Acne and Accutane

After a number of reports of birth defects associated with taking isotretinoin (Accutane), the manufacturer (Hoffman-La Roche) launched an education program to reduce the possibility of additional cases of birth defects to an absolute minimum. Doctors, who are well advised to follow the program, will prescribe this medication for women only when certain circumstances exist.

What are these circumstances?

They include: a case of disfiguring cystic acne that has failed to respond to other therapies including antibiotics; where the patient can understand and carry out instructions fully; when the patient can comply with mandatory birth control measures; when both verbal and written warnings about the danger of pregnancy have been given to the patient and she has acknowledged her understanding of the warnings in writing; when a pregnancy test is negative within two weeks of starting the therapy, and finally, when the therapy will begin only on the second or third day after the next normal period. Both counseling and pregnancy tests continue on a monthly basis for the time you are on the medication. In addition, since birth control methods may not always be 100 percent effective, two methods are required used simultaneously, of which one should be the birth control pill.

Now, if you can meet with all of these requirements, you may obtain a prescription from your doctor. It will be for but 1 month's supply, and you can obtain renewals after each monthly visit, when the results of pregnancy tests are found to be negative. A lot of restrictions? You bet, but it is the best way to assure that no malformed babies are created.