Accutane Treatments
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, Accutane treatments are appropriate for patients with severe acne when all other treatment protocols have failed. Accutane is the brand name for the oral drug isotretinoin.
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About Accutane Treatments
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Accutane treatments typically take between 14 and 20 weeks, during which time the medication is taken daily. According to the AAD, usually only one round of Accutane treatment is required to resolve severe (cystic) acne in the majority of patients.
Common Side-Effects
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Typical temporary side-effects patients can expect during Accutane treatments include dry eyes, nose and mouth; dry and flaking skin, including the lips; thinning hair; headache; and sun sensitivity.
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Severe Side-Effects
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Accutane treatments can cause severe side-effects in some patients, including diarrhea, bloody stool, vision and hearing difficulties, severe headache, depression, and suicidal thoughts---to name only a few. Doctors monitor patients stringently during the course of treatment, says the AAD.
Danger to Women
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Accutane treatments causes known birth defects in developing fetuses. Its use is carefully monitored in female patients, who must use two types of birth control, undergo routine pregnancy testing and register with the U.S. Food & Drug Administrations iPledge program during their course of treatment.
Proper Use
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To get the best results from Accutane treatment, patients should take medication daily with a large glass of water to avoid stomach upset, according to the Mayo Clinic. The medication should be stored at room temperature out of the reach of children. Accutane should never be shared with others.
Other Accutane Facts
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Roche Holding HG, which obtained the original patent for isotretinoin (Accutane) in 1982, announced plans to pull the drug from the market in June 2009, allegedly because Accutane faces too much competition from the medication's less-costly generic competitors.
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