drug information and accutane
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 drug information and accutane. However, Accutanecan cause serious side effects drug information and accutane. Before starting treatment with Accutane, discusswith your doctor how bad the acne is, the possible benefits of Accutane, andthe possible side effects drug information and accutane. Your doctor will ask you to read and sign a formindicating that you understand the serious risks associated with Accutane therapy drug information and accutane.
• Do not take Accutane if you are pregnant or if you could become pregnantduring treatment or for one month after you stop taking Accutane drug information and accutane. Accutane isin the FDA pregnancy category X drug information and accutane. This means that Accutane is known to causesevere birth defects in an unborn baby drug information and accutane. It can also cause miscarriage, prematurebirth, or death of the baby drug information and accutane. You must take a pregnancy test and have negativeresults when you and your doctor decide that Accutane may be beneficial foryour condition drug information and accutane. You must have a second pregnancy test with negative resultsduring the first 5 days of the menstrual period right before you start takingAccutane drug information and accutane. 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 drug information and accutane. You will also be asked to take a pregnancy test on a monthly basis drug information and accutane. 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 drug information and accutane. If you become pregnant,stop using birth control, or miss your menstrual period, immediately stop takingAccutane and notify your doctor drug information and accutane.
• 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 drug information and accutane. 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 drug information and accutane.
• Do not take vitamin supplements containing vitamin A during treatmentwith Accutane drug information and accutane. This could cause increased side effects drug information and accutane.
• Do not donate blood while taking Accutane and for at least 1 month followingthe end of treatment drug information and accutane. Blood donated while taking Accutane may be given to apregnant woman and be harmful to her baby drug information and accutane.
• 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 drug information and accutane.
• Avoid exposure to sunlight or UV rays while taking Accutane drug information and accutane. Accutanemay increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight and a severe sunburn couldresult drug information and accutane.
• Use caution when driving a vehicle at night drug information and accutane. Accutane can cause decreasednight vision drug information and accutane. The onset of decreased night vision may be sudden drug information and accutane.
• Take all of the Accutane that has been prescribed for you even if yoursymptoms start to improve drug information and accutane. The acne may seem to get worse at the start of therapy,but should then begin to improve drug information and accutane. For the best results, finish all of the medicationthat has been prescribed drug information and accutane. You may require more than one course of therapy withAccutane drug information and accutane.
What is Accutane?
• Accutane is a form of vitamin A drug information and accutane. 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 drug information and accutane.
• Accutane is used to treat severe nodular acne that has not respondedto other treatments, including antibiotics drug information and accutane.
• Accutane may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide drug information and accutane.
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 drug information and accutane.
• 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 drug information and accutane.
• Do not take Accutane if you are pregnant or if you could become pregnantduring treatment or for one month after you stop taking Accutane drug information and accutane. Accutane isin the FDA pregnancy category X drug information and accutane. This means that Accutane is known to causesevere birth defects in an unborn baby drug information and accutane. It can also cause miscarriage, prematurebirth, or death of the baby drug information and accutane. You must take a pregnancy test and have negativeresults when you and your doctor decide that Accutane may be beneficial foryour condition drug information and accutane. You must have a second pregnancy test with negative resultsduring the first 5 days of the menstrual period right before you start takingAccutane drug information and accutane. 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 drug information and accutane. You will also be asked to take a pregnancy test on a monthly basis drug information and accutane. 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 drug information and accutane. If you become pregnant,stop using birth control, or miss your menstrual period, immediately stop takingAccutane and notify your doctor drug information and accutane.
• It is not known whether Accutane passes into breast milk drug information and accutane. Do not takeAccutane without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby drug information and accutane.
How should I take Accutane?
• Take Accutane exactly as directed by your doctor drug information and accutane. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them toyou drug information and accutane.
• Accutane is a medication taken to treat severe nodular acne that hasnot been helped by other treatments, including antibiotics drug information and accutane. However, Accutanecan cause serious side effects drug information and accutane. Before starting treatment with Accutane, discusswith your doctor how bad the acne is, the possible benefits of Accutane andthe possible side effects drug information and accutane. Your doctor will ask you to read and sign a formindicating that you understand the serious risks associated with Accutane therapy drug information and accutane.
• You will get no more than a 30-day supply of Accutane at a time drug information and accutane. Yourprescription should have a special yellow self-adhesive sticker attached toit drug information and accutane. If your prescription does not have this yellow sticker, call your doctor drug information and accutane. The pharmacy should not fill the prescription without this sticker drug information and accutane.
• Take each dose of Accutane with a full glass of water drug information and accutane. This will helpprevent the medication inside the capsule from irritating the lining of theesophagus drug information and accutane. For the same reason, do not chew or suck on the capsule drug information and accutane.
• Take Accutane twice a day with food or milk to get the best results fromthis medication, unless otherwise directed by your doctor drug information and accutane.
• Take all of the Accutane that has been prescribed for you even if yoursymptoms start to improve drug information and accutane. The acne may seem to get worse at the start of therapy,but should then begin to improve drug information and accutane. For the best results, finish all of the medicationthat has been prescribed drug information and accutane. You may require more than one course of therapy withAccutane drug information and accutane.
• Your doctor may perform blood tests during treatment with Accutane tomonitor side effects from this medication drug information and accutane.
• Due to the serious side effects that may occur with the use of this medication,do not share it with anyone else drug information and accutane.
• Store Accutane at room temperature away from moisture and heat drug information and accutane.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember drug information and accutane. However, if it is almosttime for the next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next regularlyscheduled dose drug information and accutane. Do not take a double dose of this medication drug information and accutane.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention drug information and accutane.
• Symptoms of an Accutane overdose include vomiting, abdominal pain, flushingof the face, inflammation of the lips, headache, dizziness, and clumsiness drug information and accutane.
What should I avoid while taking Accutane?
• Do not take vitamin supplements containing vitamin A during treatmentwith Accutane drug information and accutane. This could cause increased side effects drug information and accutane.
• Do not donate blood while taking Accutane and for at least 1 month followingthe end of treatment drug information and accutane. Blood donated while taking Accutane may be given to apregnant woman and be harmful to her baby drug information and accutane.
• 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 drug information and accutane.
• Avoid exposure to sunlight or UV rays while taking Accutane drug information and accutane. Accutanemay increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight and a severe sunburn couldresult drug information and accutane.
• Use caution when driving a vehicle at night drug information and accutane. Accutane can cause decreasednight vision drug information and accutane. The onset of decreased night vision may be sudden drug information and accutane.
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) drug information and accutane.
• Other, less serious side effects are more likely to occur drug information and accutane. 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 drug information and accutane.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur drug information and accutane. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome drug information and accutane.
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) drug information and accutane.
• Taking any of the drugs listed above during treatment with Accutane maybe dangerous drug information and accutane.
• Before taking Accutane, tell your doctor if you are taking carbamazepine(Tegretol, Carbatrol, Epitol) drug information and accutane. You may require a dosage adjustment or specialmonitoring during treatment drug information and accutane.
• Do not use other acne medications unless otherwise directed by your doctor drug information and accutane. They may interfere with the treatment or increase irritation of the skin drug information and accutane.
• Do not take birth control pills that do not contain estrogen ("minipills")during treatment with Accutane drug information and accutane. They may not work while taking Accutane drug information and accutane.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Accutane drug information and accutane. Talkto your doctor or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including herbal products drug information and accutane.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Accutane written forhealth professionals that you may read drug information and accutane.
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