Can a 1 week intake of low dosage of Accutane per month cure my mild cystic acne oily face?

Question

I'm on 20 mg per day for 7 days a month for a 10 month course. I weigh 72 kilos. Now I'm on my 2nd month and don't even see any improvements. Every week I am breaking out cystic acne which I didn't always have before starting my accutane. When I consulted my dermatologist I just weigh 65 kg. Should I go back to him because I gain weight? And I am really depressed and stressing myself because school is coming. I think my accutane dosage is too low for my case. And my course is too long.

Estee Williams, MD · Answer

I do not believe that there is any precedent to using the medicine in the way you described.  Doing one week in the month may work, theoretically, if you continue for a long period of time, but I don't see the advantage in doing it this way.  Was there a reason for this?But certainly the number of milligrams is too low.Consider:-20mg a day for seven days = 140mg monthly-140mg a month for 10 mos= 1400mgThis does not come close to the recommended total doses of 8500mg minimum for a 72kg person.

Alim R. Devani, MD, FRCPC · Answer

The "cure" rate for acne is usually weight based and reaching a dosage of 120-150 mg/kg during the current course. You might be on to low of a dose based on your dosage and weight. As long as you get near this number, your acne and oily skin should stay away. I have a number of patients who have side effects at higher dosages and we put them on a low dose (10-20 mg /week) for an extended period of time with minimal side effects as well. The worse the acne, the higher the dose needed and longer duration but you need to reach the 120-150 mg/kg dosage. For the best results please consult a board certified
dermatologist with experience with your condition.

Good luck!

Can a 1 week intake of low dosage of Accutane per month cure my mild cystic acne oily face?

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Can a 1 week intake of low dosage of Accutane per month cure my mild cystic acne oily face?

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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.