Accutane is one of the brand names for isotretinoin, prescribed primarily in the treatment of severe acne that is disfiguring. It also may be used in the treatment of skin disorders such as pityriasis rubra pilaris, lamellar icthyosis, palmoplantar keratoderma and keratosis follicularis. The Mayo Clinic also says it can be used to treat rosacea, hidradenitis suppurativa and gram-negative folliculitis. It's administered as a capsule.
Suicidal tendencies
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Accutane for use in treating severe acne in 1982. Twenty years later, Dr. Janet Woodcock admitted to the FDA that certain suicidal tendencies were possible with Accutane use. Roche, the manufacturer of the drug, was sued successfully because of these apparent suicidal side effects of the medication. According to Suicide.org, suicidal tendencies have been associated with Accutane. This is the most serious potential side effect of the medication. Any thoughts of suicide should be reported to your physician immediately.
Skin Problems
Accutane may induce some common side effects in your skin when you begin taking it. These types of problems are temporary and not serious. They include skin crusting, skin peeling in the bottoms of your feet or in your palms, skin itching or dryness and an increase in your sensitivity to sunlight on your skin. Tell your doctor if these don't ultimately go away. The Mayo Clinic reports there also have been reports of skin discoloration of either lightening or darkening, and facial redness, but the incidence of occurrence of these side effects is unknown. Serious skin side effects can affect you, too. These may include a rash or infections on the skin and problems on your lips such as pain, burning, redness and scaling. Tell your physician immediately if you get any of these side effects.
Dryness
Although dryness may occur on your skin with the use of Accutane, it also may occur at least temporarily on other parts of your body. For example, you may experience eye dryness that may make it a problem to wear contact lenses. This problem, the Mayo Clinic notes--considered a non-serious and common temporary side effect when you begin Accutane treatment--also may continue to affect you even after you stop taking the drug. Mouth and nose dryness also may occur but should go away as you continue treatment.
Other Side Effects
Serious common side effects from isotretinoin can include pain in your joints or bones, nosebleeds, bodily motion difficulties and inflammation in your eyes. Other common non-serious side effects of isotretinoin include hair thinning--a condition that may not be remedied by stopping the medication--headache and an upset stomach. There are many other serious and non-serious side effects of Accutane that have been reported, but they either are rare or the incidence is unknown.
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