Accutane
What is Accutane?
Accutane is a derivative of vitamin A that occurs naturally in your body. It along with various others, such as Accure, Aknenormin, Amnesteem, Ciscutan, Clarus, Isohexal, Istretinoin-A and Sotret, is a branded name of isotretinoin.
What are its uses?
The branded drugs of isotretinoin are used in the treatement of acne. Accutane helps in reducing the amount of oil released by oil glands of your skin and renew your skin more quickly. Normally, the drug is used when other acne medicines or antibiotics do not show significant treatment results of symptoms. Basically, it is used to treat severe nodular acnes.
Being a derivative of vitamin A does not mean that Accutane does not have any side effects. Its users can experience various ill-effects, but still this medicine is considered as safer than long-term antibiotic usage. The presence of Accutane can be detected in the bloodstream of all people. Because of its natural occurrence, the body quickly removes isotretinoin from the bloodstream once you stop consuming it. Take the drug with food and your body will absorb the medicine in a better and fast way.
Side Effects/ Health Consequences:
The occurrence of side-effects depend more on the dosage consumed by you. Users will not experience any side effect if they keep required doseage as lower as possible. Some of the commonly reported side-effects of Accutane are chapped lips, temporary hair thinning, rashes, dryness of nose, mild nosebleeding, headache, dry skin, itching, eye irritation, joint and muscle pains, and intestinal and urinary symptoms. In some cases, decreased night vision, depression and making suicide attempts may also occur.
In addition to above mentioned health consequences, Accutane can increase the level of blood fats, sometimes to risky levels. But, the situtation can be controlled back to noraml condition once you switch off the drug usage. Regular blood tests are necessary during isotretinoin treatment.
However, the most risky side effect of Accutane is occurrence of serious birth defects if the drug is taken by a pregnant woman. So, avoid consuming the drug during pregancy or consult your doctor first.
Precautions and Warnings:
Despite of side-effects, still there are certain precautions and warnings that you should follow to avoid any serious problem. The most important fact about Accutane is that you can buy the drug only through registration under a special program called “iPLEDGE.” If you want to use it then it is must to register in the program and sign documents to understand the dangers of this medication.
The sale and distribution of Accutane outside the iPLEDGE program is against the regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. And it is quite dangerous for you if you purchase isotretinoin through internet sources or from vendors outside the United States.
If you are experiencing allergic reactions or have allergy to any food or drug then avoid using this medication. Individuals, who have heart disease, diabetes, asthma, liver disease, high cholesterol, anorexia nervosa (an eating disorder), osteoporosis or personal or family history of depression or mental illness, should also not utilize Accutane. Pregnant women must avoid taking this specific drug during pregnancy. If you have unprotected sex or switching off to your birth control pills or you think you might be pregnant, stop using Accutane immediately and consult a doctor.
Dosage:
Isotretinoin is marketed under several brand names by various manufacturers. You can buy it in form of 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg and 40 mg capsules. However, the dosage of isotretinoin depends mainly on the weight of patients and severity of their condition.
Various studies have revealed the fact that lower dose treatments are much more effective than higher ones. If you are taking high dosage then also it should not go over 2 mg/kg/day for a treatment period of 4–6 months or in case you want to start a second course then the drug may be used for two months following the termination of the initial course.
