Isotretinoin is considered to be most effective medicine for severe acne and other acne that does not respond to common acne medication. It is available in form of capsules to be taken orally and the trade name of Isotretinoin in the USA is Accutane. Isotretinoin is a retinoid. Retinoids are derived from Vitamin A. Isotretinoin is chemically known as 13-cis retinoic acid. Isotretinoin is a drug of choice for acne patients who may have lost hope about cure of their acne.



Isotretinoin is generally prescribed for 16 to 20 weeks and the end of the prescription sees considerable inmprovement in most of the patients. Isotretinoin may cause many side effects and should be strictly taken under medical supervision. It can cause birth defects in fetus. Therefore women should take precaution of not getting pregnant while taking Isotretinoin. Isotretinoin may also be used for some other conditions that include- folliculitis, seborrhoea, chloracne and other diseases that look like acne.

Usage-

Nodular acne that does not get treated with other medications is treated with Isotretinoin. Any other acne that does not respond to medication is also treated with Isotretinoin. The rate of success with Isotretinoin is very high. In the beginning some people see deterioration in their acne but that slowly disappears. Isotretinoin is commonly prescribed for 16 to 20 weeks and if needed it is repeated after a gap of eight weeks.

It is believed that Isotretinoin works by shrinking the sebaceous glands and reducing sebum production. Isotretinoin is an anti-inflammatory medicine and shrinks the acne by reducing sebum substantially.

The strength of dosage of isotretinoin depends upon the severity of acne, body weight, other treatments being used at the same time etc. Your doctor is the best person to decide about the dose. Normally the treatment begins with small dose and as body adjusts to isotretinoin the dose is increased. Doctors also monitor the cure during this period and if they find that patient is not responding, they may stop the therapy. As isotretinoin needs fat to help its absorption in body, it is taken after food. Follow your doctor's advice about these.

Side Effects

The common side-effects of isotretinoin are dry mouth, dry nose, thinning of hair, fatigue, dry skin, red itchy eyes, sore lips, etc. If you experience any other side effects such as muscle aches, difficulty in walking, depression, vomiting, etc. Talk to your doctor immediately. Discuss about side effects with your doctor before beginning of the treatment with isotretinoin and report any expected or unexpected side effect immediately. Note that you may not be able to wear your contact lenses for some time in the beginning of treatment with isotretinoin. You should not donate any blood while you are taking isotretinoin and for one month after you stop taking it. Please talk about do's and don't with your doctor. You also must inform your doctor about any medicine or vitamins you are taking.

Isotretinoin and Pregnancy-

Isotretinoin can cause serious defects in the fetus. Therefore you should inform your doctor if you are pregnant. You should also tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or are already breast-feeding. You will have to test yourself for pregnancy before you begin isotretinoin and continue getting tested while taking Isotretinoin. Your doctor will explain the details to you. If you get pregnant while taking isotretinoin you should stop taking it and call your doctor immediately. You must adopt two reliable methods of birth control for one month before taking isotretinoin, continue with two methods while taking isotretinoin and till after one month of stopping isotretinoin. You should talk to your gynaecologist and dermatologist in detail before taking isotretinoin.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.