From dry skin to depression, there are many reported Accutane side effects.
Here, MDs weigh in on whether its potential benefits outweigh its many risks.
(I was basicallyself-quarantining before anyone had ever heard of COVID-19.)
As you’re able to imagine, my mental health started to suffer.
As soon as my doctor said Accutane, I burst into tears.
As soon as she said the word, I burst into tears.
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The thing is, Id taken Accutane myself in my mid-20s and experienced only mild side effects.
(Several other brands of isotretinoin still remain, including Absorica, Claravis, and Sotret.)
Id always told myself I would never test my luck again with a second round.
Whats it like to take Accutane?
Accutane isnt the kind of drug that a doctor would prescribe for mild, infrequent breakouts.
Its also not a drug that should be prescribed lightly, she adds.
We should exhaust all options for remedying cystic acne before turning to isotretinoin, Dr. Engelman says.
Doctors consider Accutane a last resort because it does have the potential for some serious side effects.
Accutane isnt the kind of drug that a doctor would prescribe for mild, infrequent breakouts.
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Accutane remains popular because its the only drug to address all four main causes of acne.
Side effects are also known to be dose-dependent.
This effect is only temporary, says Dr. Gabriel.
However, you do see permanent clinical effects.
But ultimately, doctors strongly believe the risks are worth the reward.
I think isotretinoin is by far the most successful drug we have available for acne, says Dr. Gabriel.
It works to make skin 100 percent clearnot just 30-50 percent better.
But wait… isnt Accutane also linked with depression and IBD?
Its difficult because its hard to study these things as the effect of one agent, says Dr. Stevenson.
Take depression, for example.
Since then, studies on the relationship between isotretinoin and mood disorders have been mixed.
Studies on the relationship between isotretinoin and mood disorders have been mixed.
Theres no new onset of severe depression or high-grade anxiety, but rather a low-grade irritability, she says.
With proper self-awareness and open communication with you doctor, [it] can be managed.
The connection between isotretinoin and inflammatory bowel disease is also tenuous.
Through it all, the pharmaceutical company continued to staunchly vouch for the drugs safety.
Theres not enough evidence to prove or disprove, she says.
Sometimes thats not a satisfying answer, but its the best data we have, she says.
Bottom line: Are the Accutane side effects really worth it?
Its more like, can we continue this safely and if so, how?
Or if, for whatever reason, is this not the right choice, whats the next plan?
For a healthy person with bad acne, Accutane can be a miracle.
I decided to give isotretinoin a second chance.
Thankfully, my skin fully cleared up within a month.
This is the best foundation for acne-prone skin, according to dermatologists.
Andhere are the most common acne questions Dr. Pimple Popper gets, along with her answers.
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