Brand names: Absorica\u00ae, Accutane\u00ae, Amnesteem\u00ae, Claravis\u00ae, Myorisan\u00ae, Sotret\u00ae, and Zenatane\u2122<\/p>
Isotretinoin (eye-soh-tret-in-OH-in) is a prescription medicine for severe acne. This type of acne causes deep, painful cysts and nodules. These can be the size of a pencil eraser \u2014 or larger. As this acne clears, scars often appear.<\/p>
Severe acne can be difficult to treat. When other treatments fail to clear the skin, isotretinoin may be an option. About 85% of patients see permanently clear skin after one course of treatment with isotretinoin.<\/p>
Warning: You put your health at serious risk when you buy this medicine from an online site that does not require a prescription.<\/strong><\/p> One course of treatment takes about 4 to 5 months. Sometimes, one course of treatment takes less time or a bit more time. Dermatologists tailor the treatment to each patient.\u00a0<\/p> Acne can diminish quality of life:<\/strong> Studies show that acne can decrease self-confidence and cause one to avoid social situations.<\/p> Due to possible side effects, your dermatologist can only prescribe this medicine if you:\u00a0<\/p> Patients who can become pregnant must take a few extra precautions:<\/p> Patient safety is a dermatologist\u2019s first concern. If this medicine is an option for you, your dermatologist will talk with you about how to take this medicine safely and what you can expect. You and your dermatologist should jointly decide whether this medicine is right for you.<\/p> If isotretinoin is an appropriate treatment for you, you will be under close medical supervision while you take this medicine.<\/p> News of lawsuits and frightening side effects can make one wonder why a dermatologist would prescribe isotretinoin (eye-soh-tret-in-OH-in)1. Furthermore, why would anyone take it to treat acne? There really is more to the story.<\/p> Effective when nothing else works<\/strong><\/p> Dermatologists prescribe isotretinoin for severe acne. Severe acne is often very painful. When the painful cysts and nodules of severe acne clear, they leave permanent scars. Many people who have severe acne feel depressed. Some feel anxious. Low self-esteem often develops. Grades can plummet, and job performance can suffer.<\/p> Clearing severe acne greatly improves many people\u2019s lives. Most acne treatments, however, have little effect on severe acne.<\/p> Isotretinoin can clear severe acne when other treatments fail. With just one treatment, isotretinoin can permanently clear the skin. One treatment typically lasts 4 to 5 months. If a dermatologist prescribes a lower dose of isotretinoin, the treatment may last longer. About 85% of patients see permanent clearing after one treatment.<\/p> Isotretinoin is strong medicine. It has the potential to cause some serious side effects. That\u2019s why dermatologists carefully evaluate each patient. They weigh the pros and cons before prescribing isotretinoin. They carefully monitor every patient taking this medicine.<\/p> Dermatologists carefully evaluate patients<\/strong><\/p> Before prescribing isotretinoin, dermatologists ask questions about the patient\u2019s physical and mental health. They ask what medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements the patient takes. If everything looks okay, the patient must get a few medical tests. Everyone needs a blood test. Women who can get pregnant must have pregnancy tests. Women need 2 negative pregnancy tests before isotretinoin can be prescribed.<\/p> Before prescribing isotretinoin, the dermatologist looks at the test results. If the results are okay, the dermatologist will discuss possible side effects of isotretinoin. After learning about isotretinoin, a patient must decide whether to take this medicine.<\/p> If the patient wants to take it, the patient must agree to the strict terms of the iPLEDGE program. iPLEDGE was created to help patients take this medicine seriously. The terms that the patient must agree to include:<\/p> Patients carefully monitored<\/strong><\/p> The office visits and medical tests allow a dermatologist to look for early warning signs of possible side effects and determine how well the medicine is working. The dermatologist will look for signs of depression, inflammatory bowel disease, and other possible side effects.<\/p> Before writing the next prescription, the dermatologist must be convinced that the patient is doing well and following iPLEDGE.<\/p> Depression and isotretinoin<\/strong><\/p> Many people worry that isotretinoin can cause mental health conditions. There have been reports of patients developing depression, seeing and hearing things that are not real, and having thoughts of suicide while taking isotretinoin. You may have heard such reports in the news.<\/p> Dermatologists take these reports seriously. That\u2019s why dermatologists are conducting research studies to find out whether isotretinoin is directly responsible. Proving or disproving this is not as easy as it sounds. One reason is research shows that people who have severe acne often become depressed. This is true for people who have never taken isotretinoin.<\/p> Because we do not have enough evidence to tell whether this medicine can cause depression and other mental health conditions, dermatologists carefully monitor their patients for warning signs of depression and other mental health conditions.<\/p> Dermatologists also recommend taking precautions. If a person taking isotretinoin has any symptoms of depression or another mental health condition, the person must stop taking isotretinoin right away.