how long are you supposed to be on accutane?

Question

does anyone know about how long you normally have to be on the accutane pill. not just for your face to clear up. but does anyone know like an average amount of months your doctor usully puts you on it?

Answer 1

My son was on for 5 months. I believe most have results and are finished in a year or less.

Answer 2

Depends. A couple of my friends used to be on it, 4 months to 8 months usually takes care of things. Be careful of the dryness and you're going to have a big chance of depression.

There are a lot of other options that don't include medication.
E-mail me if you want some tips.

Answer 3

it depends on the severity of your acne...if you are on it or contemplating being on it and you are a female be very, very careful...its known to have very serious side effects for both sexes but mostly girls and if you are sexually active make sure you are on birth control, if you get pregnant while on accutane the baby will have serious birth defects. make sure you only take this as prescribed by your doc and ask him/her about all the risks

Answer 4

http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/ds/acne/treatments-isotretinoin.php

Treating Acne With Isotretinoin


Isotretinoin has become very popular for acne treatment. Isotretinoin is a retinoid, meaning that it is derived from vitamin A. Chemically it is known as 13-cis retinoic acid. Isotretinoin generally gives relief in severe acne and is a drug of choice for acne patients who may have lost hope about cure of their acne. Isotretinoin should always be taken under strict medical guidance as it can produce birth defects in fetus. You should also discuss about any possible pregnancy with your doctor if you are sexually active. While taking isotretinoin, you should be always in contact with your doctor and report any side-effect. Isotretinoin may also be used for some other conditions that include- folliculitis, seborrhoea, chloracne and other diseases that look like acne.

Prescription:
Isotretinoin is prescribed for acne treatment. Isotretinoin works by shrinking the sebaceous glands and reducing sebum production. Isotretinoin is anti-inflammatory and removes comedones. The treated skin is dry and inhibits the growth of acne bacteria.

Isotretinoin is prescribed in case of severe acne, scarring acne, moderate acne that is not responding to other medication and every case of acne where doctor feels that isotretinoin should be prescribed to get rid of acne. The dosage of isotretinoin will depend upon the severity of acne, body weight, other treatments being used at the same time etc. Your doctor is the best person to decide about the dose. Normally the treatment begins with small dose and as body adjusts to isotretinoin the dose is increased. Doctors also monitor the cure during this period and if they find that patient is not responding, they may stop the therapy. As isotretinoin needs fat to help its absorption in body, it is taken after food. Follow your doctor's advice about these.

Side-Effects:
The common side-effects of isotretinoin are dry mouth, dry nose, thinning of hair, fatigue, dry skin, red itchy eyes, sore lips, etc. If you experience any other side-effects such as muscle aches, difficulty in walking, depression, vomiting, etc. talk to your doctor immediately. Discuss about side-effects with your doctor before beginning of the treatment with isotretinoin and report any expected or unexpected side-effect immediately. Note that you may not be able to wear your contact lenses for some time in the beginning of treatment with isotretinoin. You are also not supposed to donate any blood while you are taking isotretinoin and for one month after you stop taking it. Please talk about do's and don't with your doctor. You also must tell your doctor about any medicine or vitamins that you are taking. You are not supposed to take any medicines orally nor use any topicals without consulting your doctor while taking isotretinoin.

Isotretinoin And Pregnancy:
Isotretinoin can cause serious defects in the fetus. Therefore you should inform your doctor if you are pregnant. You should also tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or are already breast-feeding. You will have to test yourself for pregnancy before you begin isotretinoin and continue getting tested while taking Isotretinoin. Your doctor will explain the details to you. If you get pregnant while taking isotretinoin you should stop taking it and call your doctor immediately. You must adopt two reliable methods of birth control for one month before taking isotretinoin, continue with two methods while taking isotretinoin and till after one month of stopping isotretinoin. You should talk to your gynaecologist and dermatologist in detail before taking isotretinoin.

Answer 5

as long as you want