Accutane Has Both Benefits and Risks to Weigh

For the last 20 years, Accutane has been a leading drug for acne. That’s no surprise, since Accutane is the only drug that has the potential to clear severe acne permanently after one course of treatment.

But Accutane is not without risks. One course normally lasts five months and results in prolonged remission of acne in up to 85 percent of patients.

No other acne medicine works as well for severe acne. Other medications only suppress acne temporarily.

Accutane is a member of a class of drugs known as retinoids, and while highly effective for most people, it doesn’t work for everyone. For some patients, another course of treatment is necessary, but for other, it doesn’t work at all. Some patients need to use topical medication in addition to Accutane to control their severe acne.

Accutane Risks

As powerful as Accutane can be in improving patients’ lives, its adverse effects can be just as powerful. This drug is known to cause miscarriage and severe birth defects. Patients taking Accutane may develop potentially serious problems affecting a number of organs, including the liver, intestines, eyes, ears, and skeletal system. In addition, some patients taking Accutane have developed serious psychiatric problems, including depression. More rarely, patients have developed suicidal behavior and killed themselves.

Because it is a high-risk drug, Accutane should be reserved for cases of “severe recalcitrant nodular acne,” according to the product’s labeling. This type of acne is resistant to standard acne treatment, including oral antibiotics, and is characterized by many nodules or cysts – inflammatory lesions filled with pus and lodged deep within the skin. These lesions can cause pain, permanent scarring, and negative psychological effects.

Is Accutane For You?

Only you and your doctor can determine the answer to that question. Remember, Accutane is not for mild cases of acne or those who plan to have children later in life.

With any luck, you’ll be like Julie Harper. Acne plagued Julie throughout high school and college. She depended on makeup and wore her hair down over the side of her face. She gave up chocolate and French fries, only to find that neither made a difference. And she went through medicine after medicine, from over-the-counter creams to oral antibiotics, to no avail.

These were not occasional pimples that vanish after a couple of days. This acne covered her face and left scars on her neck. “I had tried everything and felt frustrated all the time,” says Harper, now a physician and assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Alabama-Birmingham – a career she chose due in large part to her struggle with acne.

Dr. Harper finally found a successful treatment nine years ago at the age of 22. She took Accutane (isotretinoin) and watched her skin improve in just a couple of months. By the third month, her acne had disappeared. She says with clearer skin came more self-confidence and higher self-esteem.

Whether you decide on taking Accutane or not, it’s important to weigh the benefits against the risks. These are serious considerations for anyone considering Accutane.