<\/p> Inflammatory bowel disease and isotretinoin<\/strong><\/p> Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is another concern. There have been reports of patients developing IBD while taking isotretinoin. Again, there is not enough scientific evidence to determine whether isotretinoin is actually the cause. More research is needed.<\/p> If a patient develops any of the following signs or symptoms of IBD, the patient must stop taking isotretinoin and see a doctor:<\/p> Patient safety is the first priority\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> Isotretinoin is an important medicine. It can clear severe acne that does not respond to any other treatment. As acne clears, a patient\u2019s quality of life often greatly improves. Dermatologists are committed to the safe and responsible use of this medicine. Patient safety is a dermatologist\u2019s first priority when prescribing isotretinoin.<\/p> Will isotretinoin cure me?<\/strong><\/p> About 85% of patients see their skin permanently clear after one course of treatment. A course of treatment generally lasts about 4 to 5 months. It can run shorter or longer.\u00a0<\/p> Some patients do not clear after one course of treatment, and a second course of treatment may be an option. Studies show this helps some patients see clear skin. You should wait at least 8 weeks between treatments. The skin often continues to clear for a while after patients stop taking the medicine.<\/p> How do I use isotretinoin?<\/strong><\/p> This medicine comes in pill form. You will take one or two pills a day as your dermatologist prescribes.<\/p> Before taking isotretinoin, you must enroll in the iPLEDGE\u2122 program. Created by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this program helps to ensure that patients:<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> How long will I have to take isotretinoin?<\/strong><\/p> One course of treatment generally takes about 4 to 5 months. You may need a shorter or longer treatment time.<\/p> How does isotretinoin work?<\/strong><\/p> This is the only acne treatment that attacks all four causes of acne \u2014 excess oil production, clogged pores in the skin, too much of the bacteria P. acnes, and inflammation. This makes isotretinoin very effective.<\/p> Do I need to take any precautions while using isotretinoin?<\/strong><\/p> Yes. You will need to learn about the potential side effects before you decide whether to take isotretinoin.<\/p> If you and your dermatologist decide that this medicine is right for you, you will need to do the following:\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Females only<\/em><\/p> Patients who can get pregnant also need to take the following precautions:<\/p> What are possible side effects?<\/strong><\/p> A number of possible side effects can occur while taking this medicine. It is essential that a woman not take this medicine while pregnant and not become pregnant while taking this medicine. Isotretinoin can cause:<\/p> Other potential side effects include:<\/p> Depression:<\/strong> A connection between taking isotretinoin and developing symptoms of depression\/anxiety has been suggested. Dermatologists take reports of depression seriously. Results from some studies, however, show that sometimes patients treated with isotretinoin have fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety. These patients also have improved quality of life.<\/p> Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD):<\/strong> There have been reports of patients developing IBD after taking isotretinoin. IBD includes Crohn\u2019s disease and ulcerative colitis. To date, research has not found strong evidence to prove this. Results from a recent, large-scale study that looked at this possible connection suggest otherwise. In this study, which involved thousands of patients, taking isotretinoin did not increase the risk of IBD.<\/p> The risk of developing IBD may be linked to having severe acne. More studies are required.<\/p> Thoughts of hurting yourself or suicide:<\/strong> Research is needed to find out whether these would have occurred if the person had not been taking isotretinoin.<\/p> Other serious side effects that have been reported include:<\/p> More common and less serious side effects are:<\/p> The AAD believes that this medicine can be appropriate treatment for severe acne, as long as prescribing doctors educate their patients about the potential risks. Patient safety is dermatologists\u2019 primary concern. Dermatologists monitor their patients for IBD, depression, and other possible side effects.<\/p> This medicine treats many patients safely and effectively. It is, however, not right for everyone. You should discuss the benefits and risks with your dermatologist.<\/p> When you talk with your dermatologist about isotretinoin, be sure to tell your dermatologist if you have any of the following:<\/p> You also should tell your dermatologist if you take:<\/p> Be sure to tell your dermatologist about all acne treatments that you have used in the past and the results from each.<\/p> Talk with your dermatologist about concerns<\/strong><\/p> If you have any concerns about taking isotretinoin, you should tell your dermatologist. Dermatologists have been prescribing this medicine for years. In fact, dermatologists led many of the clinical trials for isotretinoin. This makes dermatologists very familiar with the medicine and knowledgeable about who it can help.<\/p> Dermatologists continue to lead research studies that look at how isotretinoin can help improve the lives of their patients.<\/p> Related resources:<\/strong><\/p>Why dermatologists prescribe isotretinoin<\/h3>
Isotretinoin: Answers to questions patients often ask<\/h3>
Because iPLEDGE\u2122 informs patients about other possible side effects, all patients must enroll in this program before taking isotretinoin.<\/li><\/ul>Isotretinoin: What to tell your dermatologist<\/h3>