Roaccutane

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Dry skin (causing inflammation, scaling, itching, increased skin fragility)

Dryness of the mucous membranes, eg lips, eyes (causing irritation, conjunctivitis), nose (causing nosebleeds) and throat (causing hoarseness)

Headache

Increased liver enzymes

Disturbances in the composition of the blood (eg increased cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar; decreased red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets)

Pain in the muscles and joints

Mood changes, strange or abnormal thoughts, anxiety, depression, suicidal feelings

Hair loss (alopecia)

Visual disturbances (eg blurred vision, cataracts, colour blindness, decreased night vision)

Inflammation of the surface of the eye (keratitis)

Breathing difficulties due to a narrowing of the airways (bronchospasm)

Nausea

Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)

Abnormal reaction of the skin to light, usually a rash (photosensitivity)

Bone disorders

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

If isotretinoin is used in combination with tetracycline-type antibiotics, eg minocycline, doxycycline, tetracycline, this may increase the pressure within the skull, leading to adverse effects. For this reason, tetracycline antibiotics must not be taken in combination with isotretinoin.

Combined treatment with isotretinoin and vitamin A may result in a condition similar to vitamin A overdose, which may cause changes in the structure of the bone. Vitamin A supplements should therefore be avoided.

The use of other treatments conventionally used for acne, including antibiotics, exfoliants, medicines which loosen the dead skin on the skin surface (keratolytics), or radiation therapy with ultraviolet light, should be avoided while taking isotretinoin. However, non-irritant preparations can be applied to the skin if necessary.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Isotretinoin capsules are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.

Isotrex gel

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