ACCUTANE Reviews (ISOTRETINOIN)Average Rating: 3.3 (746 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare ACCUTANE with similar:
Type: Brand name discontinued; available as generic
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 |
More on ACCUTANE: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR ACCUTANE | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 4 | cystic acne | chapped lips, occational bloody nose, sadness | I took this medication when I was in my early 20's. I am now 44. For the last 17 or so years I've had some back, joint and muscle pain. It has gotten worse in the last five years. I was told I probably have fiber myalsia by my doctor. I only recently realized that this could be a lasting side affect from taking accutane. I am in severe pain every day.... | F | 44 | 4 months | 6/7/2009 | 4 | Adult Acne | At the time I took it I had to usual very dry skin and LOTS of breakouts (at first). Then, everything went away and I had very clear skin that was not oily like before. Now, 10 years later, acne is coming back slightly, but I was warned that one course of treatment may not be enough. | All in all, taking Accutane was worth the 3 months of looking aweful. I think it's funny how the people on this site are blaming Accutane for every medical or physical problem that they're having. Come on people, if you didn't read about the side affects, then that's your fault, not the company. Do I have achy joints, yes slightly, but I am almost 48 years old, too. That's expected. Plus, there are lots of other reasons why people can have achy joints. Don't be so quick to self-diagnose! | F | 47 | 4 months | 6/2/2009 | 4 | moderate acne | dry eyes, skin and hair. | I weigh 150lbs and take 80mg once a day. My skin is clear but a bit on the red side. I get minor cuts and scratches very easily (mostly on my arms and hands) which take a while to heal. I take my meds at the same time each day and drink plenty of water. I haven't had a single major side effect (other than the dryness, which, after having had very oily skin my whole life, is actually kind of nice). I wish I hadn't been too scared to take this drug sooner; my skin is scarred from years of acne, and accutane doesn't do anything to mend that. Don't panic about this drug. Its just a med like any other med. Take it, don't drink alcohol, stay hydrated and go about your life as usual. | F | 32 | 4 months | 6/1/2009 | 4 | cystic acne | dry/swollen lips, severely dry hair, exhausted most of the day, dry eyes, dry mouth, sexual dysfunction, joint pain | I'm beginning to re-think taking this drug. I was told by an aesthician that I'm way to old to start a drug like this and that it could kick me into early menopause?!? I'm going to find out if there are any side effects if I stop immediately. I'm wondering if anyone else suffers the sexual dysfunction?!?! I would really hate for my hair to be permanently damaged for the sake of getting rid of a few pimples. My acne was not severe. | F | 40 | 3 weeks | 5/29/2009 | 1 | acne | HAIR LOSS - please help!! My hair is falling out I am beyond depressed - finished accutane 3 years ago and now am a balding 22 year old female. I saw someone had success with laser treatment - please post or email details i am desperate!! [email protected] | F | 22 | 6 months | 5/29/2009 | 4 | Acne | Dry and itchy skin, chapped lips, flaky scalp, joint pain (especially in my knees), diagnosed myofascial pain in upper extremeties and irritable bowel syndrome | I first took Accutane 5 years ago. I never thought about why I suffered from IBS until a couple weeks ago when someone brought to my attention the severe side effects of taking the drug. The summer after my first treatment, I began having symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). I was formally diagnosed a few months later and had my first colonoscopy at age 24. This is my second time on isotretinoin, and I just completed my last dose 4 weeks ago. Last week Tuesday, my left eye was blurry as if my contact lens wasn't strong enough for that eye. I continued putting the lens in my eye thinking it would get better, but on Saturday I tried a stronger lens, which worked, but left me confused and slightly disturbed. Well this morning I woke up and after putting in my contacts, my right eye isn't seeing at 100% like it should. I'm calling my doctor to see what's going on. I'm convinced it is related to this medication. I didn't realize the severity of the side effects but now that I do, I would recommend alternative treatments for acne (maybe the blulight laser?). My skin does look amazing but at what price? Our health is all we have and I'm seriously rethinking my decision...although it's now too late. Lasers are the new starts of acne treatment. It may be worth a try. | F | 29 | 5 months | 5/26/2009 | 1 | Cystic acne of face, neck, and back | Severe Cystic acne of face, neck, and back Painfully tender dry and cracked skin and severe joint pain (not to be experienced by anyone around the age of 20). Every bone in my body ached with pain. Warning Of Note: My joint pain persists now 20+ years later. | I took Accutane only as a last ditch effort to rid myself of acne. When I first sought treatment, my dermatologist said I had the worst case she had ever seen for a woman under her care. I started treatment for my acne when I was 18 or 19 years old. My dermatologist put me on one medicine after another over a period of years including: Tetracycline, Minocin and Retin-A. Then, as a last resort, I took Accutane, which was the only drug that had a long term positive effect on my acne (- Don’t stop now - PLEASE CONTINUE TO READ MY COMMENTS!). While I took the drug for only 6 months (Now, 20+ years ago), I firmly believe Accutane did much more harm than good and so I continue my search of the Web for answers. (Thus, I came upon this website). For the last 20 years, I've been suffering from persistent joint pain and experience both weakness and severe bone-chilling and painful cracking in my joints (particularly in my knees, elbows and shoulders), just as I had when I was taking the drug, though it’s now significantly worsening over time. Also, since my later thirties, I have been suffering with chronic hives on my neck and face. Isn’t that Ironic – Don’t you think? :-) *** PLEASE EXHAUST ALL POSSIBLE ACNE TREATMENTS BEFORE CHOOSING ACCUTANE, and then ask yourself: "Is the cure worse than the disease?" | F | 45 | 6 months | 5/22/2009 | 4 | Acne | bleeding gums, ulcers, bloody stool, transient chest pain, joint pain, nosebleeds, palms and fingers peeling, night sweats, delayed wound healing, ringing ears, irregular heartbeat, muscle fatigue, blood sugar irregularities | Solved the Acne problem, but still not sure its worth it. Ive been off it 11 years and still have some side effects | M | 28 | 5 months | 5/20/2009 | 4 | Acne on Face | Very Dry cracked lips, Dry skin, Respiratory problems,mood swings | I really thinks it works my acne started clearing up like in 3 weeks I saw a major diffrence.I took it for a year and I have no acne | F | 23 | 1 years | 5/19/2009 | 5 | persistent moderate acne | Dry skin, chapped lips, hot flashes, night sweats | I have had acne since I was probably around 11 or 12 years old and I am now 22. It was always a lot worse right around when I had my period, but even when it was not so bad, it was always there. I mostly got it around my mouth, on my chin and huge ones liked to pop up on my cheeks. I literally tried everything possible. My dermatologist prescribed me with countless creams, cleansers and oral antibiotics but nothing worked. All that happened was my skin became very irritated and red, but it was not clearing up. Finally I switched dermatologists and the one I am now going to immediately recommended accutane. She said I was starting to scar and it was the only thing that would work. I noticed changes immediately. The first 10 days I was on it I broke out A LOT, but I was expecting this and tried not to get discouraged. My skin became extremely dry, so I could not even put makeup on anymore to cover it up. I also broke out on my back a lot, and I never really had acne on my back before. Now, I am starting my second month of treatment and my skin looks the best it has since I was a small child. The acne on my back is not clearing up but my face is. People are starting to notice and complimenting me on how good my skin looks. I can not wait until I am completely clear! | F | 22 | 1.5 months | 5/14/2009 | 5 | acne that just wont go away | Dry skin, skin easily scratched/broke surface and wouldn't heal, ecxema (already had, just flared up and wouldn't leave), hair loss, chapped lips | I started accutane after having the most resilient acne, it wasn't horrible, but nothing could make it go away. Spironolactone did help a bit though, before. At first I saw some clear up in the first month, but then month 2-3 were pretty depressing and I Was thinking, wow this isn't working, but then come 4th month-5th month, things got a lot better. I was on a high dose for someone my size, but I'm a redhead and we tend to require more medicine. My point is, don't get depressed when you read about people who clear up right away, I REALLY didn't. Also, skin lost oil within first week, which was awesome. Worst thing was the hair loss for me (already nervous about it, so maybe it wasn't as bad as I thought) and the fact that any scratch I got took forever to hear and my ecxema just wouldn't stop, but as soon as I was off, all the scratches, excema healed and didn't get any more. If you have acne, this medicine is worth it, just follow the directions and it's fine, I'd take dry sensitive skin for a solution. Knock on wood, been fine since about the end of the 4th month. | F | 27 | 5 months | 5/12/2009 | 3 | I took Accutane for acne | SEVERE joint aches and pains all over especially in the lower back and large joints. Severe allergy reactions to foods high in Vitamin A (such as carrots--by favorties). | Don't take this drug. I'm now 40 and took it in my late teens and again in my 20s. I have had joint problems ever since. | F | 40 | 12 weeks | 5/11/2009 | 4 | Moderate Acne | very dry lips, dry skin, rash, dry anus with painful bowel movements, joint pain, tiredness. My hair is not oily anymore :) | The side effects sound bad, but they are easily managed with a good quality chap stick, lotions, and facial moisturizer. Avoid all products for treating acne, they just add to the dryness. So far, lots of clearing. However, it is not completely gone. My back broke out very badly but is starting to clear up. I am on 40mg two times a day and I am at the end of my 2nd month of treatment. So far, triglycerides are fine. | F | 23 | 2 months | 5/6/2009 | 3 | mild to sometimes severe acne | so far nothing because i just started, have taken isotrentinoin in a cream form and experienced extremely dry skin | I just started taking accutane yesterday..i'm really nervous about all these bad things people say about it. I've delt with depression sense