What is isotretinoin?
Accutane (isotretinoin) is a drug that is indicated for the treatment of acne. The treatment of acne using the drug should be undertaken for a period of about five months. This five-month treatment will cause clearance of acne for a minimum of one year after completion of the isotretinoin dosage.
Most of the other medicines that control acne are in most cases antibacterial agents. These antibacterial agents are effective in controlling and treating acne if the medication if taken every day.
Does isotretinoin have any side effects?
Like most other medications, isotretinoin has various side effects. The MOST COMMON side effects include dry skin, chapped lips and itching. These side effects can however be prevented by using alpha hydroxacids every day during the isotretinoin treatment.
Other COMMON side effects of isotretinoin include nose bleeding and dryness of the nose.
About 40% of the patients that were treated with isotretinoin for acne also reported irritation of the eyelids and the eyes. The irritation side effect can however be reduced by injection of 400 IU of Vitamin E.
About 15% of the patients that were treated with isotretinoin during the clinical trials reported the side effect of pains in the muscles and the joints.
Other RARE side effects include: temporary thinning of the hair, gastro intestinal disturbances, rash, headache, discomfort urinating, decrease of vision at night, suicidal thoughts, depression, increased sunburn sensitivity, etc.
CAUTION! Isotretinoin can cause fatal elevation of levels of blood fats.
Isotretinoin can cause increase in the levels of the blood fats; some times the increase may be up to the risky levels. In some very rare cases it may affect the liver. Because of these reasons, patients taking isotretinoin are advised to undergo frequent tests of the blood.
Before you undertake this test you should first of all fast for at least 12 hours. The starvation is very strict and you are not supposed to take anything including breakfast. The levels of fats will help determine whether the isotretinoin has caused increase in fats up to the alarming levels or whether you are okay.
In practice, the doctors first establish baseline chemistry of the blood before the patients start talking the medication.
WARNING! Isotretinoin can cause serious birth defects.
The most serious isotretinoin side effect can occur if the drug is taken by pregnant a woman. It has the potential of causing serious birth defects. Because of this reason, all the pregnant women are advised to avoid as much as possible the intake of isotretinoin while they are pregnant.
The women should also avoid getting pregnant while that are still taking the medication.The women that are at the risk of getting pregnant while taking the drug should use the necessary methods of controlling pregnancy. This may include for example the woman taking oral contraceptives while the male partner wears a condom in every sexual encounter.
If a woman gets pregnant while she is taking isotretinoin, there is no alternative other than to prepare for an abortion. The woman must state and accept this in writing before the physician has prescribed the medication for her.
Isotretinoin can even cause birth defects if the woman gets pregnant within a period of two months after it has stopped taking the medication.
After the expiry of two months after the last day of taking isotretinoin, the woman can safely get pregnant without any risk of the drug causing birth defects.
The birth defects that are caused by isotretinoin are very serious and so you are advised never to share the drug with any other person even if that other person presents symptoms that are very similar or same to yours.
It is not known whether isotretinoin can cause men who have taken it to sire babies with birth defects. Because of this, men should avoid getting women pregnant while they are still taking the drug. The men that are taking isotretinoin are advised to wear a condom every time they are having sex with their female partner in order to reduce the risk of the woman getting pregnant and giving birth to child with serious birth defects.
There are some very rare cases of isotretinoin causing side effects of decrease in vision at night. In one case, the patient had that problem for a period of more than 6 months after the intake of isotretinoin had been stopped. If you are talking isotretinoin and you begin experiencing vision problems you are highly advised to seek the necessary medical care as quickly as possible.
Incase of these side effects STOP taking isotretinoin immediately!
Some peoples have reported developing SEVERE HEADACHE while still taking isotretinoin. Incase you develop persistent headaches while you are still taking the medication you should immediately consult your physician. Incase of persistent headache that does not seem to go away, this is a serious side affect and you should stop taking isotretinoin as quickly as possible.
In very rare cases, isotretinoin can cause DEPRESSION and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. Incase of this you should stop the intake of the drug immediately and contact a physician.
How does the drug work?
Isotretinoin acts by decreasing the amount of oil that is produced by the sebaceous oil glands of the skin. The action of the drug is moderately gradual and it may take up to two months before you begin experiencing any skin improvement.
At the moment, there is no other medication that can be added in order to increase the action of isotretinoin. In some cases, the acne gets worse within the first month of treatment but the condition improves from the second month. Some side effects like dryness of the lips in most cases begin before the start of clearance of acne.
Isotretinoin has also showed the effect of suppressing the process of production of the skin cells that cause blockage of the sebaceous gland openings. In effect, the cane that is characterized by milia, comedones, white/black heads is reduced or eliminated. The comedones decrease has been proven to reverse and prevent the development of acne, pimples and/or suppurations.
In the clinical trials, isotretinoin showed the effect of decreasing the rate of inflammation.
How should you take isotretinoin?
Isotretinoin should be taken with food and most preferably the entire dose of the day should be taken with the supper. This ensures that that the drug is maximally absorbed by the body.
What are the long term results of treatment with isotretinoin?
Isotretinoin does not presently treat and cure acne. Its treatment is also gradual but it will ultimately clear the condition if you take it as recommended. After successful completion of the isotretinoin dosage, you can stay free of caner for very many months or even years.
In about 10% of the patients that successfully complete the cane treatment using isotretinoin, the acne comes after back after one year of completion of the dosage. In about 25% of the patients, the cane will come back four years after completion of the dosage.
In case of relapse of acne, you may be treated with antibiotics but there is nothing that prevents treatment with isotretinoin again. Doctors have stated that the use of alpha hydroxyacids on daily basis has the effect of preventing the flare ups that may occur after successful treatment within isotretinoin.
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