accutane information
isotretinoin (oral)(eye so TREH tih noyn)
What is the most important information I should know about Accutane?
• Accutane is a medication taken to treat severe nodular acne that hasnot been helped by other treatments, including antibiotics accutane information. However, Accutanecan cause serious side effects accutane information. Before starting treatment with Accutane, discusswith your doctor how bad the acne is, the possible benefits of Accutane, andthe possible side effects accutane information. Your doctor will ask you to read and sign a formindicating that you understand the serious risks associated with Accutane therapy accutane information.
• Do not take Accutane if you are pregnant or if you could become pregnantduring treatment or for one month after you stop taking Accutane accutane information. Accutane isin the FDA pregnancy category X accutane information. This means that Accutane is known to causesevere birth defects in an unborn baby accutane information. It can also cause miscarriage, prematurebirth, or death of the baby accutane information. You must take a pregnancy test and have negativeresults when you and your doctor decide that Accutane may be beneficial foryour condition accutane information. You must have a second pregnancy test with negative resultsduring the first 5 days of the menstrual period right before you start takingAccutane accutane information. Two reliable forms of birth control must be used at the same time(unless abstinence is the chosen method of birth control or if you have undergonea hysterectomy) for one month before starting treatment with Accutane, duringtreatment with Accutane, and for at least 1 month following the end of treatment accutane information. You will also be asked to take a pregnancy test on a monthly basis accutane information. Your doctorwill discuss with you and provide for you a video and written information regardingchoices for birth control, possible causes for birth control failure, and theimportance of using birth control while taking Accutane accutane information. If you become pregnant,stop using birth control, or miss your menstrual period, immediately stop takingAccutane and notify your doctor accutane information.
• Some patients have experienced depression (including feelings of sadness,irritability, unusual tiredness, trouble concentrating, and loss of appetite)and suicidal thoughts and/or behavior during, and soon after stopping, treatmentwith Accutane accutane information. Notify your doctor immediately if you begin to experience signsof depression or if you begin to have thoughts about taking your own life duringor shortly following treatment with Accutane accutane information.
• Do not take vitamin supplements containing vitamin A during treatmentwith Accutane accutane information. This could cause increased side effects accutane information.
• Do not donate blood while taking Accutane and for at least 1 month followingthe end of treatment accutane information. Blood donated while taking Accutane may be given to apregnant woman and be harmful to her baby accutane information.
• Do not use wax hair removal systems or have any skin resurfacing procedures(such as dermabrasion or laser treatment) performed while taking Accutane andfor six months following treatment due to the possibility of scarring accutane information.
• Avoid exposure to sunlight or UV rays while taking Accutane accutane information. Accutanemay increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight and a severe sunburn couldresult accutane information.
• Use caution when driving a vehicle at night accutane information. Accutane can cause decreasednight vision accutane information. The onset of decreased night vision may be sudden accutane information.
• Take all of the Accutane that has been prescribed for you even if yoursymptoms start to improve accutane information. The acne may seem to get worse at the start of therapy,but should then begin to improve accutane information. For the best results, finish all of the medicationthat has been prescribed accutane information. You may require more than one course of therapy withAccutane accutane information.
What is Accutane?
• Accutane is a form of vitamin A accutane information. It decreases the amount of sebum (oil)that is released by the sebaceous (oil) glands, and it increases that rate atwhich the skin renews itself accutane information.
• Accutane is used to treat severe nodular acne that has not respondedto other treatments, including antibiotics accutane information.
• Accutane may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide accutane information.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Accutane?
• Before taking Accutane, tell your doctor if you have
· a personal or family history of mental problems including depression,suicidal behavior, or psychosis (loss of contact with reality, hearing voices,or seeing things that are not there);
· diabetes;
· asthma;
· heart disease;
· osteoporosis (bone loss) or weak bones;
· anorexia nervosa;
· high cholesterol or triglyceride levels (types of fat) in the blood;or
· liver disease accutane information.
• You may not be able to take Accutane, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove accutane information.
• Do not take Accutane if you are pregnant or if you could become pregnantduring treatment or for one month after you stop taking Accutane accutane information. Accutane isin the FDA pregnancy category X accutane information. This means that Accutane is known to causesevere birth defects in an unborn baby accutane information. It can also cause miscarriage, prematurebirth, or death of the baby accutane information. You must take a pregnancy test and have negativeresults when you and your doctor decide that Accutane may be beneficial foryour condition accutane information. You must have a second pregnancy test with negative resultsduring the first 5 days of the menstrual period right before you start takingAccutane accutane information. Two reliable forms of birth control must be used at the same time(unless abstinence is the chosen method of birth control or if you have undergonea hysterectomy) for one month before starting treatment with Accutane, duringtreatment with Accutane, and for at least 1 month following the end of treatment accutane information. You will also be asked to take a pregnancy test on a monthly basis accutane information. Your doctorwill discuss with you and provide for you a video and written information regardingchoices for birth control, possible causes for birth control failure, and theimportance of using birth control while taking Accutane accutane information. If you become pregnant,stop using birth control, or miss your menstrual period, immediately stop takingAccutane and notify your doctor accutane information.
• It is not known whether Accutane passes into breast milk accutane information. Do not takeAccutane without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby accutane information.
How should I take Accutane?
• Take Accutane exactly as directed by your doctor accutane information. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them toyou accutane information.
