Isotretinoin-Induced Gynecomastia
March 2020
in “
European Journal of Pediatric Dermatology
”
TLDR Isotretinoin can cause gynecomastia by lowering testosterone levels.
The document discussed isotretinoin-induced gynecomastia, highlighting that while isotretinoin rarely caused persistent sexual dysfunction, it was not listed as a side effect in the drug's data sheet. In contrast, sexual dysfunction was a known side effect for drugs like finasteride and serotonin reuptake inhibiting antidepressants. A study of 300 cases of sexual dysfunction suggested that isotretinoin alone was responsible for as many cases as fluoxetine and finasteride combined. The proposed mechanism was androgenic inhibition, supported by studies showing isotretinoin decreased testosterone levels.