Description
Dragon Pharma produces Accutane in oral tablets that contain 20 mg of the active ingredient, Isotretinoin. Isotretinoin is a retinoid, a kind of Vitamin A that is found in small amounts in the body. It is indicated for the treatment of acne in medicine.
Indications and effectiveness of Accutane
Isotretinoin is indicated for the treatment of severe forms of acne:
- Nodular acne
- Conglobate acne
- Acne at risk of permanent scarring
- Acne which has failed to respond to standard therapies.
The drug works by reducing sebaceous gland size and production of sebum. Isotretinoin’s mechanism of action has been shown to lower sebum production by triggering cell death in sebaceous gland cells while also eliminating Cutibacterium acnes. Isotretinoin is the only acne treatment drug available that affects all four major infectious processes in acne, separating it from other therapies (such as antibiotics) and proving its efficacy in severe cases.
Recommendations for using Isotretinoin
Isotretinoin’s therapeutic efficacy and side effects are dose-dependent and differ from patient to patient. This requires the use of individual dose selection throughout treatment. The recommended dosage is 120-150mg per kg of body weight (per course of treatment), hence the duration of therapy varies based on the daily dose in different patients.
Acne remission can usually be obtained in 16 – 24 weeks of treatment. Patients who do not tolerate the recommended dose well may use a reduced dose for a longer period of time. If there is a clear recurrence, a second course of isotretinoin treatment at the same daily and course dose as the first is recommended. Because improvement can last up to 8 weeks following withdrawal, a second course should not be started before this time.
