What is Accutane, and how does it work?
Accutane, generically known as isotretinoin, is a prescription medication used to treat severe, disfiguring acne that has not responded to other treatments such as topical creams and antibiotics. Manufactured by Roche Pharmaceuticals and approved by the FDA in 1982, Accutane works on the oil glands within the skin, shrinking them and diminishing their production. Accutane is taken by mouth everyday for four to five months and then treatment is stopped. The anti-acne effect produced by Accutane can last a year or more after finishing a course of medication. What should women know about taking Accutane? Accutane can increase the risk of miscarriage and infant deaths, and can cause severe birth defects, such as fetal malformations, mental retardation, heart defects, and facial abnormalities. It is critical that women do not become pregnant or breastfeed while taking Accutane, or for at least one month after treatment has stopped. In fact, dermatologists usually require proof of two recent
Accutane (also known as Isotretinoin), or Roaccutane as is also known in parts of the world, was discovered in 1979 when it was first given to patients with severe acne, most of whom reacted with dramatic and permanent clearing of their acne symptoms. It is a vitamin A derivative (13-cis-retinoic acid) which is administered orally in pill form, normally for 15-20 weeks (3.5-4.5 months). It was originally prescribed for people with severe acne that did not respond to other treatments, but has gained in popularity in the past 25 years and is prescribed more and more frequently for less severe acne. This practice is controversial because Accutane is a serious medication and causes side effects which can be as devastating as they are widespread. Exactly how Accutane works on a cellular level is unknown, but we do know that it affects all of the four ways that acne develops. • It dramatically reduces the size of the skin’s oil glands (35%-58%) and even more dramatically reduces the amount o
