Accutane Side Effects

Accutane History  Isotretinoin is a medication used for the treatment of severe acne. It was first developed as a chemotherapy drug for treating brain and pancreatic cancer. It is still used in treating these cancers because of its ability to kill rapidly dividing cells. Now it is marketed as the main ingredient in Accutane.

Besides Isotretinoin, Accutane is also made of vitamin A, which has been used as acne treatment since 1930. Before Accutane, oral anitbiotcs were used to treat acne. These drugs worked for some patients, but were only effective against one type of bacteria that causes acne. Isotretinoin was used in patients with skin cell disorders, and through accidental research, it was discovered that it also worked to eliminate severe acne. It was considered a major step toward acne treatment at the time, since it worked better than Vitamin A alone, with less side effects.

Hoffman-LaRoche registered isotretinoin in 1979 and it was released in the United States as Accutane in 1982. It was released in Europe in 1985 as Roaccutane. It is also known as Sotret, Amnesteem, Claravix and Decutan. Other pharmaceutical companies capitalized on Accutane’s expired patents in February 2002, allowing them to sell less expensive versions of the drug.

Accutane has sold more than any other acne treatment. It has treated about 12 million people worldwide, with five million of those in the United States. 85% of users experience no sign of acne after one course of treatment, although some severe cases require a second course.

Accutane works by drying out all the oils in the skin, thus eliminating acne. Although it works for most users, it may make acne worse in some cases or not work at all. It is recommended that acne sufferers use other medications and treatments first and use Accutane as a last resort.

Accutane is a highly potent drug with many side effects. It was pulled off the market in June 2009 because of many users claiming it caused them severe cases of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and ulcerate colitis.

Acne sufferers should discuss the pros and cons with their doctor so that if they choose Accutane, they take it properly and know what to expect. Although it can be bought online without a prescription, it definitely should not be used without doctor recommendation and supervision.