Powerful drug used in the treatment of acne . Four to five months o f isotretinoin treatment usually leads to clearing of acne for one year or more after the medicine is stopped. Most other acne-controlling medicines are antibacterial agents, which are effective only if the medicine is used
daily. Isotretinoin has significant side effects: (percentages are the ratio of people who received the side-effect) Chapped lips 90% , dry skin and itching 80% - the use of daily alpha hydroxacids will help prevent this side effect. Dryness of nose, mild nosebleed 80%, Irritation of the eyelids and
eyes 40% - Vitamin E 400 IU each day may lessen this side effect. Joint and muscle pains 15%, Temporary hair thinning 10%, Rash 7%, Intestinal symptoms 5%, Urinary symptoms 5%, Headache 5%, Increased sensitivity to sunburn 5%,
Decreased night vision <1%, Depression, thoughts of suicide <1% Isotretinoin may increase the level of blood fats, sometimes to risky levels.
Occasionally it may affect the liver. That s why regular blood tests are necessary when you are taking isotretinoin; these tests must be done when you have fasted for 12 hours (no breakfast), so that the blood fat determinations are reliable. A baseline blood chemistry test is established
before patients start isotretinoin.