Isotretinoin - brand name: Accutane (called Roaccutane in the UK) - is a medicine used to treat severe acne. It is usually used for acne that did not get better after treatment with other medicines. It is important for you to take generic Accutane the right way. You should also know about the side effects of isotretinoin. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about this medicine or if you have side effects when you take it. Four to five months of generic Accutane treatment usually leads to clearing of acne in up to 90 percent of patients. Accutane trade mark is made by Roche Laboratories, Inc., and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1982.


 

FAQ

Directions
Take generic Accutane two times a day with a meal, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Swallow the capsule. Don't suck or chew it. Take it with a full glass of water, milk, or other nonalcoholic liquid. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.

Depending on your reaction to this medicine, your doctor may need to adjust the dosage upward or downward. If you respond quickly and very well, your doctor may take you off generic Accutane even before the 15 or 20 weeks are up.

After you finish taking the medicament, there should be at least a 2-month "rest period" during which you are off the drug. This is because your acne may continue to get better even though you are no longer taking generic Accutane. Once the 2 months are up, if your acne is still severe, your doctor may want to give you a second course of the medicine. If you are still growing, your doctor may recommend a longer "rest period."

As part of your skin care regimen, you should be using daily:

• A Oil free moisturizer (The one I use is from Neutrogena and it's called " Oil-Free Moisture for Sensitive Skin")
• Pure Aloe Vera - Aloe is known for it's healing properties, and it works wonders on your skin. Used topically, aloe vera has excellent soothing, healing, and moisturizing properties. Aloe vera also helps to slough off dead skin cells.

Both of these are light and absorb into your skin very fast. If you're using any type of over the counter acne medication or you are on generic Accutane you must moisturize. It's not an option, and with either of the two products mentioned above you can apply as much as you as often as you want.

Side Effects
Most people have minor side effects that disappear within 2 weeks after stopping the medication. Dry lips are the most common side effect of this treatment. Use a lip moisturizer to prevent this side effect; sticky ointments are best for relieving this dryness and may prevent cracking, these products must be used multiple times a day. Other possible side effects include dry eyes, mouth, nose, or skin; itching; nosebleeds; muscle aches; sensitivity to the sun; and, sometimes, poor night vision.

More serious side effects include changes in the blood, such as an increase in triglycerides and cholesterol, or a change in liver function. To make sure Accutane is stopped if side effects occur, the doctor monitors blood studies that are done before treatment is started and periodically during treatment. These tests must be done when you have fasted for 12 hours (no breakfast).

Some people with acne become depressed by the changes in the appearance of their skin. Changes in mental health may be intensified during treatment or soon after completing a course of medicines like Accutane. A doctor should be consulted if a person feels unusually sad or has other symptoms of depression, such as loss of appetite or trouble concentrating.

Special Warning on Pregnancy
Isotretinoin can cause birth defects in the developing fetus of a pregnant woman. It is important that women of childbearing age are not pregnant and do not get pregnant while taking this medicine. Women must use two separate effective forms of birth control at the same time for 1 month before treatment begins, during the entire course of treatment, and for 1 full month after stopping the drug. They should ask their doctor when it is safe to get pregnant after they have stopped taking generic Accutane.