can I safely take Accutane/Roaccutane

I am 41 years old and have experienced on again/off again acne, including occassional severe outbreaks.  I have tried all medications on the market with limited success.

I took Accutane for a few months about 20 years ago with success.

I was treated with the minimal dossage of Accutane from 12/2002 to 11/2003.  I had a 100% improvement and very few side effects. My skin stayed perfect through April 2004.  I started experiencing skin problems that progressed dramatically through July 2004.  I started a course of antibiotics that helped initially.  But while still on the antibiotics I experienced another extreme breakout.

Question:
1.Is there a maximum lifetime amount of Accutane that I can take?  Can I safely start another course now?

2.I suffered a "toxic induced hepatitis" several months ago that was attributed to anaesthesia used during a minor surgery.  My liver function is now 100%.  Is there any reason that this experience with hepatitis would indicate I should not use Accutane?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Yes, you can certainly take more Accutane with no problem.  As far as the liver goes, I rarely if ever see any liver toxicity from Accutane, so if your liver is OK now, you should be fine.  If that is what your doctor recommends, I wouldn't hesitate to take it.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff