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 |
| 5 | Moderate acne | Dry skin, very dry lips | I took accutane 5 years ago for 6 months after suffering moderate acne for years. I only suffered mild side effects and even 5 years later I suffer from sore dry lips in Winter- nothing that chap stick can't solve though. I was very nervous about taking it and tried everything else to no real effect but it quite honestly changed my life. I now have completely clear skin and the odd breakout is mild and quickly heals. I would definitely recommend it as long as you keep in touch with your doctor and judge the side effects accordingly | F | 29 | 6 months | 11/26/2008 | 2 | cystic acne | TALK ABOUT CHANGING A LIFE. 45 YEARS OLD TOOK ACCUTANE IN ITS INFANCY. BECAME CONSUMED BY THE WAY I LOOKED. HAD SCARS FROM THE ACNE DIDNT HAVE THE MONEY TO GET THEM TAKEN AWAY FIGURED OUT A WAY. SANDED MY OWN FACE TO GET RID OF THE SCARS TWICE WHICH WORKED. I TOTALLY CHANGED. VERY OUTGOING BEFORE THE MEDS MY PERSONALITY CHANGED TO WHERE I BECAME A RECLUSE. TODAY PANIC ATTACKS WHICH I NEVER HAD. ALWAYS HAD A GIRLFRIEND. | ITS LIKE A VET GOES TO WAR HE COMES OUT OF WAR EVERYONE SAYS LOOK AT UNCLE SO AND SO WHAT HAPPENED? IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOURSELF AS YOU KNOW IT. THEN TAKE THE RISK. GOING BACK TO THE HALF HOUR SHOWER I USED TO HAVE THICK EYEBROWS ALOT FELL OUT. I HAVE CONSTANT DRYNESS EYEBROWS THAT LOOKS RIDICULOUS. JUST DONT PICK AT IT. KNEW I WAS GOOD LOOKING WITH THE PIMPLES MY FATHER STEPMOTHER WOULD SAY DONT PICK BUT I WOULD ANYWAY DIDNT BELIEVE THEM. USE IVORY MAYBE THAT WILL HELP YOU. CANT GO BACK IN TIME REDO EVERYTHING BUT IM SPEAKING ABOUT THE 21 YEAR OLD GOING IN TOMORROW. DONT PLAY RUSSIAN ROULETTE. PAIN AROUND MY EYES WAS SO BAD YOU WILL NOT EVEN WANT TO GO OUTSIDE. | M | 45 | 365 days | 11/19/2008 | 5 | I honestly have not experienced any major side effects that would keep me from taking accutane. I have been on and off of accutane since I was about 12 years old (I am now 27). I just started another course of it as of today. I have suffered from acne for a very long time, and accutane has been the only thing that has ever been able to truly help me. Although it always seems to come back within a year of my stopping to take accutane, my acne gets less and less severe each time it does return. Accutane has truly been a life saver for me. My usual side effects include very chapped lips, a sore rash that usually develops on the backs of both of my hands, and dry skin in general (especially on my face). I have never suffered from depression, or nausea, or any of the other terrible side effects that I have read about. I am living proof that accutane works... and I will contine to take it for the rest of my life if needed! It clears me up fast and makes me feel so much better about | F | 27 | 14 years | 11/18/2008 | 3 | cystic/nodular acne | I'm suppose to start taking accutane tomarrow, I'm really nervous...I had a battle with depression when i was 17-18 years old..I'm totally fine now.. haven't been on meds for years, but I'm serioulsy nervous about my depression coming back because of accutane.. but I want my acne to go away..and my doctor didn't tell me about IBS or joint issues, I'm glad I cam on this website...but now I'm even more nervous. Any advice.. | F | 21 | 0 days | 11/17/2008 | 1 | cystic acne | Back pain, chronic dry eye, decreased night vision, depressed thoughts, "spaciness", and trouble with pretty much every other aspect of my life. | Please, please...do not take this. The acne is bad yes, but this is far worse. If I could take it all back, I wouldn't do it for the world. I missed so much valuable time. Yea, I have clearer skin, but I often wonder if there would not have been another solution. I hated my acne. It made me so self-conscious, but now I can't even function normally...it has even effected my relationships. | F | 18 | 6 months | 11/16/2008 | 5 | severe acne | Joint pains, yeast infections, dry and crecking lips and my face and neck got really dark and i'm a black person. | The first week my acne cleared up and i was only taking it every other day and i tried everything before but i want to stop now the joint pain is really bad i feel like i'm 80 and i want to avoid anymore damage. | F | 38 | 6 weeks | 11/14/2008 | 3 | severe acne | Extremely dry lips and dry skin - nothing that facial moisture and Aquaphor (for lips) couldn't solve. Skin sensitivity and face burns when washing with plain water. | I'm only 1.5 months into and the side effects are bareable. I've noticed only a slight change in my skin but still very boken out and sore breakouts. | F | 28 | 1.5 months | 11/10/2008 | 4 | acne vigorous | Short Term: dry, cracking and peeling lips, dry eyes, itchy exit ramp, nose bleeds, mild confusion, and short fused temper. Long Term: Knee pain, vision complications in one eye similar to those of retinal detachment. | I fell into acne at age 11; started treatment at 18 being old enough to support this rather expensive disorder. My acne was severe, painful, and for me self destructive. I could go on 4ever about things acne robbed me of. No drugs worked until age 29 when i met accutane. Completely covered from the rim of the neck up to my hairline, from the base of my neck to my elbows and shoulder blades. I started taking double doses after first three months, Doc's orders. After 