Each adolescent during adolescence was faced with the problem of acne or scientifically with manifestations of acne. Cosmetics and narrowly targeted procedures can easily help someone. For individuals, all these manipulations do not improve the skin condition. Cosmetic defects in the form of acne, acne and scars from them persist in adulthood. Moreover, a person experiences not only physical, but also great emotional discomfort. Facial skin problems make it difficult to feel confident and fully enjoy life. In cases where all other methods of struggle show their futility, doctors prescribe Roaccutane for patients. Reviews, photos before and after treatment with these pills allow us to conclude that they are highly effective. However, it is worth noting the presence of a large number of side effects and the need for periodic monitoring of biochemical blood parameters of the patient.
“Roaccutane” reviews of doctors earned positive. Experts say: in the absence of contraindications, as well as in the absolute observance of all the recommendations, the patient has an excellent therapeutic and cosmetic effect.
What is this medicine?
“Roaccutane” - pills, reviews of which are mostly positive - is a drug for the direct treatment of acne and acne. These red capsules contain a suspension, the main component of which is isotretinoin in an amount of 10 mg or 20 mg (depending on the form of release). In addition to this retinoid, the drug includes additional components, including soybean oil, beeswax, glycerol, gelatin, potato starch and various food-grade dyes. "Roaccutane" is indicated for the treatment of severe forms of acne that cannot be cured by conventional methods.
How does the drug work?
An interesting fact: doctors still have not figured out the exact mechanism of action of the drug "Roaccutane". Reviews, photos before and after treatment with this tool inspire many doctors to recommend it to their patients with a complex picture of acne.
Isotretinoin, which is a stereoisomer of
trans-retinoic acid, has the following effects on the human body:
• Suppresses excess activity of the sebaceous glands.
• Reduces their diameter.
• It has anti-inflammatory effect on the skin.
Why do acne form?
The epithelium that covers the hair follicle grows and sloughs. Its cells, corneocytes, clog the duct of the gland with keratin and sebum. This leads to the formation of comedone, followed by the addition of an inflammatory reaction. Sebum is a favorite medium for the growth and reproduction of bacteria of the genus Propionibacterium acnes. They are the main prerequisites for the appearance of multiple acne, redness and other related unpleasant phenomena.
The drug "Roaccutane", reviews of doctors to prove it, dermatologically confirmed its ability to suppress the proliferation of sebocytes. It restores the physiologically normal level of differentiation of epithelial cells. "Roaccutane" reduces the activity of sebum production and thereby the growth of bacteria stops, the inflammation is relieved, a good cosmetic effect is achieved.
What is the pharmacokinetics of this medicine?
Isotretinoin is absorbed from the digestive tract, and its maximum concentration is detected in the blood after 2-4 hours after administration. There are some features of the use of the drug "Roaccutane". The reviews of experts allow the following conclusion: tablets are best drunk after meals. This increases the bioavailability of isotretinoin by 2 times compared with fasting.
The main active substance most fully binds to blood proteins and is metabolized with the formation of four main products. Isotretinoin and its metabolites are excreted in urine and feces for a period of 19 to 29 hours. The restoration of the physiological content of retinoids in the human body occurs 2 weeks after the end of the course of treatment.
At what dose should I take the medicine?
About how much to take "Roaccutane" (tablets), you can hear different reviews. It should be noted that this criterion is established only by the attending physician, based on the individual circumstances of the patient's condition.
The drug "Roaccutane", reviews, photos before and after treatment which confirm its high efficiency, is usually taken once or twice a day orally.
The presence of treatment dynamics, as well as side effects, directly depends on the initial condition of the patient and the prescribed dosage. These circumstances dictate an individual approach to how to prescribe the drug "Roaccutane". The doctors' reviews suggest that it is always better to start with the minimum dose, which is calculated from the proportion of 0.5 mg of isotretinoin per 1 kg of patient body weight for 24 hours. According to statistics, the average amount of a prescribed drug is 0.5-1.0 mg / kg of body weight per day. If the degree of acne in a patient is characterized as severe, then a large dosage is prescribed to him - up to 2.0 mg / kg per day. Moreover, in these cases, they begin with a small amount of 10 mg / day and, if necessary, increase to 1 mg / kg of weight in 24 hours.
