My Experience with the Acne Drug Accutane

Oddly enough, I didn't have skin problems as a teenager. I thought I'd gotten lucky and bypassed the constant battles with acne that plagued many of my family members. But then right around my twenty-fifth birthday I began having major skin problems. My face suddenly broke out in large painful pimples, and no matter what kind of over-the-counter cleansers and treatments I tried, nothing worked. My family doctor sent me to a dermatologist, and after an initial unsuccessful course of antibiotic treatment, I was finally put on Accutane.

Accutane (also known as Isotretinoin) is an extremely powerful acne-fighting drug which relies in large part on a super-high-dose Vitamin A type component. It can be taken by both teenagers and adults. Unlike antibiotics (which fight the bacteria on your skin), Accutane's function is to decrease the amount of oil produced by your skin. The dosage (which varies from person to person depending on the severity of the acne problem) is taken daily with food. The treatment length usually lasts between 4-6 months, again depending on the severity of your problem. Note: Accutane cannot be obtained without a prescription from a doctor.

There are some important things to remember when taking Accutane. First, you will be required to have a monthly blood test to check the level of fats in your blood. In rare cases, Accutane can increase the amount of fats in your blood and can also affect the liver (if you have a history of chronic liver problems, you will probably not be allowed to take Accutane), so it's absolutely vital for you to keep your appointments for this blood work. You will also be asked to have an initial blood test before you start treatment to establish a baseline - and for comparison later on, as well.

Secondly, it is vital to practice birth control while taking Accutane - both for men and women. This drug can cause serious birth defects. Consequently, you may not take Accutane if you are already pregnant before treatment begins. You must wait until after the birth of your child.