6months total, he told me I was finished. I wasn't finished, I was furious! I still had acne keeping me awake at night bleeding. He said I would begin seeing a difference soon and it will continue to work. He was right, I'm 33 now and have been clear since then. Are the side effects worth it? If the long-term effects are infact due to the drug, No. But I can't say 4sure this drug is at fault. I had minor knee trouble prior to accutane. I must say, acne is cosmetic but the way you feel about yourself reflects yor health trem | M | 33 | 6 days | 11/9/2008 | 3 | Seb hyperplasia, oily skin, rosacea | Took full course of Accutane in 1990 for cystic acne when I was about 30. The big dose made my joints extremely stiff. I had thinning hair. I had dry lips and carried Chap Stik constantly. I am not sure but suspect that my huge mood swings were from the drug. It was at this time that I was a first time mother and so I never knew if it was stress from that or from the side effects of Accutane. I am now 50 years old and have had huge hormonal changes in recent years that have caused me to have sebateous cysts on my chest and sebateous hyperplasia on my face. It was quite depressing (after having made it through years and years of acne ... and now ... this.). I was recently put on a low dose (20 mg) to take 3 X a week. After only a couple of weeks the sebateous hyperplasia bumps on my face appeared to disappear. My face became much less oily. The dermatologist informed me recently that I would have to be on Accutane for the rest of my life. (?!). This troubles me. He also in | When I took the full dose back in 1990 my skin cleared up and it was less oily. But it went right back to normal in not much time (less than a year). So it felt as though I suffered through the Accutane regimen for nothing. | F | 50 | 2 months | 11/6/2008 | 3 | Moderate to severe acne | Dry Skin, lips, irritation to sunlight, joint pain, pretty much everything they warn you of, When I went back on the pill after a 3 year break, to clear up the lingering acne, I experienced "increased brain pressure" and the doc told me I would have died had I not come in. I still have acne to this day. | When I started Accutane, they didn't know many of the long term effects. Before reading this, I never put two and two together, but 9 years later, I wouldn't be surprised if Accutane has played a role in my knee pain, IBS, fatigue and vision problems (sensitivity to light). HOWEVER, I agree with the person that wrote on Sep 1, being that I had no idea it was related to Accutane, I've just found ways to adapt. Live life, don't complain about it. You'd be amazed how much of all this is mental. (Except maybe the hairloss...) | F | 21 | 5 months | 10/28/2008 | 2 | Mild/Severe Acne | I experienced the usual side effects that are common taking this drug, but the most devastating was the induced Alopecia Areata. Yes, I kid you not that I have this side effect and more than positive that Accutane was the root of the cause. Even my derm. cosigned this claim but so far none of the his treatment was any useful. | Hair loss does occur but it is more common than they would want you to believe, but it is rare that you will experience full baldness. I took this drug never thinking this would ever happen to me so please make a choice you won't regret for this rest of your life. With hair loss I just lost hope and faith. How sad.. | M | 21 | 2 months | 10/16/2008 | 4 | cystic acne | dry skin and lips, little but no severe egzama, slow healing, a little depression at first. | i heard about Accutane from my dermatologist and heard that it works. My dermatologist himself had taken Accutane when he was 17 and he said it works amazing,and hes now in his 30s and his skin looks great. So i decided to try it out. Im now 4 months and 3 weeks into the treatment and my skin has improved dramaticly and im so excited. There is a possibility that i might have to go a 6th month but if i have to.. thats what im willing to do cause id rather get it all out then just get most of it. Accutane isnt for everyone.. but if youve heard enough good things about it and it has convinced you, thats a commitment you make with yourself. | F | 18 | 4.7 months | 10/12/2008 | 1 | Severe acne | Hypothroidism, severe colitis, osteoarthritis | Accutane is a horrible, dangerous drug. I think it will eventually be removed from the market. I was a young, healthy adult before I took this drug and it has ruined my entire health for life. I hope that I can either get on a class action lawsuit against roche, or that I will be compensated by roche in an individual lawsuit, for absolutely destroying my life! My acne is still present, today at 45 years old, after three courses of accutane, over a three year period, in the early 1990s, when I was in my early thirties. I would not recommend this drug to ANYONE! DO NOT TAKE IT!! PLEASE!! It could take away your life as you know and want it. | F | 45 | 12 months | 10/1/2008 | 4 | acute cystic acne | dry skin, chapped lips, acne flare-ups, skin real sensitive (like a sunburn). No other lasting side effects that I've noticed. | I took accutane when I was like 16-17. I had really bad acne on my back and chest and some on my face. I remember it seemed to make the acne worse, bring it all out. It was gross. My lips were really chapped most of the time. My skin was real irritated so if someone slapped