Accufine 5 mg (Isotretinoin)

PRODUCT INTRODUCTION

Accufine 5 mg belongs to a group of medicines called retinoids (vitamin A derivative). It is used to treat severe acne that has not responded to other treatments.

Accufine 5 mg  used in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Take it with food, preferably at the same time each day to avoid a missed dose. It may take several weeks for your symptoms to improve but keep taking the medicine regularly to get the most benefit. If you notice no improvement after a few weeks, see your doctor again.

The most common side effects include dry skin, rash, and increased liver enzymes. They are not usually serious and often disappear after getting used to the medicine but if they bother you or do not go away, tell your doctor.

It may make you more sensitive to sunlight so you should limit your exposure to the sun. It may also make your skin more fragile. Avoid any waxing (hair removal), or laser treatments during treatment. Additionally, it may cause dryness of the mouth, lips, and eyes so drink plenty of water and use a moisturizer. This medicine may lead to birth defects, do consult your doctor if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy.

How to used  Accufine 5 mg 

Take Accufine 5 mg  in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor.It is to be taken with food.

Used in adults and children (older than 12 years of age) to treat severe form of acne which has not improved after other anti-acne treatments

Take Accufine 5 mg  as advised by your physician. Do not crush or chew it. Swallow Isotretinoin as whole with a glass of water or a mouthful of food. Take it on a full stomach. Your doctor will decide the right dose and duration of therapy for you according to your age, body weight and disease condition.

How Accufine 5 mg  work

Isotretinoin is a derivative of vitamin A. It acts on glands (sebaceous) to reduce the production of a natural substance (sebum) that causes acne. Also, the controlled sebum production kills acne-causing bacteria. It also works as an anti-inflammatory to decrease inflammation (redness and swelling).

Accufine 5 mg  helps in treating acne by inhibiting the function of sebaceous glands (oil glands in skin) thus, reducing the secretion of oil (sebum) in the skin. it also inhibits keratinization (development of a horn-like character by the epithelial tissue), which might be a cause of acne.

Dosage

Isotretinoin is usually taken twice a day. The starting dosage is usually calculated at 0.5mg per kilogram of body weight. For example, a person who weighs 60 kilograms will start at 30mg of Isotretinoin a day, divided into two doses. Isotretinoin treatment for acne typically lasts for 4 to 6 months.

Consult your physician or dermatologist for your specific dosage and duration of treatment.

Side Effects of Isotretinoin

Side effects of taking Isotretinoin may include but not limited to:

dryness of your skin, lips, eyes, or nose
nosebleeds
sore or dry mouth or throat
headache
back pain, joint pain, muscle problems

If adverse effects or severe allergic reactions occur, or the above symptoms do not go away, discontinue use and promptly discuss with your physician.

Precautions

Before taking isotretinoin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to vitamin A-related drugs (other retinoids such as tretinoin); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as soybean, parabens), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Some people who are allergic to peanuts may also be allergic to soy. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: diabetes, family or personal history of high blood fats (triglycerides), mental/mood problems (such as depression), liver disease, obesity, eating disorders (such as anorexia nervosa), alcohol abuse, pancreatitis, bone loss conditions (such as osteoporosis/osteomalacia, decreased bone density).

FAQs

1.Is Accufine 5 mg  safe to use?

Isotretinoin should be used with care since it is associated with significant adverse reactions. It should be used only for patients with severe nodular acne who are unresponsive to conventional therapy, including systemic antibiotics. In addition, Accufine 5mg Softgel Capsule should not be used by pregnant women because it can cause severe birth defects.

2.Is Accufine 5 mg  a steroid?

No, Accufine 5 mg  is a retinoid (vitamin A) which is used to treat severe types of acne.

3.What are the recommended tests during Accufine 5 mg  therapy?

Your liver enzymes and serum lipids will be checked before the treatment is started. These levels will also be monitored 1 month after the start of treatment and subsequently at 3 monthly intervals unless more frequent monitoring is clinically indicated.

4.Is the effect of Accufine 5 mg  permanent?

It has been observed in many patients that a single 15-20-week course effectively cures the condition and prevents it from coming back. If at all a second course is required, one should wait for at least 8 weeks after completion of the first course. This is because experience with Accufine 5 mg  has shown that the symptoms in the patients with acne may continue to improve following treatment with Accufine 5 mg .

5.Why is Accufine 5 mg  so dangerous during pregnancy?

If pregnancy occurs during treatment with Accufine 5 mg  then, there is an extremely high risk that the baby may be born with severe birth defects.

6.Can Accufine 5 mg  cause cancer?

No, there are no reports of Accufine 5 mg  causing cancer. In fact, it may be useful in some forms of head, skin, and neck cancers.

7.What are the long-term side effects of Accufine 5 mg ?

A normal course of treatment of Accufine 5 mg  is 15–20 weeks. Therefore, the long-term effects of low doses have not been studied. However, it may have some effect on bone mineral density. It may decrease bone mineral density in some patients, resulting in osteoporosis or fractures.

8.Does Accufine 5 mg  affect male fertility?

No, Accufine 5 mg  does not affect the fertility of male patients. No significant effects were seen on ejaculate volume, sperm count, total sperm motility, morphology, or seminal plasma fructose.

9.Does Accufine 5 mg  damage your liver?

There may be a transient increase in liver enzymes with Accufine 5 mg  use. Therefore, regular laboratory tests are required. These values generally return to normal after some time. If the levels remain elevated for a long time, your doctor may discontinue the use of Accufine 5 mg .