Just started Accutane, will 20 mg/day work?

Question

I am 20 year old girl turning 21in a month with moderate acne. I am about 158 cm tall and weigh 54 kg. My dermatologist told me that 20 mg is most likely enough for me and that I don't need to reach 120mg/kg. This is my first day taking 20 mg. She said that new researches show it's not necessairy. But I am worried that it will not work for persitent acne or that I will relapse. Can I have an opinion on this?

Alim R. Devani, MD, FRCPC · Answer

The course of accutane is usually 4-6 months in dose ranges
from 20-60 mg/day. The goal is to reach a 120-150 mg/kg dosage over the single
4-6 month course. The typical dose ranges from 0.5-1 mg/kg/day. This gives you
a 90-95% success rate of clearing acne for lifetime. When starting accutane,
you can get a flare of symptoms and you will start seeing results usually after
6-8 weeks. There is a 5-10% recurrence rate of  acne on accutane and courses can be repeated 2-3 times if
needed after a 4-6 weeks break on the medication.

Overall, in the right hands, it is a great medication and if
used properly, it will clear acne for life in 90-95% of cases. For the best
results, please consult a board certified dermatologist with experience with
severe acne.

F. Victor Rueckl, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

Accutane daily dosing depends on your weight, acne location, severity of acne, AND the environment in which you live. Since I live in Las Vegas my patients take between 20-40mg daily and no one here could tolerate 120mg because the area is way too dry. So, the daily amount is not as important as the cumulative amount, which is the total mg you take over your course of medication. For proper dosing people need a cumulative dose of between 8000-16000mg total. It will take you longer to get to this amount if you only take 20mg daily, BUT your side effects will be much lower and you will still get a good result as long as you reach the proper cumulative dosage. Daily dosing is not nearly as important as the cumulative amount. "This answer has been solicited without seeing this patient and cannot 
be held as true medical advice, but only opinion. Seek in-person 
treatment with a trained medical professional for appropriate care."

Just started Accutane, will 20 mg/day work?

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Just started Accutane, will 20 mg/day work?

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Everything you need to know about Accutane

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.