Adverse Effects of Isotretinoin: A Retrospective Review of 1743 Patients

    June 2010 in “ Australasian Journal of Dermatology ”
    Marius Rademaker
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    TLDR Most people on isotretinoin had chapped lips, but only a few stopped the medicine due to side effects.
    In a retrospective review of 1743 patients prescribed isotretinoin, 18.5% experienced no adverse effects, while the most common side effect was cheilitis, affecting 78% of patients. Other side effects such as eczema and tiredness were reported by 12% of patients each and were found to be dose-dependent. Only 1.4% of patients discontinued the medication due to adverse effects, which included cheilitis, mood changes, tiredness, eczema, and pregnancy, with no reported cases of suicidal ideation or attempts. The study concluded that isotretinoin is effective with a low adverse effect profile at lower doses, despite potential limitations such as under-reporting of adverse effects and lack of long-term follow-up.
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