Overview
Accutane is a very powerful medication available by prescription only and intended to be used only for the most severe forms of nodular acne. It is one of the most restricted medications in the U.S., mainly because it can cause a wide variety of very severe side effects. In fact, one of the most dangerous side effects includes causing severe birth defects in pregnant women. Because of this, patients are required to get pregnancy tests before receiving a prescription and during treatment. In addition, the law requires Accutane patients to sign a form called an iPledge, which clearly states that the patient fully understands the potential side effects of using Accutane.

Featured Ingredients
Accutane contains only one active ingredient, which is a drug called isotretinoin. This medication is a synthetic and highly processed form of vitamin A that has been found to significantly reduce the production of sebum (oil) in the skin. As you may know, oil production is one of the key causes of acne, and is implicated as the main cause of severe acne. Isotretinoin suppresses secretion of oil by the skin glands and thus helps reduce the production of acne. 

Because of the many side effects caused by use of isotretinoin, it is recommended that a patient only use Accutane if they have tried other medications and antibiotics and had no success with these other treatments. In addition to the risk of severe birth defects, Accutane has been found to cause mood disturbances, hearing problems, sudden numbness or weakness, headaches, diarrhea, stomach pains and more.

Web Site at a Glance
Accutane is produced by Roche Pharmaceuticals. Full prescription information for patients and doctors can be found by visiting Roche’s corporate web site and looking for Accutane within its Products section. You can then download the official prescribing information document, which lists exactly how Accutane is to be used and all the potential side effects. The web site also contains information about the iPledge program.

Pros
- Significantly cuts oil production and proven to treat severe acne 

Cons
- Available only by prescription and after signing the iPledge document

- Possible severe side effects, including birth defects in pregnant mothers

- Other side effects, including headache, joint pain and mood disturbances, may be worse than acne itself

Summary
There is no doubt that a powerful drug like Accutane could prove very helpful for those with severe acne. Because of the serious potential side effects, it is recommended that only those with severe acne consider using Accutane, and only after consultation and careful monitoring by a physician.