MDacne
Accutane is one of the best medical treatments available for acne and can have many benefits. It is the drug of choice for people with severe acne as well as those with moderate acne who have not responded to other treatments. That being said, Accutane is a powerful drug can have both serious and uncomfortable side effects for some.
Here are some side effects of Accutane that you should be aware of:
1. Accutane can cause birth defects in pregnant women: Pregnancy while taking Accutane is absolutely contraindicated (meaning you should never be pregnant during treatment). Therefore, women taking Accutane are required to use two separate effective forms of birth control at the same time for at least 1 month before treatment begins, during the entire course of treatment, and for 3 full months after stopping the drug.
2. There may be a link between Accutane and mood changes: In the past, there were some concerns that Accutane may intensify mood changes in people prone to depression...Nevertheless, there have been no conclusive studies proving this effect. In fact, many dermatologists, believe that mood changes shown in the population of Accutane users are caused by the severe acne itself, and not by the drug. Therefore, there is a theory that by healing acne, Accutane could actually improve mood.
Nevertheless, if patients experience on onset or worsening of depression or loss of appetite during treatment, the drop should be stopped and a physician should be consulted.
3. Regular blood tests are required during Accutane treatment: Blood tests are required during the treatment to test overall blood count, liver function tests, blood lipids, and CPK (creatine phosphokinase). In rare cases, these function tests can be affected by Accutane. In most cases, however, the blood tests results normalize after the dosage of the drug is reduced.
4. There may be increased dryness of skin and lips while taking Accutane: Minor discomfort is expected due to dry lips and skin. Simple lip balms and oil-free moisturizer can easily decrease lip and skin dryness. People using Accutane should wear sunscreen at all times to avoid any further drying and/or burning of the skin.
5. It’s possible for acne to get worse for some on Accutane: With severe acne being treated with a high dose of Accutane,i acne can flare up and get worse before it gets better. Adding blue light acne phototherapy in parallel to Accutane and reducing the drug dosage can significantly reduce the risk of acne flare up without reducing treatment efficacy.
Read more info on Accutane here:
The oral adverse effects of isotretinoin treatment in acne vulgaris patients: A prospective, case-control study
Isotretinoin: Treatment for severe acne
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