Accutane is an oral Acne medication, isotretinoin. It is mostly reserved for very severe cases of Acne because it has so many serious potential side effects. Most of these , fortunately, are uncommon. Accutane is the brand name for isotretinoin, just like "Band Aids" is the brand name for "adhesive bandages". Accutane is an excellent medication for treating severe cases of Acne. Severe acne cases are those that have failed traditional therapies for at least 6 months, have large painful or disfiguring lesions, large nodules or cystic lesions.
Most recently Accutane has been associated with depression, thoughts of suicide and even some reports of suicide. Most dermatologists do not feel there is a cause and effect however, there is an association and as such now dermatologists are required to inform their patients about this side effect before treating. Additionally, Accutane can affect many different body organs. Lastly, Accutane is a teratogen (can cause birth defects) so it is critical that females do not get pregnant while taking or for a few months following Accutane therapy. Thus, Accutane needs to be monitored closely with blood draws and doctor visits monthly.
