Isotretinoin Actavis
Isotretinoin Actavis is a medicine used to treat severe forms of acne when other treatments have not been effective.
Form
kapseli, pehmeä
Strength
10 mg
Active Ingredient
Isotretinoin
Manufacturer
Actavis Group PTC ehf
How to Use
Dosage
The usual starting dose is 0.5 mg per kg of body weight daily. Your doctor may adjust the dose based on how you tolerate the medicine. For most patients, the daily dose is between 0.5 and 1.0 mg per kg of body weight.
Method
Take the capsules once or twice daily with a meal. Swallow them whole with a drink or food.
Important
Usually, the maximum daily dose is 1.0 mg per kg of body weight.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Very dry skin and lips, skin inflammation, chapped lips, mild itching, and peeling skin.
- •Skin becomes unusually fragile and red, especially on the face.
- •Back pain, muscle pain, and joint pain, particularly in children and teenagers.
- •Eye and eyelid inflammation, dry and irritated eyes.
- •Changes in liver enzyme levels or blood fat (cholesterol, triglycerides) levels.
- •Increased tendency to bruise, bleed, or form clots.
- •Anemia (feeling weak, dizzy, pale skin).
- •Headache.
- •Dry nose with crusting, possibly leading to mild nosebleeds, or sore throat and nose.
- •Increased blood sugar levels.
RARE
- •Severe skin reactions (like widespread blisters, peeling skin, or inflammation of eyes, mouth, throat, or nose).
- •Depression or similar mood disorders (feeling down, anxious, aggressive, or emotional).
- •Thoughts of harming yourself, suicide attempts, or suicide.
- •Psychosis (losing touch with reality, like hearing or seeing things that aren't there) or abnormal behavior.
- •Severe allergic reactions (sudden swelling of face, lips, mouth, throat, hands, feet, or ankles, making it hard to breathe or swallow).
- •Sudden chest tightness, shortness of breath, or wheezing (especially if you have asthma).
- •Life-threatening muscle weakness (difficulty moving limbs, painful, swollen, bruised areas, dark urine, confusion), possibly leading to kidney failure.
- •Sacroiliitis (inflammatory lower back or buttock pain).
- •Yellowing of skin or eyes and fatigue (signs of hepatitis/liver inflammation).
- •Difficulty urinating, swollen eyelids, and extreme fatigue (signs of kidney inflammation).
- •Persistent headache with nausea, vomiting, and vision changes (like blurred vision), possibly due to increased pressure in the brain (especially with tetracyclines).
- •Severe stomach pain with or without severe, bloody diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting (signs of serious bowel disease).
- •Hair loss (usually temporary, with hair growing back after treatment).
- •Worsened night vision, color blindness, distorted vision, clouding of eye surface (cataracts), or difficulty with contact lenses.
- •Increased eye sensitivity to light, requiring sunglasses.
- •Extreme thirst, frequent urination (possible signs of diabetes).
- •Acne may worsen in the first weeks of treatment, but usually improves later.
- •Inflamed, swollen, or darkened skin, rashes, skin discoloration, red, raised skin growths that bleed easily.
- •Excessive sweating or itching.
- •Arthritis, bone disorders (delayed or excessive growth, changes in bone density), or growing bones may stop growing.
- •Soft tissue calcification, painful tendons, or high levels of muscle breakdown products in blood during strenuous exercise.
- •Increased skin sensitivity to light.
- •Bacterial infections around nails or nail changes.
- •Swelling or pus formation.
- •Thickened scars after surgery.
- •Increased body hair.
- •Hair-related disorders (general).
- •Seizures, drowsiness, or dizziness.
- •Swollen lymph nodes.
- •Dry throat or hoarseness.
- •Reduced hearing.
- •General feeling of illness.
- •Increased uric acid levels in the blood.
- •Bacterial infections.
- •Inflammation of blood vessels (sometimes with bruising or red spots).
- •Dark or cola-colored urine.
- •Problems getting or maintaining an erection.
- •Decreased sex drive.
- •Breast enlargement in men, with or without tenderness.
- •Vaginal dryness.
- •Inflammation of the urethra.
Important Warnings
- This medicine can cause severe harm to an unborn baby.
- Do not use if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
- Women must use effective contraception before, during, and for one month after treatment.
- Do not take if you are allergic to isotretinoin, soy, peanuts, or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Tell your doctor if you have ever had mental health problems, including depression or suicidal thoughts.
Show 5 more warnings
- Do not donate blood during treatment and for one month after, as it could harm an unborn baby if a pregnant woman receives your blood.
- Avoid too much sun exposure, sunbeds, or tanning lamps, as your skin will be more sensitive.
- Do not have cosmetic skin procedures like waxing, dermabrasion, or laser treatment during treatment and for 6 months after, as it can cause scarring.
- Never give this medicine to anyone else.
- Do not take Vitamin A supplements or tetracycline antibiotics, or use other acne skin treatments, while on this medicine.