Accutane has various purposes which we will discuss in this article. Its generic is called Isotretinoin and it is primarly used as a form of Vitamin A.

Accutane is used to treat severe nodular acne. It is a prescription drug and is very powerful. Accutane is generally tried after other forms of acne treatments have been unsuccessful.

Important Information

Accutane is very dangerous for pregnant mothers and causes severe life-threatening birth defects if the mother takes the medicine during pregancy. Even a single dose of accutane can have drastic effects on the development of the baby.

Accutane should be avoided by pregnant women or women planning for pregnancy.

Accutane in the United States is not available easily on prescription. It is available under a program called iPLEDGE. You need to be registered under this and sign that you understand the risks associated with taking Accutane.

How to take Accutane ?

Always take Accutane with a glass of water and swallow it as quickly as possible. You can also take Accutane with Food & Milk.

The Acne might seem to get worse when you initial start taking this medicine, but should improve over time. You will also need to take a blood test on a regular basis to make sure that this medicine is not causing any harmful effects.

What are the side effects of Accutane ?

Always inform your doctor on your progress of taking Accutane. If you notice any of the following side effects of Accutane, seek emergency medical attention:

• depressed mood, trouble concentrating, sleep problems, crying spells, aggression or agitation, changes in behavior, hallucinations, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;

• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;

• blurred vision, sudden and severe headache or pain behind your eyes, sometimes with vomiting;

• hearing problems, hearing loss, or ringing in your ears;

• seizure (convulsions);

• severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate;

• loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• severe diarrhea, rectal bleeding, black, bloody, or tarry stools;

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, purple spots under your skin, easy bruising or bleeding; or

• joint stiffness, bone pain or fracture.