Acutane

[busy]

My daughter is 14 and uses Avita, Avenex and benzoclin. Without the medication, she gets cysts on her nose and eruptions/cysts on her cheeks. Her skin is not completely clear on the medicine, but much improved; she gets the occasional eruption on her cheek, sometimes a cyst, and some whiteheads.  Acutane has been prescribed.  Is this a good idea?  Are there side effects peculiar to females?  Is there any evidence that acutane can cause reproductive or related (genetic) problems in females?  Is she better off trying another topical medication or an oral antibiotic before trying acutane?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Accutane is quite safe when properly used.  It can cause birth defects if a woman takes it while she actually pregnant, but because it doesn't stay in the body, there is no risk whatsoever of reproductive problems if it's taken and then the patient gets pregnant later on (the usual recommendation is a month.)

As to whether Accutane is appropriate at this point, that's a matter of judgment.  Acne which becomes "much improved" with topical therapy doesn't sound severe enough to warrant this drug, at least not without trying other topicals, or perhaps oral antibiotics likes the tetracyclines.  Patients with relatively mild acne ("the occasional eruption") often clear up, only to relapse a few months or years later.

Again, I haven't seen her, but jumping to Accutane at this seems a bit premature.  Perhaps you should get another opinion.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Stephanie P.]

Accutane is Wonderful.  I tried everything to cure my cystic acne and nothing seemed to work.  Accutane does have a lot of side of effects, but is definitley worth it!

[geno416]

A related discussion, Drug Interaction was started.

[addilitis]

A related discussion, acutane was started.

[S. Red]

After many years of dermatologist and antibiotics, I finally went on accutane.  Being female, I was very concerned about taking this drug because of all the side affects.  
I cant begin to tell you how it changed my life.  It killed my cystic acne and my face has never broken out again.  
Please let your daughter take accutane.  When she is done with the therapy, she will be so happy with her new skin and glad that you did something about it early in her life.  She will never have to feel like she has to hide her face again!

[Isabelle]

My daughter is on acutane and is experiencing severe back pain.  The pain is mostly in the lower region of the back.  Is this a side effect of the drug?