Isotretinoin is a prescription medication for severe acne. This type of acne causes deep, painful cysts/nodules. As this acne clears, scars often replace it.
Brand names for isotretinoin include: Absorica, Amnesteem, Claravis, Myorisan, and Zenatane. Some people refer to this medication as Accutane, which is a brand of isotretinoin that no longer exists.
One course of treatment takes 6-8 months, your provider will tailor a treatment plan to fit you. Your safety is our number 1 concern. Due to possible side effects, your provider will talk with you in depth about the risks and benefits of the medication.
If isotretinoin is the right course of action for you, your provider will enroll you in a risk-management program called iPLEDGE.
The FDA runs this program, which is in place to:
A. prevent a patient from starting isotretinoin if they are pregnant
B. prevents a patient from becoming pregnant while they are taking isotretinoin
The program will also help us monitor you while taking isotretinoin. Your prescription is good for a 30-day supply of medication.
The patient MUST follow up for an appointment every 31 days.
Patients who can get pregnant must take a few extra precautions:
A. take the required pregnancy tests before/while taking isotretinoin
B. avoid getting pregnant
Follow these links for printable PDFs:
Patients Who Cannot Get Pregnant
