Accutane and Diet

I  just started accutane exactly nine days ago. I've tried everything else in the past to no avail. I don't have severe acne ..  just very persistent acne. My derm told me to eliminate all vitamin A from my diet. I wokrout alot and I drink protein drinks that have vitamin A...  she said not to drink these anymore... what do you think can i still drink them? What happens if I do ? I also eat a cereal with 10% vitamin A.. Should that be eliminated as well ?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Because Accuatne is a Vitamin A derivative, we usually ask people not to take Vitamin A supplements, because extra Vitamin A will tend to aggravate the dryness the drug causes anyway.  I don't ask patients to watch their diet, just to avoid vitamin supplemenst with A.  What's at stake, however, is just how dry you get, not anything more serious.  Check this opinion with your doctor.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff