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Isotretinoin for Acne
| Generic Name | Brand Name |
|---|---|
| isotretinoin | Amnesteem (prescription), Claravis (prescription), Sotret (prescription) |
Isotretinoin is a powerful and effective medicine derived from vitamin A (retinoid medicine). Doctors prescribe it to treat severe acne only after other treatments have failed. Isotretinoin can cause some rare but serious side effects. Just one dose of isotretinoin can cause severe birth defects if a woman is pregnant when taking this medicine.1
Isotretinoin usually needs to be taken for 3 to 6 months.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: February 3, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology | |
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