There is an optimal regimen for taking Roaccutane for acne. Reviews of doctors indicate the amount of a drug substance 120-150 mg / kg of body weight, which is distributed over the entire course. Therefore, the duration of treatment directly depends on the prescribed daily dosage of the drug. Usually, over a period of 16-24 weeks, a virtually complete picture of acne remission can be achieved. If the patient does not tolerate the prescribed dosage regimen well, then his daily dose decreases, and the duration of therapy increases.
Basically, one course of treatment with Roaccutane - reviews, photos before and after confirm this fact - is enough for the complete disappearance of acne. However, if the patient has a clear relapse, then the doctor may prescribe a second therapeutic period. In this case, the dosage and duration of treatment with the drug remains unchanged.
The duration of the cosmetic effect provided by acne pills on the face of Roaccutane is given by doctors and patients at 8 weeks. Therefore, the need for a second course of treatment becomes apparent only after this time period is not assigned earlier.
Could there be an overdose?
If the patient has exceeded the recommended dose when taking the drug "Roaccutane", instructions for use, patient reviews indicate the onset of symptoms of vitamin A hypervitaminosis. This is eliminated by gastric lavage, which must be done in the first hours after the excessive use of the drug.
How does the drug interact with other medicines?
The simultaneous administration of Roaccutane and vitamin A leads to the latter hypervitaminosis, therefore, such a combination should be avoided.
Combined therapy with isotretinoin and tetracyclines is contraindicated, as this leads to an increase in intracranial pressure.
Quite often, a decrease in the effectiveness of progesterone occurs, which is caused by the pills from Roaccutane acne. Reviews of doctors indicate that during treatment with this drug should use contraceptives with a higher hormone content and apply barrier methods of contraception.
If a patient uses local keratolytic agents or exfoliants for treatment with Roaccutane, skin irritation may occur.
Can pregnant women use the drug?
“Roaccutane” (pills, reviews of which inspire many to test their effectiveness on themselves) has a very important feature: they are absolutely contraindicated during pregnancy.
Isotretinoin has a powerful teratogenic effect. Treatment even for short periods and in small doses is highly likely to cause serious fetal malformations.
A contraindication of the drug to women of childbearing age who do not meet the following criteria is associated with this fact:
• The presence of severe acne, which cannot be resolved through conventional treatment.
• A woman perfectly understands and fulfills all the recommendations of a doctor.
• She was informed by the doctor about the whole danger of pregnancy during the treatment with “Roaccutane” and a month after it, about the need for urgent consultation with a specialist in case of a conception.
• A woman is aware of a decrease or complete loss of contraceptive effectiveness.
• She is aware of the essence and necessity of all preventive measures agreed upon by the doctor.
• A woman understands the importance of continuous protection against pregnancy throughout the entire course of treatment, a month before and after it, as well as the need to use simultaneously 2 methods of contraception (including barrier).
• A woman has a negative pregnancy test result, which must be received no later than 11 days before the course of treatment. Also, this manipulation should be carried out monthly during therapy and 5 weeks after its completion.
• She is obliged to start taking the drug only for 2-3 days of the next normal menstruation.
• A woman must visit a doctor every month.
• All of the above items are relevant for repeated courses of treatment "Roaccutane".
It is imperative to combine reliable contraception with the “Roaccutane” acne remedy. Reviews of experts indicate the need for strict observance of this rule by all women, even those who do not take contraceptives due to infertility, suffer amenorrhea and do not have sex. An exception can be made only by patients who underwent a hysterectomy.
What should the doctor remember?
