Isotretinoin
What is isotretinoin?
Isotretinoin (13-cis retinoic acid) is a vitamin-A derivative (retinoid). The liver naturally makes small quantities of isotretinoin from vitamin-A, but the drug we prescribe is made synthetically.
Isotretinoin was developed in the 1950s, but only started being used in the mid 1970s. The original brand names were Accutane® and Roaccutane®, but there are now many generic versions on the market, of varying potency.
What is isotretinoin used for?
Isotretinoin is a very effective medication for the treatment of acne. Originally licensed for use in severe disease, it is increasingly prescribed for all grades of acne.
Isotretinoin is also useful for other follicular conditions, such as:
It is also prescribed for many other skin diseases. Examples include:
- Discoid lupus erythematosus
- Granuloma annulare
- Grover disease
- Sarcoidosis
- Extensive actinic keratoses
- Prevention of squamous cell carcinoma
- As an adjuvant in neuroblastoma
Contraindications to isotretinoin
Isotretinoin must not be taken in pregnancy, or if there is a significant risk of pregnancy.
Blood donation by males and females on isotretinoin is not allowed in case the blood is used for a pregnant woman.
Precautions when taking isotretinoin
- Isotretinoin should be used with caution during breastfeeding.
- Commercial pilots may be subject to flying restrictions if they take isotretinoin.
- High dose isotretinoin in very young children has been associated with premature epiphyseal closure, leading to shorter stature (not seen in low dose for the treatment of acne).
How does isotretinoin work?
In acne, isotretinoin:
- Reduces sebum production
- Shrinks the sebaceous glands
- Reduces follicular occlusion
- Inhibits growth of bacteria
- Has anti-inflammatory properties
What is the usual dose of isotretinoin?
The range of doses used each day for acne is less than 0.1 to over 1 mg/kg body weight. Some patients may only need a small dose once or twice a week. A course of treatment may be completed in a few months or continue for several years. For acne, some prescribers have targeted a total cumulative dose of 120–140 mg/kg, in the hope of reducing relapse, but the evidence for this remains controversial. The general trend has been to use lower dosages, unrelated to body weight (eg 10 mg/day).
The individual dose prescribed by the dermatologist depends on:
- Prescriber preference
- Patient body weight
- The specific condition being treated
- Severity of the skin condition
- Response to treatment
- Other treatment used at the same time
- Side effects experienced
Isotretinoin is better taken with water or milk after food to help with its absorption. It may be taken on an empty stomach, but absorption may be halved. There is no particular advantage in splitting the dose over the day. A newer formulation (isotretinoin-lidose) can be taken without food.
For how long is isotretinoin taken?
Most patients should be treated until their skin condition clears and then for a further few months. However, courses have often been restricted to 16–30 weeks (4–7 months) to minimise risk of teratogenicity (risk of congenital abnormalities), and to comply with local regulatory authorities. Isotretinoin may be prescribed for years, usually in low dose or intermittently.
Drug interactions with isotretinoin
Care should be taken with the following medications:
- Vitamin-A (retinoic acid): side effects are cumulative and could be severe. Beta-carotene (provitamin-A) is permitted.
- Tetracyclines (including doxycycline, minocycline): these could increase the risk of headaches and blurred vision due to raised intracranial pressure.
- Warfarin: monitor INR carefully.
What are the side effects and risks of isotretinoin?
The side effects of isotretinoin are dose dependent; at 1 mg/kg/day, nearly all patients will have some side effects, whereas at 0.1 mg/kg/day, most patients will not. The range and severity of the side effects also depends on personal factors and the disease being treated.
Patients with significant liver or kidney disease, high blood fats, diabetes and depression may be advised not to take isotretinoin or to be on a lower dose than usual and to have regular follow-up visits.
Cutaneous and mucocutaneous side effects
Most of the side effects due to isotretinoin are cutaneous or mucocutaneous and relate to the mode of action of the drug. The most common are listed here. When side effects are troublesome, isotretinoin may need to be withheld or the dose reduced.
- Acne flare-up (particularly if starting dose is >0.5 mg/kg/day)
- Dry lips, cheilitis (sore, cracked or scaly lips) (100% of patients on 1 mg/kg/day)
- Dry skin, fragile skin, eczema/dermatitis (itchy, red patches of skin). Note: atopic eczema may improve.
- Increased sweating
- Dry nostrils, epistaxis (nose bleeds)
- Dry, watery or irritable eyes (especially in contact lens wearers), conjunctivitis, keratitis
- Dry anal mucosa, bleeding at the time of a bowel motion
- Dry genitals, dyspareunia (discomfort during intercourse)
- Facial erythema
- Sunburn on exposure to the sun
- Temporary hair loss
- Brittle nails
- Skin infections: impetigo, acute paronychia, pyogenic granuloma
Cutaneous adverse effects of isotretinoin
Treatment of mucocutaneous side effects
- Reduce the dosage (eg to 5–10 mg/day)
- Emollients, lip balm, petroleum jelly, sunscreen, eye drops and lubricants should be applied frequently and liberally when needed
- Dermatitis can be treated with topical steroids
- Take short, cool showers without using soap
- Use mild or diluted shampoo
- Do not start wearing contact lenses for the first time
- Do not have elective eye surgery while on isotretinoin or for 6 months afterwards.
