What is Isotretinoin?
Isotretinoin is a medication more commonly known by its brand name of Accutane, when taken orally, or Isotrex when used as an ointment. Isotretinoin is derived from Vitamin A, and is used most commonly in the treatment of very severe acne. It tends not to be the first line drug recommended for the treatment of acne because it can have serious side effects, including either severe birth defects or fetal death among pregnant women. Isotretinoin was developed and first released as a prescription medication after noting that some patients who took high levels of vitamin A seemed to have reduced problems with acne. This was particularly true when the vitamin A was derived from animal livers, instead of vegetable sources. A high vitamin A treatment had side effects and isotretinoin was thought to deliver better results with fewer side effects. Unfortunately early patients taking isotretinoin had little idea that severe birth defects could result from taking the medication. Now it is well kno
