Accutane As Acne Treatment: Part 1

The breakthroughs achieved by using topical vitamin A acid also led to another oral therapy, this one made from a compound belonging to the same retinoid class as Retin-A. This compound is called isotrettinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) and is known by the trade name Accutane. When taken for approximately four to five months, Accutane has been proven to be an extremely effective treatment for a severe form of acne known as cystic or nodular acne. In fact, for those suffering from severe cystic acne, Accutane has proven to be nothing short of a miracle.

But Accutane, a prescription medication, has a number of possible serious side effects that are similar to those resulting from large doses of vitamin A. Among Accutane's potential side effects are dry, peeling skin; a sudden inability to see in the dark (so night driving can be dangerous); intracranial pressure, which can lead to permanent loss of sight, or in rare instances, death. Another possible side effect is inflammation of the liver, which can be detected by blood tests. For this reason, periodic blood tests are performed on patients undergoing Accutane treatment. Elevated triglycerides are another possible side effect of Accutane. This too can be detected by blood tests. Once the Accutane treatment is ended, most patients' triglyceride levels return to normal.