Drug name
Accutane (Isotretinoin)
Use Instruction
Accutane is prescribed for treating rigorous acne in patients who do not feel improvement after taking other medicines. Accutane can also be used for other conditions as decided by your health care provider.
Intake instructions
This medicine should be taken twice a day with a meal; please take all your prescribed dosages till your doctor tells you otherwise. Drug should be taken swallowed. You should not suck or chew the capsule. Please swallow Accutane with a full glass of water, milk; you can use any nonalcoholic liquid. Make sure to follow your health care provider’s instructions cautiously.
Dependant on patient’s reaction to Accutane, your health care provider may need to increase or decrease the dosage. If your response to the medicine is quick and well, your doctor may stop your taking Accutane even earlier, when 15 or 20 weeks are up.
After you complete taking Accutane, there should be a 2-month "rest period" during which you cannot take the drug. It is necessary because your acne is probable to show improvement even in case you are no longer taking the medication. In case 2 months have passed your acne is still austere, your health care provider may prescribe you a second course of Accutane. In case you are still growing, your health care provider may recommend a longer "rest period."
Avoid using alcoholic beverages while taking the medicine.
This medicine should be taken under your health care provider’s prescription and control. Please make sure to check the label on the medicine and find information concerning exact dosing.
Remember that you should not break, crush, or chew the tablets before swallowing.
An important note: This medicine is for you only. Sharing this medicine with others is not recommended.
Drug Category and Mechanism
Accutane represents a category of retinoid. It functions by decreasing skin oil performance, correction the characteristics of the skin oil, and precluding abnormal hardening of the skin.
Missed Dose
Should you miss a dose of this medicine please take it asap. If you find you have missed the previous dosage when it is almost time for your next dose, you should better skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Taking double or extra doses at once is not recommended. If more than one dose is missed, please contact your attending medical doctor or health care provider.
Storage
The best conditions to keep the medicine at are to store them room temperature 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). The container where the medicine is stored should be tightly closed. It should be also strictly protected from moisture, heat and light. Any unused medicine the expiration date have passed should be thrown away.
Safety Precautions
Taking Accutane is not recommended in case:
you have allergy to any component in Accutane;
pregnant or planning to become
breast-feeding mothers
Please inform your health care provider if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the above – provided are applicable to you.
Important information:
Do not drive, use machinery, or do any actions which require mental alertness until you certainly inform how this medicine may affect you.
Do not give blood ate the period you are taking Accutane, you should not give it even for 1 month after you stopped taking Accutane.
Please also note that taking alcoholic drinks is not recommended at the time you take medicine.
Severe of acne may take place during the first part of therapy. This does not necessarily mean or a requirement to stop the medicine.
To assist in prevention the cracking of lips, please make sure to use a lip moisturizer or balm.
Do not plan cosmetic procedures for smoothening of your skin, including waxing, dermabrasion, as well as laser procedures, in the period you are taking the medicine and for at least 6 months after your health care provider prescribed you to stop it. Accutane may increase your possibility of cicatrization from these procedures.
This medicine can make you be much more sensitive to the sun. Try to stay away out of the sun. If avoiding the sun is not possible, make sure to wear protective clothing as well as sunscreen. Sun lamps or tanning beds or booths are not recommended.
Please inform your health care provider if you plan physical activity (sports) in the period you are taking medicine.
Women who are of the age of childbearing and sexually active should use 2 effective forms of family planning at least 1 month before they start to take the medicine, in the period of therapy, and 1 month after they are prescribed to take the medicine. Your doctor should control your pregnancy tests on a monthly basis in the period you are being treated with Accutane.
Several birth control pills (progestin) which do not possess estrogen may not show efficiency in the period you are taking Accutane.
Diabetes patients - Accutane can have an impact on your blood sugar. Please make sure to check blood sugar levels closely and consult your doctor before setting the dose of your diabetes medicine.
Probable Side Effects
Please discuss with your health care provider if any of the mentioned most COMMON side effects afterglow or become or causing bother:
irregular hair growth; irregular skin sensations; bloodletting and ruddiness or swelling of the gums; changes in menstrual flow; cracking lips; low level tolerance to contact lenses; giddiness; dry eyes and mouth; dry nose which can lead to epistaxis; dry or husking skin; exhaustion; watering; general body uneasiness; hair thinning; itching; low level of energy; irritability; respiratory contagious tract; insomnia; sweating; provisional worsening of acne; changes in voice.
Please inform your health care provider if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the below – provided are applicable to you:
austere allergic reactions (eruption; urticaria; difficulty in breathing; tenseness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bizarre, assertive, or violent behavior; pains in bowels; dark urine; state of depression; hard or painful swallowing; hard moving; outrageous thirst or urination; extreme heartbeat; an abnormally high body temperature; crushed or weak bones; changes in hearing or ringing in the ears; low level compression in the brain (pressure in the eye; aversion; changes in vision; emesis); node or back pain; leg swelling; muscle imperfection with or without pain; disgust; new or severe heartburn; rectal haemorrhage; red patches or hematomas on the legs; hard breathing; convulsions; severe birth defects; censorious diarrhea; severe headache; contagious skin; stomach pain or sickliness; stroke; stunted children; sensitivity to sun; swelling of the pancreas (an abnormally high body temperature; extreme heartbeat; disgust; stomach tenderness; emesis); swollen glands; thoughts or attempts of suicide; tenseness in the lungs; problems in vision; yellowing of the skin and eyes.
Extra Information
An important note: This medicine is for you only. Sharing this medicine with others is not recommended.