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There are several medications on the market that claim
to help control or eliminate acne, but none seem to work as well as
accutane. Most of the time patients seeking treatment are offered
several creams, soaps, antibiotics and acne medications before moving
into the use of accutane. Accutane came onto the market as the brand
name for the drug Isotretinoin several years ago and was proven to be
quite effective through the patients taking the drug. While it began as
a drug used only for severe acne cases, accutane has become more and
more commonly used for moderate acne as well because of the widespread
knowledge that the drug actually works on almost all cases of acne. The
majority of patients will see a very noticeable difference in their skin
within 4 weeks.
Accutane, while it works, is
not without side effects. The major concern is related to females of
child bearing age, as becoming pregnant while taking accutane or within
a few months of stopping can cause severe birth defects including
missing limbs and severe retardation. Doctors strongly recommend taking
birth control pills while on accutane, and some even require it before
dispensing a prescription to get filled. While on accutane, most doctors
require monthly office visits where a pregnancy test will be given to
ensure the drug is not continued if the patient is pregnant.
Other side effects of using accutane can include extreme dryness of lips, skin
and eyes, itchiness, joint aching, and increase in cholesterol levels.
Patients often are required to get a lipid profile every few months to
track their cholesterol levels and make sure they are not increasing. In
addition, several cases of severe depression and hallucinations leading
to suicide have been somewhat linked to the use of accutane. While it
has not been definitely proven, there is now a warning for parents to
watch their children’s behavior and demeanor while they are taking this
medication because it is a distinct possibility these psychiatric
problems are linked with the drug use.
It is obvious that the use of accutane should not be taken lightly. If you are female, be extremely
cautious if you are sexually active as the birth defects reported from
the use of accutane during or directly before pregnancy are devastating.
As with any drug, be sure to weigh all of the risks and benefits before
deciding to take the medication, and talk to your doctor about any
concerns you may have.
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