Uses

• Accutane® (Isotretinoin) is a drug commonly used to treat moderate to severe acne, particularly that for which other treatments have failed.
  
  

Serious Side Effects

• The most serious side effect from Accutane® is changes in mood and behavior. According to the iPLEDGE website, "Patients on isotretinoin have been known to become depressed or to develop other serious mental health problems...thoughts of hurting themselves or putting an end to their own lives." If you experience such a side effect, notify your doctor immediately.
  
  

Other Side Effects

• Other side effects may include numbness or weakness (with sudden onset, typically one side of the body), blurred vision, sudden and severe headache, pain behind your eyes, vomiting, hearing problems (including loss and ringing), convulsions, stomach pain, nausea, fast heart rate, appetite loss, a darkening of the urine and lightening of stools, yellowing of the skin/eyes (known as jaundice), diarrhea (moderate or severe), rectal bleeding, bloody stools, flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, aches), purple spots on the skin, easy bruising, joint stiffness and bone pain.
  
  

Less Serious Side Effects

• Less serious side effects include pain in back and joints, dizziness, drowsiness, nervousness, dry mouth, dry nose, dry skin, peeling and cracking skin, itching (with or without rash) and changes in nails (finger and toe).
  
  

FDA Warning

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires a "black box" warning on Accutane, which indicates that medical studies have shown it carries a significant risk of serious, or even life-threatening, adverse effects. Talk with your doctor in detail about these side effects.