me on the back or shoulder it killed. I had to get my blood and urine checked monthly. As far as depression goes I'd say I was depressed but I was a pretty shy kid who had real bad acne and I was in high school. It didn't have anything directly to do with the drug for me. I also remember not going swimming in my pool and not going to the beach that summer(boo!). I do believe it did get rid of my acne and it never did come back after that. I've heard about accutane causing premature wrinkles. My younger sister seems to think the reason I look so young for my age is because of taking it. I'm only 37 though. I still have all my hair and my younger brother is losing his. My older sister has aged quite a bit, but she's a | M | 37 | 6 months | 9/30/2008 | 1 | Cystic Acne | Long term problems with hair loss and gastrointestinal problems. Possible link to insomnia as well and development of keloid scars. | DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG!!!!!!!!!! Not worth it. There are now alternative in the market. Look into laser therapies or consider the pill(side effect but better than accutane).I took the drug when was 17 years, now 31. Cleared up cystic acne but came back. I stopped treatment after 4 months. I had AMAZING, thick and beautiful hair that everyone complimented me for.Initially noticed that hair was shedding more than before but thought it would stop. It continued for years- a slow progression. Now 31 and was at the point where I was seeing bald patches on the front of my head and my hair was 70 percent thinner than before. I knew that I would be bald by 40 so I decided to try laser therapy. It WORKED! My hair is back.100 percent sure that it was the accutane. Since age of 24 have been having severe gastrointestinal problems. I experience gas and excruciating back spasms at least once a month. I have also developed bowel problems and am constantly having diarrhea. When I have to go to the bath | F | 31 | 4 months | 9/29/2008 | 1 | minor acne | Other than the dryness of the skin & lips, was never advised/told about the hair loss that followed me for months, thw thiness of hair I dealed with for over 18 months. | Yes, my skin is great, only one or two spots over the years, but the long term effects, over 4 years, are devastating. My hair never came back to its same texture, still thinner, other things are coming out slowly over the years, especially as a female, period and cervical problems. Would not recommend it! | F | 22 | 8 months | 9/23/2008 | 4 | severe nodual acne | extremely dry lips, occasional mood swings, heightened artistic ability, nose bleeds | I had been on accutane twice before the therapy I'm going through right now. The first time I was 19, the second I was 22. I'm now 25 and attempting to clear up every last blemmish on my face. I didn't finish the therapy before because I hated having bright pink lips that cracked and bled. I wont take anything away from accutane, its a great drug, and its the only thing that has ever worked for me. Acne is a condition that effects you psychologically. It pulls you into yourself and leads you to self-conscious thoughts. Clearing your skin can change your life. I'm sure a lot of people know this from experience. My thing about accutane is you sort of become a perfectionist because you know what the drug is capable of. You start to see every little insignificant mark or blackhead and think to youself you're not perfect... yet. You become so vain, its hard not to stare at yourself in the mirror especially when half your life, you've avoided mirrors. Eh.. I could go on... | M | 25 | 2 days | 9/9/2008 | 1 | for acne | long term knee jouint problem, loss of hair(spotty balding) and under arms, decrease in vision, permanent dry scaly skin. | If I knew then the problems I would encouter now, I would have NEVER have used it. BEWARE! | M | 58 | 6 months | 9/8/2008 | 4 | cystic acne all over body | dry, painfully cracked lips (at times to the point of bleeding); dry, flaky, itchy skin and scalp; constant dehydration; severe acne flare-ups | I have been on accutane twice. Each time, I took 40mg twice per day for 5-6 months. The first time, my acne flare-ups and side effects were awful and lasted pretty much the entire course of taking the medication. About a year later, I took my second course and the side effects were not nearly as severe (however I did have scarring). My acne is SO MUCH BETTER, but I am considering a 3rd course because I still do suffer from cystic acne. *Use Aquaphor (can be found at any drug store) to help with dry lips/skin *Use a homemade mask of alvacado and mayo once a week to help with flaky scalp *Drink plenty of water! | F | 24 | 2 times | 9/6/2008 | 4 | moderate persistant cystic acne | dry skin, lips, and eyes, fragile skin, irritability, joint pain, dehydration, reduced night vision, fatigue, photosensitivity, diminished sex drive, breathlessness with physical exertion. | The side effects may seem bad, but they were not unbearable. I loved being able to go almost an entire week without washing my hair. Sebum is virtually non-existant even two weeks after being off the medicine. Side effects have almost completely diminished. I should have done this sooner and encourage others to at least try the drug if needed. You can stop at any time. The only thing I did not like is the iPledge system. It's a PITA! | F | 31 | 4 months | 8/29/2008 |