It is important that you inform your doctor if you have a personal or family history of mental problems including depression, suicidal behavior, or psychosis (loss of contact with reality, hearing voices, or seeing things that are not there), diabetes, asthma, heart disease, osteoporosis (bone loss) or weak bones, anorexia nervosa, high cholesterol or triglyceride levels (types of fat) in the blood, or liver disease. You may not be able to take isotretinoin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Do not take vitamin supplements containing vitamin A during treatment with isotretinoin. This could cause increased side effects.

Do not donate blood while taking isotretinoin and for at least 1 month following the end of treatment. Blood donated while taking isotretinoin may be given to a pregnant woman and be harmful to her baby.

Furthermore, it is advised not to use wax hair removal systems or have any skin resurfacing procedures (such as dermabrasion or laser treatment) performed while taking isotretinoin and for six months following treatment due to the possibility of scarring.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or UV rays while taking isotretinoin. Isotretinoin may increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight and a severe sunburn could result.

Use caution when driving a vehicle at night. Isotretinoin can cause decreased night vision. The onset of decreased night vision may be sudden.

Additionally, do not take isotretinoin if you are pregnant or if you could become pregnant during treatment or for one month after you stop taking isotretinoin. Isotretinoin is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that isotretinoin is known to cause severe birth defects in an unborn baby. It can also cause miscarriage, premature birth, or death of the baby. You must take a pregnancy test and have negative results when you and your doctor decide that isotretinoin may be beneficial for your condition. You must have a second pregnancy test with negative results during the first 5 days of the menstrual period right before you start taking isotretinoin. Two reliable forms of birth control must be used at the same time (unless abstinence is the chosen method of birth control or if you have undergone a hysterectomy) for one month before starting treatment with isotretinoin, during treatment with isotretinoin, and for at least 1 month following the end of treatment. You will also be asked to take a pregnancy test on a monthly basis. Your doctor will discuss with you and provide for you a video and written information regarding choices for birth control, possible causes for birth control failure, and the importance of using birth control while taking isotretinoin. If you become pregnant, stop using birth control, or miss your menstrual period, immediately stop taking isotretinoin and notify your doctor.

It is not known whether isotretinoin passes into breast milk. Do not take isotretinoin without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

 

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