What is Isotretinoin?

Category: Prescription Drugs

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Isotretinoin is an acne product used in the treatment of severe acne unresponsive to conventional therapy. It is being used for treatment of children with metastatic neuroblastoma or leukemia that does not respond to conventional therapy.

Reported purpose & perceived effectiveness
Purpose Patients Evaluations Perceived Effectiveness
Acne 93 21
Hidradenitis suppurativa 25 0
Acne breakout 13 11
Granuloma annulare 3 0
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus 2 0
Folliculitis 1 1

Show all 13 reasons taken


  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell

Side effects

Side effects as an overall problem

Side effects as an overall problem
Severity Evaluations Percentage
Severe 5
Moderate 13
Mild 10
None 1

Commonly reported side effects and conditions associated with Isotretinoin

Side effect Patients Percentage
Dry skin 11
Depressed mood 5
Dry lips 5
Dry eyes 4
Dry mouth 3
Joint pain 3

Show all 37 reported side effects

Why patients stopped taking Isotretinoin

Multiple reasons could be selected

Reason Patients Percentage
Course of treatment ended 23
Doctor's advice 7
Side effects too severe 7
Other 6
Did not seem to work 2
Expense 1
See all 34 patients who've stopped taking Isotretinoin

Duration

Stopped taking Isotretinoin

Duration Patients Percentage
Less than 1 month 2
1 - 6 months 14
6 months - 1 year 10
1 - 2 years 2
5 - 10 years 2
10 years or more 3
Adherence
Adherence Evaluations Percentage
Always 26
Usually 2
Sometimes 0
Never taken as prescribed 1
Burden
Burden Evaluations Percentage
Very hard to take 5
Somewhat hard to take 5
A little hard to take 8
Not at all hard to take 11
Cost per month
Cost per month Evaluations Percentage
$200+ 0
$100-199 2
$50-99 2
$25-49 4
< $25 6
Not specified 15

What people switch to and from

Patients started taking Isotretinoin after stopping:

Treatment Patients Percentage
Lymecycline 2
Adapalene (Differin) 1
Benzoyl Peroxide-Clindamycin Topical (Benzaclin topical) 1
Chemotherapy 1
Clindamycin topical (Dalacin T) 1

Show all 9 treatments patients report switching from

Patients stopped taking Isotretinoin and switched to:

Treatment Patients Percentage
Benzoyl Peroxide-Clindamycin Topical (Benzaclin topical) 1
Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim (cotrimoxazole) (Bactrim) 1
Last updated:

2 patient evaluations for Isotretinoin

May 1, 2012 (Started Dec 01, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for acne)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (dizziness, nosebleeds (epistaxis), loss of energy, depressed mood, dizziness with nausea, headaches, social anxiety, fatigue)
  • Adherence
    Never taken as prescribed
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 60 mg Daily
Cost: < $25 monthly

Dec 2, 2011 (Started Dec 01, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for acne)
  • Side effects
    Mild (dizziness, nosebleeds (epistaxis), loss of energy, depressed mood, dizziness with nausea, headaches, social anxiety, fatigue)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 60 mg Daily
Cost: < $25 monthly

  • 0 helpful marks

Feb 26, 2010 (Started Jul 02, 2009)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for acne breakout)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for skin problems)
  • Side effects
    Severe (rage, anger)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Dosage: 40 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Phasellus faucibus turpis sed mi maximus mattis.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: anger, rage

  • 0 helpful marks
Last updated:
Showing 2 of 2 patient evaluations for Isotretinoin