What is Accutane?
Accutane tablets contain the active substance - Isotretinoin, which belongs to the group of retinoids (derivatives of vitamin A), used to treat acne. The drug acts on the sebaceous glands, inhibiting their activity.
Accutane inhibits proliferation (overgrowth of tissue) and relieves inflammation resulting from increased activity of sebocytes (sebaceous gland cells).
How long does Accutane work?
The terminal elimination half-life for Accutane averages 29 hours. Accutane (Isotretinoin) refers to natural (physiological) retinoids. Endogenous concentrations of retinoids are active for 2 weeks after the end of the drug.
Accutane for mild acne?
Topical retinoids (e.g., Adapalene preparations) are more commonly used in the treatment of mild acne. Accutane acne medication, which refers to systemic retinoids for the treatment of severe to moderate acne when standard medications fail.
How long does Accutane treatment last?
Accutane pills are prescribed for a long period of treatment - from 5 to 11 months, depending on the weight of the patient and the severity of the disease.
Acne gradually begins to decrease after one to two months of using the drug, and most patients are able to achieve complete recovery by the end of treatment. It is the only acne medication that reduces the rash by an average of 80 percent. Accutane (Isotretinoin) makes the skin less oily for a longer period of time.
How long should you not take Accutane before surgery?
Accutane medication can have a negative effect on surgical wound healing. Traditionally, people are advised to refrain from taking this medicine for 6-12 months before elective surgery.
Can Accutane cause headaches?
Accutane (Isotretinoin) can cause increased intracranial pressure. This can lead to severe headache, visual impairment, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. If you have these symptoms, tell your doctor, who will stop or reduce the dosage of the drug.
Can I have bone pain while taking Accutane?
Consult your doctor if you plan to do heavy physical activity during treatment. The Accutane medication can cause pain in bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments. Accutane (Isotretinoin) can also stop bone growth during adolescence, with irreversible effects. It is important if you are injured during treatment (fractures, dislocations, sprains) to tell your doctor about taking the drug.
If you have muscle weakness with or without pain, stop taking Isotretinoin and see your doctor. Muscle weakness can be a sign of serious muscle damage.
Does fatigue occur while taking Accutane?
As one of the side effects, Accutane can cause fatigue and drowsiness. Drink more water to reduce the negative effects of the drug. Be sure to talk to your doctor and tell him or her about any new symptoms. Your doctor will be able to adjust the dose or replace the drug.
βCan I take alcohol during treatment with Accutane?β
Alcohol and Accutane affect dopamine levels in the brain, causing mental and physical disturbances. Large amounts of Isotretinoin and alcohol have more pronounced side effects, although smaller doses can be just as unsafe.
People who take alcohol and Accutane (Isotretinoin) may experience effects such as decreased motor reflexes; dizziness and headaches; nausea and vomiting; impaired liver function.
Some people may also experience euphoria, depression, irritability, and other similar symptoms. The combination of alcohol and Accutane (Isotretinoin) can lead to seizures, respiratory depression, and even unconsciousness.
If you feel unwell after mixing Accutane and alcohol call the emergency services, it is important to be under medical supervision at this time.
Be sure to tell medical personnel that it is a mixture of Accutane (Isotretinoin) and alcohol. The combination of alcohol and Isotretinoin
Isotretinoin increases the likelihood of transferring the person to the ICU.
Can Accutane cause weight loss?
Weight loss is not a side effect of Accutane (Isotretinoin), nor is weight gain. If you notice weight loss during treatment, tell your doctor. This may have nothing to do with taking the drug.
How much vitamin A is in Accutane?
Accutane (Isotretinoin) belongs to a group of drugs called synthetic retinoids, which are derivatives of vitamin A.
Vitamin A has long been used in dermatology, including the treatment of acne. The daily dosage of the vitamin in Accutane is 40 mg. To avoid hypervitaminosis, do not use vitamin A preparations at the same time.
Contraindications
Consult your doctor before use because the drug has various contraindications:
- Hepatic insufficiency;
- Hypervitaminosis A;
- Severe hyperlipidemia;
- Concomitant therapy with tetracycline;
- Pregnancy and pregnancy planning;
- Breast-feeding period;
- Children under 12 years of age;
- Hypersensitivity to the drug or its components.
With caution: depression in the anamnesis, diabetes mellitus, obesity, lipid metabolism disorders, alcoholism
How to use medication? Doses
The drug is prescribed orally, with meals once or twice a day. Generic Accutane and its side effects depend on the dose taken, so it is important not to exceed the dose prescribed by the doctor. The expert individually selects the doses during the treatment of the disease.
Treatment with the drug begins with a small dose of 0.5 - 1.0 mg per 1 kg of body weight per day.
Patients with very severe forms of the disease or with torso acne may require higher daily doses, up to 2.0 mg/kg. It has been proven that remission rates and relapse prevention are optimal when using a course dose of 120-150 mg/kg (per course of treatment), so the duration of therapy in specific patients varies depending on the daily dose. The effect of Accutane can be seen after 16 to 24 weeks of treatment.
In patients who do not tolerate the recommended dose very well, treatment can be continued at a lower dose, but the term of the entire treatment will last longer.
Often just one course of treatment is enough for acne to completely disappear. In most patients, acne disappears completely after a single course of treatment. The second course of treatment with Accutane at the same daily and course dose as the first is indicated if there is a clear relapse. Since improvement may continue up to 8 weeks after withdrawal of the drug, a second course should not be prescribed before the end of this period.
