What is Accutane?
If you suffer from acne, one of the medications that you should be
aware of is Accutane. Accutane is the commercial name for the medicine
called Isotretinoin. Isotretinoin is a powerful and effective treatment
for severe forms of acne. While this drug has been prescribed to
hundreds of thousands of people for over 20 years, the drug
Isotretinoin is not for everyone. Here is some more information on what
Accutane is and how it works.
Accutane is derivative of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is a natural
forming chemical that is produced inside our bodies, specifically in
the liver. The liver makes small quantities of vitamin A which serve
many functions. Some of the more common functions vitamin A serves is
dealing with bone and vision, as well as being essential to having
healthy skin.
Accutane is an extremely potent form of vitamin A and is one
of the many drugs and treatments used to effectively minimize acne
vulgaris (common acne) as well as other less common types of acne.
Accutane is the commercial name used by Roche pharmaceutical company;
besides Roche, there are a few other pharmaceutical companies that
produce Isotretinoin. They include Accure by Alpapharm, Isohexal by
Hexal Australia, Amnesteem by Bertek Oratane by Douglas
Pharmaceuticals, and Claravis by Barr. It should be noted that these
medications are all Isotretinoin; however dosage and contents may
differ slightly.
Accutane is used quite frequently for severe forms of acne
usually acne vulgaris, it is extremely effective against the production
of sebum (oil that is produced in hair follicles) and ultimately
prevents black heads and other types of pimples from forming. While it
is not fully understood how Accutane reduces production of sebum, most
physicians state that it is effective because it alters DNA
transcription. The end result is that patients with severe acne that
take Accutane as directed should see a noticeable decrease in the size
and amount of pimples for a long period of time.
It should be noted that Accutane is a not a mild drug, it can
have severe side effects and for certain individuals can be extremely
dangerous. The use of Accutane must be prescribed by a physician and in
the United States additional steps must be taken before Accutane can be
prescribed and used.
Unfortunately, Accutane can cause birth defects to women that
are pregnant while using the drug, in addition, many patients have
encountered other side affects, some mild, and some severe such as mood
changes, dry skin, nose bleeds and hair loss among many others. Before
using the drug, make sure you consult with a doctor and if in the
United States you will most likely need to complete a form from
iPledge, which states that if you are a female and using Accutane that
you will not try to get pregnant. In addition if you are sexually
active, your doctor might consult with you in order to educate you on
birth control and prescribe birth control for you if necessary. You
might even be asked to use two types of birth control to minimize the
risk of pregnancy.
While Accutane can work wonders for those suffering from severe acne, it is important to consider the side effects as well.