of pus-filled spots that may affect the back and chest, as well as the face. Isotretinoin capsules help severe acne by reducing the amount of natural oil made by your skin so blocked pores are less likely. The medicine also kills the bacteria that cause acne, and relieves redness and soreness.
Your acne may get worse when you first start treatment with isotretinoin capsules, but will then normally start to improve after 7 to 10 days. A treatment course of isotretinoin capsules usually lasts for 16 to 24 weeks around 4 to 6 months. Acne will normally keep improving for up to 8 weeks after stopping treatment. Isotretinoin capsules are usually only used for people whose acne doesn't improve with other treatments. But there are other options for some people with severe acne, for example, treatments that use lasers, and other light devices and chemical peels.
Isotretinoin used to also come as a gel, known by the brand name Isotrex. In GSK stopped manufacturing Isotrex gel. This medicine is no longer available in the UK. However there is a gel containing isotretinoin and erythromycin brand name Isotrexin. There are also other gels that contain tretinoin or adapalene. These work in a similar way to isotretinoin gel. Ask your specialist or a pharmacist for advice about suitable alternatives and the best treatment for your condition.
There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking isotretinoin capsules will reduce fertility in either men or women. However, women are advised not to take isotretinoin capsules if they're pregnant or trying for a baby. This medicine can harm a baby. It's safe for women to try for a baby from 5 weeks after their treatment with isotretinoin capsules has finished.
A pregnancy test will be done after you stop your treatment. Do not donate blood while taking isotretinoin capsules and for at least 1 month after stopping. If your blood is given to a pregnant woman, it may harm her unborn baby. Isotretinoin capsules can make you feel sleepy and dizzy. You also may not see as well at night. If this happens to you, do not drive, cycle, or use machinery or tools until you've stopped treatment.
It's best to avoid alcohol while taking isotretinoin capsules, or at least keep the amount you drink to a minimum. This is because there's a risk of damage to your liver - and that your cholesterol levels will increase. All dermatologists would agree that, if used correctly, isotretinoin is the most effective acne treatment. In this blog, we walk you through some of the most important things people should know when determining whether or not Accutane is the right acne treatment for them.
They perform daily maintenance skin care, and they even change their diet or other routines in order to help their skin. It can be extremely frustrating to struggle with acne, especially for those who have more painful cystic or nodular acne. Accutane is a good option for these treatment-resistant patients, and it offers them long term results and relief.
The main ingredient in Accutane is derived from vitamin A, which is naturally produced in our bodies and consumed through our diets. Vitamin A is a key nutrient in the development and maintenance of healthy skin. It also plays a vital role in organ function, healthy immune response, and clear vision.
Isotretinoin is not usually taken for very long. In most cases, people only need one course of medication that is completed within six to nine months and will offer a lifetime of skin improvement for people who struggle with acne. Many people with moderate to severe cystic or nodular acne are dependent upon long term oral and topical medications to manage their breakouts.
Long term use of oral antibiotics, birth control pills, and other medications used to address acne can have adverse side effects long term and may not be the most optimal treatment for acne. So, for this reason, the short-term Accutane treatment completed in less than a year is often a better solution. After completing the course of medication, the vast majority of people will not need any additional rounds of Accutane treatment.
While they may see a few pimples or mild breakouts, most never have flareups that are ever as severe again.
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