Accutane: How Effective Is This Popular Pimple Popper?

Acne can be one huge problem to cyst-e-matically navigate through. Thus, many people are rushing to buy popular acne treatment Accutane to rid themselves of acne, one blemish at a time.

But is it really all that it’s hyped up to be and, most importantly, is it safe for you?

ENTITY shares more about whether or not Accutane will leave you satisfied or “breaking out”  into an abyss of hopelessness.

What is Accutane?

Accutane or Isotretinoin is an oral medication to treat severe acne. Consumers are advised to take it once or twice a day for 16 to 20 weeks. Accutane is a form of vitamin A and works by making your oil glands smaller so less oil can be created.

Basically, less oil means more clarity.

Customer reviews claimed that the medication is the Queen bee of acne treatments because it also repairs damaged skin cells and leaves users with a scar-free surface.

As tempting as it may sound, though, Accutane is only supposed to be used as a last resort for severe acne. So if you have a blemish here and there, trying to give your doctor an Oscar-worthy performance in order to get the stuff is not going to work.

GIF via Giphy

What are some Accutane reviews?

Overall, Accutane users on Drugs.com, a platform to rate various forms of medication, have rated the acne treatment an 8.4/10.

GIF via Giphy.com

Customer reviews have been calling the Accutane product a miracle worker:

• “Miracle. Period. I had ZERO side effects and I feel so much better I can’t even describe the feeling of relief. This medicine literally saved my life and I would take it again. I wish I could take it every day because it made my skin look AMAZING.”
• “I took accutane for about 6 months, on the 5th month I noticed significant changes to my skin. By the end of the 6th month my face was completely clear and I was only left with scarring.”
• “Great so far after finishing my 6-month cycle. After about 2 1/2 months after starting to take it my face acne was gone , and my back acne was all gone at about 5 to 6 months, lots of scars though.”

GIF via Giphy.com

But even though it has been proven by many to work wonders on your face, there are some that say Accutane can really affect your mental state.

What are the negative side effects and reviews about Accutane?

Although Accutane can be amazing for clearing up your skin, it can also be dangerous in general. After the FDA approved Accutane in 1982, it became a popular form to treat severe acne. But shortly after it arrived the market, researchers linked the drug to birth defects and stomach problems, according to Drug Watch. Aside from this, common side effects are also depression, suicidal thoughts and aggression.

There are reviews from users and even public figures that say Accutane can really mess you up.

Actress Bella Thorne told Yahoo during an interview that Accutane made her depressed. Seriously, those were her exact words.

Reviewers online took a similar stance to Thorne.

• “Accutane cleared my acne up after nothing else could, but some of the side effects were almost unbearable. It made me very tired and about the fifth month I was on it started making me very depressed.”
• “These will mess you up. I stopped after a round of treatment because my life was falling apart around me, I couldn’t get up out of bed and was severely depressed and agoraphobic.”
• “Do not take this drug. It cleared up my acne, but it destroyed my mind. I became severely depressed. I’ve never had depression before. I would cry all the time.”

Why did they discontinue the product?

Although the drug Isotretinoin is available in brands such as Amnesteem, Claravis and Myorisan, Accutane itself was discontinued.

Pharmaceutical company Roche Holding took Accutane off the shelves in June 2009 because of numerous accounts and studies linking the drug to inflammatory bowel disease.

In 2007, 23-year old Jason Christopher Peiper sued both his doctor and Roche Holding because of his claims that Accutane caused severe damage to his physical health.

In an earlier trial involving Accutane, jurors ordered Roche Holding to pay up $2 million dollars in damages for a Nebraska Accutane user.

What is the cost of Accutane?

Even though some say Accutane does have severe side effects, it’s still selling like hot cakes online.

But for how much?

If you are ready to take the blemish-free plunge, you need to consider whether or not you have the cash to shell out. Most insurance companies do cover the medication, but if for some reason you need to pay out of pocket, you could be spending $200 to $300 for it.

Remember, Accutane is a last resort. If you can still go about your day without any sort of struggle relating to your acne, chances are, you’re better off using over-the-counter products.