this dibilitating brain injury i endured in 2007 when i was 18..i'm afraid, due to this accutane, that it's gonna increase it. I used to suffer from panic attacks for months after my accident but was on some medications to supress those feelings. I still remain a little depressed to this day and i'm afraid that accutane may bring back some of those feelings. What should i expect? Are there any miracle stories out there? | M | 20 | 2 days | 5/4/2009 | 1 | Bad Acne On Face, Neck And Back | I took Accutane for 6 months. While on this EVIL pill, my acne cleared up, but gave me dry skin to the point of bleeding. I remember my body feeling achy all the time, and uponst waking from sleep, would leave a "cocoon" of dead skin behind me! I couldn't even smile, because my face would crack and bleed! Now, I have SEVERELY DRY SKIN, ECZEMA, WEIRD RASHES, IRRITATIONS THAT NEVER SEEM TO LEAVE, ODD LOOKING BRUISES BELOW MY KNEES, JOINT PAIN (this is a big deal as powerlifting was a big deal in my life), USED TO GO THROUGH WICKED MOOD SWINGS... The list can go on! I am 30 now, and haven't taken it since i was 15. I wish they would have informed me about the awful, permanent side affects! THANKS, TWERPS! YOU WILL BE JUDGED. | Anyone who takes this is simply desiring destruction for their body. If there are that many potential side affects, it is obviously terrible for you. Kinda like Radiation treatment - You know why it kills CANCER? Because it kills everything, including you! Don't be foolish. | M | 30 | 6 months | 5/4/2009 | 5 | severe nodular acne | SE:Mostly dry lips, skin and eyes but able to cont. wearing contacts.. I was in my early 20's in the 1980's. This was miracle drug for me. No more cysts! and skin looked great. | I took 2 rounds of accutane over a year in the 80's. Prior to this creams, lotions, antibiotics and it just became worse for years. As far as depression, hormonal changes in life can cause depression as well as acne--they seem to occur together. A teenage with acne can be depressed. My father had severe acne and has deep scars. I believe that I avoided this because of Accutane. Accutane has gotten a bad wrap. I have had 3 healthy children several years after being on Accutane. If they develop acne I would put them on Accutane. At age 46, with menapause coming, I am now starting to have increase breakouts, rare cyst. If it becomes bad, I would go back on Accutane. My skin for 20yrs has remained healthy until just recently. Even with breakouts now, I do not have oiliness. My pores recently seem to be enlarging and my skin has become thinner ...probably age and hormone changes. | F | 46 | 12 months | 5/2/2009 | 3 | Really bad Acne | Dry Chapped lips, Infrequent shooting pains in Abdomen/side, Blurry vision at times, and confusion | Within the first week I noticed how dry my lips were, they were so dry they were cracking. My body started to have some twinges of pain, my skin started to break out again, then it is started to clear, now almost 4 weeks later my skin looks about 60% better than it did. I am 33 years old and have battled acne since I was 12. Now I have a new lease on life, but if symptoms become worse I will stop. I am currenly on 20 mg, but go this Monday to be reevaluated for a higher dosage. | F | 33 | 4 weeks | 4/30/2009 | 3 | moderate acne, MRSA worsened it | bloody/dry nose, dry anus | All these comments are scaring the crap out of me, I'm very fit and built for a girl but not butch by any means. I love my hair, its one of my best features and losing it would kill me, also I have enough going on in my life that i don't need the extra joint issues and all these diseases. I'm a healthy person overall, I havnt eaten fast food since i was 13 except for those parfaits at mcds but i dont consider that fast food. I really could use some advice, I don't want to ruin my life because of some stupid drug to cure adolescent acne. | F | 18 | 25 days | 4/25/2009 | 4 | acne on face back and chest | Dry everything!!!!! Nose ran continually while on it. Sleep issues! NO ONE MENTIONS THEIR BLOOD WORK HERE!!!!! My Triglycerides when from 165 to 277 Total Cholesterol from 174 to 206! | Dermatologist insisted I take this on my very first visit. Did not ever try a topical medicine or antibiotic. I did NOT have cystic acne, but due to very sensitive skin I was having a lot of scaring on my face and back. It did improve my acne but I still get a few breakouts on chin and chest. I have read that the cholesterol and triglycerides should go down but they did not have me back for a blood test to confirm this. So I will have to do it on my own. | F | 20 | 9 months | 4/18/2009 | 5 | mild persistent acne | Very dry, peeling lips. Dry skin that sunburns quickly. Dry eyes. Mild joint pain in knees. Itchy flaky scalp for the first few weeks. Dry nose with occasional nosebleeds | The severity of my acne was mild to moderate, but after trying several different topical medications of increasing strengths, and even adding oral antibiotics, I did not see any significant improvement so my dr. prescribed accutane. If you are female, getting the drug is a real PITA due to the repeated pregnancy tests and the iPledge program. The side effects are also very annoying and I needed to keep lots of moisturizers, eye drops, and lip balm on hand. But, it worked wonders to clear my skin where nothing else had helped, and despite all the hassle I'm really glad I took Accutane because even now 6 months after treatment my skin is still clear. | F | 30 | 5 months | 4/11/2009 |