What is Accutane?
Accutane, known generically as isotretinoin, is a prescription medication used to treat severe nodular and cystic acne that has not responded to other treatments such as topical creams or antibiotics. Accutane was developed and marketed by Roche Pharmaceuticals, a division of Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., and approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1982. It works on the oil glands within the skin, shrinking them and diminishing their output. 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. Despite its lasting positive effect on acne, Accutane has a number of mild to serious and possibly life-threatening side effects. 2.