The doctor should know about some facts of the patient's condition before prescribing her treatment with Roaccutane. Reviews of experts indicate that in order to avoid unforeseen circumstances, the doctor must be absolutely sure in the following positions:
• The patient has a really severe form of acne, which cannot be cured by other methods of therapy, namely nodular-cystic or conglobate phenomena, leading to scarring.
• A woman has a negative pregnancy test result, which was done before the course of treatment, during the course of therapy and 5 weeks after its completion. All this data with the date of analysis is strictly documented.
• The patient must use contraceptives (1, and preferably 2), and the barrier method is mandatory. This rule applies to the period of the month before treatment, the entire course and 30 days after therapy.
• A woman fully understands the need to comply with all measures to prevent pregnancy.
• The patient meets all the criteria listed above.
Features of the control of the absence of pregnancy
It should be noted that a pregnancy test, characterized by a sensitivity of 25 mME / ml, must be performed in the first 3 days of the menstrual cycle.
Before the start of the course, the patient should start taking contraceptives in a month. A pregnancy test is performed on the day of Roaccutane's appointment, its date and result is documented by the doctor.
During treatment, the patient must visit the doctor every 28 days with a mandatory check for the absence of pregnancy. The same test is performed 5 weeks after the end of therapy.
“Roaccutane”, the patient reviews which speak of its excellent cosmetic effect, is prescribed by prescription and only for a period of 30 days. If continued therapy is required, then a pregnancy test is recommended.
Can I take medicine for men?
Treatment of acne in men with Roaccutane is appropriate, but the patient should take care to exclude the use of this medicine by others. The exposure of the drug in the seminal fluid is small and is not able to show teratogenic properties.
How to plan a pregnancy?
Many women worry about how the pregnancy will proceed after Roaccutane. Reviews of doctors indicate that conception planning can begin no earlier than a month after the completion of the course of treatment.
If, following all precautions, pregnancy occurred in a dangerous period, then a woman should be aware of the high risk of developing fetal diseases of the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, face and endocrine glands. Therefore, the issue of saving the child is being decided.
The drug "Roaccutane" can not be taken by women during lactation, as it penetrates into breast milk.
What unwanted effects can occur?
There are a fairly large number of side effects that can occur in a patient when using the drug "Roaccutane". Instructions, reviews of doctors and patients indicate the following undesirable manifestations:
• Depression, increased intracranial pressure, headache, seizures.
• Decreased severity of daytime and twilight vision, eye disease, hearing impairment.
• Stool disorders, nausea, inflammation of the intestines, pancreatitis, bleeding.
• Anemia, platelet changes, ESR, hematocrit, neutropenia and leukopenia.
• Bronchospasm.
• Pain in joints and muscles, hyperostosis, tendonitis, arthritis.
• Rash, erythema, itching, sweating, pigmentation, thinning and hair loss, photoallergy.
• Dry skin and mucous lips, nasal cavity, pharynx and larynx, eyes.
• Changes in laboratory parameters: increased cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoproteins, hyperglycemia.
• Systemic or local streptococcal infections.
• Hematuria, vasculitis, hypersensitivity, lymphadenopathy.
• Stephen-Jones syndrome, erythema multiforme, epidermal toxic necrolysis.
To whom is the drug contraindicated?
The drug "Roaccutane" is contraindicated in the following diseases and conditions:
• Hyperlipidemia of a pronounced type.
• Pregnancy and lactation.
• Hypervitaminosis A.
• Therapy with tetracycline drugs.
• Liver failure.
• Increased sensitivity to the components of the drug.
• Children's age up to 12 years.
With caution, this drug is prescribed in patients with diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, impaired lipid metabolism, depression and obesity.
The effectiveness of this drug is not in doubt. “Roaccutane”, reviews, photos and impressions of which testify to its unsurpassed therapeutic and cosmetic manifestation, inspires confidence in the treatment of acne even in the most severe forms. However, you should remember about all the side effects of the drug, incompatibility with pregnancy and lactation, as well as the presence of a number of contraindications. The purpose of this drug is made only by the attending physician, who individually prescribes the patient the dosage and duration of the course of therapy.