Roaccutane in Acne: Dosage, Benefits and Side Effects

Published:January 27th, 2012

Touted as the miracle drug for acne, Roaccutane or Accutane has indeed been proven to be highly effective against treating severe and persistent acne resistant to conventional forms of treatment. Hence, roaccutane, can be dubbed as the no. 1 drug of choice or the medicine of last resort when it comes to treating stubborn pimples or zits.

Benefits of Roaccutane

Medically known as isotretinoin, roaccutane is a prescription medicine that is quite similar to and related to vitamin A, since both are retinoids but with a different action. Roaccutane works by reducing the oily substances in the skin, caused by sebum producing glands, which in turn reduces the amount of bacteria that is responsible for the inflammation and ‘pus’ associated with acne. It is believed that roaccutane inhibits the body’s cell growth and oil-gland function  by causing the glands to atrophy.

In one study, roaccutane has been known to amplify production of neutrophil-gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in the skin, which reduces sebum production in sebaceous gland cells. Apart from having a direct bactericidal action and/or antimicrobial effect on P. acnes, roaccutane also works by depleting the body’s water-holding molecules, which bind, lubricate and protect
tissue in the skin and other body parts. Studies have likewise proven Roaccutane to have an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin.

Dosage

Roaccutane is administered and given to patients based on their weight and the severity of their condition. Conventionally, this drug is given in high doses. High-dose treatments are administered between 0.5 mg/kg/day to 2 mg/kg/day in a span of four to six months. In cases where the patient’s condition is poorly or not responding to the initial course of treatment the way it should be,
treatment may last up to nine months. A second course of treatment may be given up to eight weeks at the least, following the cessation of the initial course if severe acne recurs. Lower-dosage treatments, such as 10–20 mg/day are also highly effective, with obviously diminished side effects. However, such lower dosage courses carry with them higher relapse rates.

Before submitting to a roaccutane-treatment plan, it is important to have a blood test taken first, showing one’s complete blood count (CBC count), liver enzyme profile, coagulation profile, and serum lipid profile. A rule of thumb when under roaccutane
therapy is to avoid everything that has Vitamin A as a constituent in order to prevent increased levels of toxicity.

Side effects of using Roaccutane

The undesirable effects of roaccutane are directly associated or linked to the level of dose given, thus making them “dose-dependent”, meaning that higher the dose higher is the possibility of encountering unwanted side effects. Among the usual or prevalent side effects of roaccutane are: dry/chapped lips, myalgia/arthralgia, acne flare-up, dryness of the skin, mouth and eyes,
headaches, nose-bleeds, thinning and peeling of skin, flushing, brittle nails, thinning of hair and diffuse hair loss, increased fragility of skin, conjunctivitis, intolerance to contact lenses, raised liver enzymes, hyperlipidemia, and a drop in libido/erectile dysfunction. Rare or uncommon adverse effects include: problems with night vision, cataracts, optic neuritis, mental disturbances, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, hepatitis, corneal opacities, papilloedema, benign intracranial hypertension, tendon
calcification, psychosis, and depression.

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