Is Isotretinoin really a cure?
March 25th, 2009 - 4:51 pm ICT by Amrit Rashmisrisethi
Isotretinoin is a medication used for the treatment used at severe acne. Most of the time, used as a chemotherapy medication for prevention and treatment of certain skin cancers.
In some cases, it is used to treat Harlequin type ichthyosis, a usually lethal skin deformation in which sufferers develop armor plated-like skin and usually die soon after birth. It is a retinoid, meaning it derives from vitamin A and is found in small quantities naturally in the body.
This drug is usually prescribed by the supervision of a consultant dermatologist. The dose of isotretinoin a patient receives is dependent on their weight and the severity of the condition. High dose treatments are administered between 0.5 mg/kg/day to 2 mg/kg/day (usually at 0.5 to 1 mg/kg/day.
Isotretinoin is like vitamin A, while taking isotretinoin,a person shouldn’t take vitamin A pills or multivitamins that contain vitamin A.
Effect of this medication :
* Dry skin and lips–your doctor can suggest lotions or creams to use.
* Thinning hair
* Dry, red eyes–you may find that you can’t wear your contact lenses during treatment.
* Pain in your muscles
* Vision problems such as decreased night vision
* Headaches, nausea, and even a blur vision
* Depression or changes in your mood
* Unusual tiredness or lack of appetite
* Severe stomach pain, diarrhea or bleeding from your rectum
* A yellow color in your skin or eyes, and dark yellow urine
Isotretinoin is harmful to the fetus and therefore should not be used during pregnancy. Women of childbearing age must have two negative pregnancy test results before therapy is started, and a pregnancy test must be conducted during each month of therapy. Patients may develop an increase in blood cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Vitamin C hastens brain tumour's death - Feb 20, 2012
- Soon, birth control pill for men sans steroids - Jun 05, 2011
- Drugs combo 'yields up to nearly 10 pc weight loss' - Apr 11, 2011
- Want to get rid of acne? Change your lifestyle - Oct 06, 2010
- Novel cell therapy slows down vision loss in eye disease - Apr 08, 2011
- Psoriasis effects go beyond the skin - Dec 30, 2009
- B vitamin therapy leads to kidney function decline in kidney disease patients - Apr 28, 2010
- Severe acne may increase suicidal behavior, study says - Nov 13, 2010
- Celebrate Holi, but with care - Mar 18, 2011
- Experts challenge FDA approval for Alzheimer's drug - Mar 25, 2012
- Widely used arthritis pill shows promise against skin cancer - Dec 03, 2010
- Biological agents could prevent Crohn's disease recurrence - Aug 06, 2010
- Vitamin supplements 'reduce incidence of measles and diarrhoea' - Dec 08, 2010
- 'Anti-ageing' vitamin could weaken your bones - Mar 06, 2012
- Fat zappers 'may just be a fad after all' - Sep 12, 2010
Tags: blood cholesterol, chemotherapy medication, consultant dermatologist, dark yellow urine, deformation, dry skin, lack of appetite, multivitamins, negative pregnancy test, negative pregnancy test results, pregnancy women, red eyes, severe acne, severe stomach pain, skin cancers, small quantities, thinning hair, tiredness, triglycerides, vision problems