I'm taking 20mg Accutane a day. Is it true high dosage clears up acne faster?

Question

Hello im taking 20mg accutane a day I asked my doctor if I can take more dosage as I need to clear my acne asap . Is it true high dosage clears up acne faster? My doctor said it doesn't..

Renita (Lourdhurajan) Rajan, MD, DNB · Answer

Hi,There is enough evidence to show that low dose Isotretinoin is effective in treating acne, with lower side effects than the conventional dosing. I consciously choose a lower side regimen as it works very well and is very well tolerated.You seem to be in right hands.Good luck!

Alim R. Devani, MD, FRCPC · Answer

Accutane is an oral form of vitamin A. It reduces the amount
of oil released by oil glands in your skin, and helps your skin renew itself
more quickly. As it dries out oil glands, patients experience severe dryness of
their skin and mucous membranes. Accutane is used to treat severe nodular acne.
It is usually given after other acne medicines or antibiotics have been tried
without successful treatment of symptoms. Because it can cause severe,
life-threatening birth defects, many doctors are hesistant to use it. Never use
Accutane if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy. Women of child-bearing
potential must agree in writing to use two specific forms of birth control and
have regular pregnancy tests before, during, and after taking isotretinoin.
Since their has been some links to depression, crohns disease, liver disease
and other rare effects, many lawsuits have arisen in the USA which is another
reason it is very difficult to give. Accutane is available only under a special
program called iPLEDGE in the USA.

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. This gives you a 90-95% success rate of clearing acne for
lifetime. 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.

I'm taking 20mg Accutane a day. Is it true high dosage clears up acne faster?

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I'm taking 20mg Accutane a day. Is it true high dosage clears up acne faster?

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Accutane

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