• Accutane is a medication taken to treat severe nodular acne that hasnot been helped by other treatments, including antibiotics accutane information. However, Accutanecan cause serious side effects accutane information. Before starting treatment with Accutane, discusswith your doctor how bad the acne is, the possible benefits of Accutane andthe possible side effects accutane information. Your doctor will ask you to read and sign a formindicating that you understand the serious risks associated with Accutane therapy accutane information.
• You will get no more than a 30-day supply of Accutane at a time accutane information. Yourprescription should have a special yellow self-adhesive sticker attached toit accutane information. If your prescription does not have this yellow sticker, call your doctor accutane information. The pharmacy should not fill the prescription without this sticker accutane information.
• Take each dose of Accutane with a full glass of water accutane information. This will helpprevent the medication inside the capsule from irritating the lining of theesophagus accutane information. For the same reason, do not chew or suck on the capsule accutane information.
• Take Accutane twice a day with food or milk to get the best results fromthis medication, unless otherwise directed by your doctor accutane information.
• Take all of the Accutane that has been prescribed for you even if yoursymptoms start to improve accutane information. The acne may seem to get worse at the start of therapy,but should then begin to improve accutane information. For the best results, finish all of the medicationthat has been prescribed accutane information. You may require more than one course of therapy withAccutane accutane information.
• Your doctor may perform blood tests during treatment with Accutane tomonitor side effects from this medication accutane information.
• Due to the serious side effects that may occur with the use of this medication,do not share it with anyone else accutane information.
• Store Accutane at room temperature away from moisture and heat accutane information.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember accutane information. However, if it is almosttime for the next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next regularlyscheduled dose accutane information. Do not take a double dose of this medication accutane information.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention accutane information.
• Symptoms of an Accutane overdose include vomiting, abdominal pain, flushingof the face, inflammation of the lips, headache, dizziness, and clumsiness accutane information.
What should I avoid while taking Accutane?
• Do not take vitamin supplements containing vitamin A during treatmentwith Accutane accutane information. This could cause increased side effects accutane information.
• Do not donate blood while taking Accutane and for at least 1 month followingthe end of treatment accutane information. Blood donated while taking Accutane may be given to apregnant woman and be harmful to her baby accutane information.
• Do not use wax hair removal systems or have any skin resurfacing procedures(such as dermabrasion or laser treatment) performed while taking Accutane andfor six months following treatment due to the possibility of scarring accutane information.
• Avoid exposure to sunlight or UV rays while taking Accutane accutane information. Accutanemay increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight and a severe sunburn couldresult accutane information.
• Use caution when driving a vehicle at night accutane information. Accutane can cause decreasednight vision accutane information. The onset of decreased night vision may be sudden accutane information.
What are the possible side effects of Accutane?
• Stop taking Accutane and seek emergency medical attention or contactyour doctor immediately if you experience any of the following serious sideeffects:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· changes in vision, blurred vision, or decreased vision (especiallyat night);
· painful or constant dryness of the eyes;
· depression including feelings of sadness, crying spells, irritability,changes in sleep patterns, unusual tiredness, trouble concentrating, loss ofappetite, and/or suicidal thoughts or other mental problems;
· stomach, chest, or bowel pain;
· rectal bleeding, or severe or bloody diarrhea;
· difficulty or pain when swallowing;
· new or worsening heartburn;
· yellowing of the skin or eyes or persistently dark urine;
· severe headache or dizziness;
· seizures;
· nausea and vomiting;
· joint or muscle pain or bone problems;
· hearing problems or hearing loss;
· trouble breathing;
· fainting;
· increased thirst or urination;
· slurred speech or problems moving;
· leg swelling;
· increased levels of cholesterol or triglyceride (types of fat) in yourblood (detected by blood tests) accutane information.
• Other, less serious side effects are more likely to occur accutane information. Continue totake Accutane and talk to your doctor if you experience
· inflammation, dryness, or cracking of the lips;
· dry skin, dry mouth, dry or bleeding nose, dryness of the eyes and/ordifficulty wearing contact lenses;
· itching; or
· increased sensitivity of the skin to the sun accutane information.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur accutane information. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome accutane information.
What other drugs will affect Accutane?
• Do not take any of the following medicines while taking Accutane:
· vitamin supplements containing vitamin A; or
· a tetracycline antibiotic such as tetracycline (Sumycin, Achromycin,Panmycin, Robitet, others), minocycline (Minocin, Dynacin, Vectrin), doxycycline(Doryx, Monodox, Vibramycin, Vibra-Tabs), demeclocycline (Declomycin), or troleandomycin(TAO) accutane information.
• Taking any of the drugs listed above during treatment with Accutane maybe dangerous accutane information.
• Before taking Accutane, tell your doctor if you are taking carbamazepine(Tegretol, Carbatrol, Epitol) accutane information. You may require a dosage adjustment or specialmonitoring during treatment accutane information.
• Do not use other acne medications unless otherwise directed by your doctor accutane information. They may interfere with the treatment or increase irritation of the skin accutane information.
• Do not take birth control pills that do not contain estrogen ("minipills")during treatment with Accutane accutane information. They may not work while taking Accutane accutane information.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Accutane accutane information. Talkto your doctor or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including herbal products accutane information.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Accutane written forhealth professionals that you may read accutane information.
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