- Do not have ablative laser treatments (eg CO2 resurfacing) while on isotretinoin or for 6 months afterwards. Other laser and light treatments may be performed with care
- Shave rather than wax
- Topical and/or oral antibiotics may be prescribed for impetigo
Other common dose-related side effects of isotretinoin
- Headache
- Myalgia (muscle aches) and arthralgia (joint aches), especially after exercise
- Tiredness (lethargy and drowsiness)
- Disturbed night vision and slow adaptation to the dark. Drivers may experience increased glare from car headlights at night
- Hypertriglyceridaemia (high levels of triglyceride in the blood), usually of no clinical relevance
- Irregular or heavy menstrual periods
Rare side effects of isotretinoin
- Causality of the listed side effects may not have been confirmed
- Severe headache with blurred vision due to raised intracranial pressure
- Mood changes and depression. Note: depression is more often related to the skin condition being treated or other health or psychosocial problems. Antidepressant medications may be helpful
- Corneal opacities and cataracts
- High-tone deafness
- Accelerated diffuse interstitial skeletal hyperostosis (bony change)
- Abnormal liver function tests or symptomatic hepatitis
- Diarrhoea or bleeding from the bowel
- Pancreatitis
- Allergy to isotretinoin causing liver disease and a febrile illness
Treatment of systemic side effects
- Drink minimal alcohol
- Take paracetamol for headache and for mild aches and pains
- Seek medical attention early, if unwell
Monitoring isotretinoin
Pregnancy must be excluded before and during treatment with isotretinoin.
In an otherwise healthy individual, blood tests are generally not needed. However, consider the following if using high dose (1 mg/kg/day), prolonged courses (>12 months), or if patients have specific risk factors (eg family history of dyslipidaemia, higher risk of viral hepatitis, etc):
- Cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- Liver function tests
- Blood count
Contraception in females considering isotretinoin
Isotretinoin must not be taken in pregnancy because of a very high risk of serious congenital abnormalities in the baby. Caution needs to be used during breast-feeding as it enters the breast milk and might affect the baby.
All females who could biologically have a child should take the following precautions during treatment with isotretinoin and for four weeks after the medication has been discontinued:
- Abstinence. The most reliable method of avoiding pregnancy is not to have sex. No method of contraception is completely reliable. "Natural" family planning is particularly risky.
- If sexually active, two reliable methods of contraception should be used. Discuss contraception with your doctor (general practitioner, family planning specialist, gynaecologist or dermatologist). The combined oral contraceptive, IUD (intrauterine device), progesterone implant, or medroxyprogesterone injections may be suitable.
- The low-dose progesterone mini-pill on its own is not recommended.
A prescription for emergency contraception may be available from a medical practitioner (GP or family planning clinic) or accredited pharmacy. It prevents 85% of pregnancies if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse.
If contraception fails, termination of pregnancy (an abortion) may be advised if pregnancy arises during treatment with isotretinoin or within a month of discontinuing it.
What happens if a pregnant woman takes isotretinoin?
Isotretinoin has a very high chance of resulting in a spontaneous miscarriage or a severe birth deformity if a fetus is exposed to it during the first half of pregnancy. The deformities affect the growth of tissues developing at the time of exposure to the drug:
- Cranium (skull and brain)
- Cardiac (heart)
- Eye, ear
- Limbs
No contraceptive precautions are necessary for men
Isotretinoin has no effect on sperm or male fertility and has not been shown to cause birth defects in children fathered by men taking it.
Does acne ever fail to clear on isotretinoin?
Although isotretinoin is usually very effective for acne, occasionally it responds unexpectedly slowly and incompletely. Poor response is associated with:
- Macrocomedones (large whiteheads)
- Nodules (large, deep inflammatory lesions)
- Secondary infection
- Smoking
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Younger age (<14 years)
Options available to slow responders include:
- Electrocautery of comedones
- Prolonged course of isotretinoin
- Additional treatment with oral antibiotics and oral steroids
Can isotretinoin be used again if acne recurs?
At least fifty per cent of patients with acne have a long lasting response after a single adequate course of isotretinoin. In others, acne may recur a few months to a few years after the medication has been discontinued. Relapse is more common in females than in males, and in patients >25 years of age. These patients may receive one or more further courses of isotretinoin.
Long-term treatment (>1 year) is often used for patients with:
- Persistent acne
- Seborrhoea
- Rosacea
- Scalp folliculitis
- Skin cancer
Special precautions for pilots considering isotretinoin
Good night vision is important for airline pilots and those flying after dark. Night vision may be affected by isotretinoin. Pilots taking isotretinoin or considering a course of isotretinoin must report to their national aviation authority to discuss how this treatment affects their flying privileges.
In New Zealand, this is the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand. Civil aviation licence holders, including Air Traffic Controllers, have an obligation under section 27 C of the Civil Aviation Act to ground self and report to CAA in case of any change in medical condition that may affect flight safety. CAA considers the use of isotretinoin to be a change in medical condition.
