Accutane, a vitamin A derivative, is a cure for severe scarring acne. It works by decreasing oil in the skin, adhesion of skin cells and bacteria in the follicle. It is the only drug that effectively addresses these different steps in the production of acne. If you are considering using Accutane, you must consider the associated risks, and discuss them with your dermatologist. Here are some common answers and questions.
What are the side effects of Accutane?
Like many good treatments in medicine, Accutane causes side-effects that are well known and can be very troublesome. Often these problems will outweigh the potential benefit, especially if your acne is mild to moderate and is likely to respond to treatments with fewer side-effects.
The common side-effects are extreme dryness of the skin and soft internal surfaces (mucous membranes) such as inside the lips, eyelids and vagina. If you play a lot of sport you might be troubled by muscle and joint pains. It also can make your acne worse for up to eight weeks after starting it, which comes as a huge disappointment if you haven’t been warned.
How long should I take Accutane?
The average course is four months at a daily dose of 1mg per kilogram of your weight. Sometimes a lower dose is used to start with to try to prevent the drug’s initial worsening effect on your acne – causing a flare-up anywhere between two and six weeks into treatment – so the whole course could last up to six months.
Where can I Get Accutane?
Accutane is the brand name for accutane, a tablet form of the retinoids you can use as topical treatments. It is available only through dermatologists, because it has quite a few side-effects and you will need some blood tests before and during treatment.
Because of the side-effects it is not usually used for mild acne. Do not buy it via the internet, as taking it in the wrong way or dose could cause you harm. It is also quite expensive: hundreds of dollars for an average course.
Does Accutane cause depression or make it worse?
Whenever accutane is being considered, the doctor will discuss the side-effects with you, and you should be given a copy of the information leaflet provided by the drug company. Over the past few years there has been growing concern about accutane being able to make depression worse, and there have been tragedies where young people have committed suicide while taking the drug.
It is very difficult to pin the blame on the accutane, as many people feel depressed and contemplate suicide just because they have acne. What may happen in some cases is that a tendency to become depressed is made worse by having severe acne and taking accutane.
In the first few weeks of treatment the acne tends to get worse and this can be desperately disappointing. The drug may cause extreme mood swings which may result in suicide. People will need support if they are are using accutane.
They will need to have a friend or relative who can act as a ‘buddy’ – someone who sees them every day and who is there to pick up any warning signs of worsening depression or a downturn in mood. The doctor can then be alerted so that extra support and treatment is provided.
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