1. Isotretinoin is considered to be most effective medicine for severe acne. Isotretinoin is a drug of choice for acne patients who may have lost hope about cure of their acne. It is available in form of capsules to be taken orally and the trade name of Isotretinoin in the USA is Accutane.



2. Isotretinoin is a retinoid. Retinoids are derived from Vitamin A. Isotretinoin is chemically known as 13-cis retinoic acid.

3. Isotretinoin is generally prescribed for 16 to 20 weeks and by the end of this period considerable inmprovement is seen in most of the patients.

4. Isotretinoin may cause some 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.

5. Isotretinoin may also be used for some other conditions that include- folliculitis, seborrhoea, chloracne and other diseases that look like acne.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Nodular and cystic 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.

9. As Isotretinoin needs fat to help its absorption in body, it is taken after food. Please follow your doctors advise about these.

10. Please note that you may not be able to wear your contact lenses for some time in the beginning of treatment with Isotretinoin. You are also not supposed to donate any blood while you are taking Isotretinoin and for one month after you stop taking it. Please talk about dos and do not with your doctor.

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.