Isotretinoin and Dry Eyes: What Users Say

• Los...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2020

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I promised myself that if this worked, then I would write a review to hopefully help other patients out who are hesitant about taking Accutane. I have been taking Accutane (40 mg/day) for 4 months now. I am 5'5 and 138 pounds. I can say that Accutane works better than any other acne medication (the other medication I tried was Spiro, which helped my face acne by like 75% but did nothing for my back/chest acne). I have tried, and I had minimal side effects (dry skin, some fatigue, increased sun sensitivity, dry lips, dry eyes), but that is all. It was all worth it though. It not only got rid of my cystic acne but also got rid of my closed comedones and the sebaceous filaments on my nose. My ONLY regret is not taking this sooner. If you have pitted scarring or your skin scars easily, please take this. I have nothing but positive things to say about Accutane."

• Tha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2020

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I find that Accutane is one of the most life-changing experiences. Started to notice a huge difference in my skin on month 2. Treatment is very harsh with many side effects. Dry and thin skin, breakouts now and then, very dry eyes. I tried all types of Blistex lip balms, which did not help. Baseline Blue Seal works wonders on the lips and even on dry areas of the skin. I apply sunscreen every day with Nutraderm lotion to hydrate my skin. I also find that it really helps to have at least 3 liters of water every day. I'm currently in the middle of month 3 of treatment, and the past few weeks have been the hardest. Skin and lips are drier than ever, and there is a loss of hair. Some days depression kicks in, so it is important to keep your loved ones around you just to have some positivity. This treatment is quite costly, but it is all worth it in the end. A few months of side effects and paying the price for lifelong great skin and confidence."

• Pet...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 4, 2018

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I had to take two courses, genuinely think this drug saved my life. I had beyond severe, painful, bulging, cystic acne everywhere that nothing worked for while in high school. I had to wear undershirts because I would bleed through my shirts. I had to quit sports because any contact would cause bleeding, not to mention pain. I was essentially bullied out of high school due to the severity of my skin. I literally, to this day, have never seen anyone with as bad of acne as I had. It completely cleared up my skin after the first course. After a few months, it did come back, pretty harshly by most people’s standards, but literally nothing in comparison to what it was. I took another course, and I have clear skin to this day, 6 years later with minimal scarring. The only side effect I had was dry everything - skin, eyes, nose, lips. People say it causes depression, I think having severe acne is much more likely to cause depression than Accutane."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 7, 2020

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I was on Accutane for 6 months at 80 mg/day. I finished about 8 months ago, and my skin is still very clear. The 'it gets worse before it gets better' line is very true. My skin was bad for the first three months I was on Accutane but then slowly improved the last three months. My worst side effects were lower back pain, dry skin, and dry eyes. These side effects went away after I finished. I highly recommend taking Accutane. Although it is hard having your skin be bad for a couple of months straight, it is definitely worth it. One thing they don't really tell you about is the blood work and pregnancy test you have to do once a month before getting your new packet for that month. This was kind of annoying, but if everything checks out in the first couple of months, you don't have to keep doing it."

• Nic...
• March 20, 2014

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I'm on my fourth month of Accutane and can honestly say this has changed my life. Four months ago, my confidence was literally non-existent. I couldn't look people in the eye, I hid away from everyone even my family as much as I could, I hated going out in public. My acne wasn't severe or cystic but when you have pimples on your face, you feel like that's all people are looking at. After reading so many scary things about this medicine I was really hesitant about going on it. But I couldn't be happier that I did. I've experienced only dry lips, skin and eyes which is pretty easy to control with a good moisturizer. I sometimes (rarely) experience minor back pain. But it's so worth it, everything is worth it. I finally have my life back!"

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2020

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I am on a 10 mg Oratane dose, one pill a day. I had very oily skin, mild pimples that would break out every third week, and lots of blackheads, which are gone and skin no longer oily. I am happy with the results so far in my second month now. The negative part about taking the meds is the side effects: sore joints, dry eyes and nose, very thin skin, and the worst, it has to be my lips, chapped, red, dry, and extremely sore. I even thought of quitting the meds."

• the...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2015

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Rosacea "Just hitting one month on Accutane. Don't forget, this is a review for rosacea, not acne. I gave it a 9/10 for acne, and on rosacea, I will give it an 8/10 so far. I will update the review over time. I was so hesitant to try Accutane with the horror stories, but you have to remember it is for less than 1% of the people that take it. I struggled with depression and have had ZERO depression episodes. Dry eyes and dry lips. Hair thinning a bit, but I am not losing any whatsoever. Vivid dreams. That is all. I only had two headaches (minor). This and CeraVe Cleanser, CeraVe Moisturizer has made my rosacea go COMPLETELY away. The redness on my face is gone. It is amazing to me. Good luck to all who go down the Accutane road! Everyone is different."

• Anonymous
• August 25, 2014

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "This medication is the only thing that has removed acne from my face and back. The side effects are horrible, but bearable. The side effects that I experienced during my treatment were: throbbing dry lips, itchy skin, dry eyes, blood in nose, severe joint pains, lethargy, darkening of face (temporary) and headaches. My dosage was from month 1 to 6: 40 mg, 60 mg, 70 mg, 70 mg, 80 mg, 80 mg. (Body weight 88 kgs). If you suffer from cystic acne, I would definitely recommend this medication. It really works and although the side effects are severe, they are temporary! Really worth it in the end."

• Rex...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2018

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I've had acne my whole life (age 29). Face was always oily, and I'd pop pimples all the time. Started Accutane in January. Face and lips started getting really dry. Eucerin lotion and Aquaphor worked very well, but needed to apply several times a day. Eczema on the top of my hands, wrists, and upper arms (small red bumps that I've never had before in my life), so more lotion was required. By the middle of the second month, my acne was gone. I had dry eyes that required artificial tears at least 8 times a day. After 3 months, my doctor told me I can discontinue taking it. It did not hold me back from being active and traveling through a few countries either. The side effects had disappeared except for a few small bumps only on my upper arms. It is November now. Still haven't seen a single pimple on my face! Had mild depression and anxiety, but I've also had a long history even before taking Accutane. Different people will have different results and side effects. Best of luck to everyone."

• pai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2017

Zenatane (isotretinoin) for Acne "There are so many scary and terrible reviews on this drug. Before going on this drug, I read reviews and became stiff with anxiety. I actually took the brand name Zenatane, which is the same thing, just a little cheaper. LIFE SAVER. I had to come on here and write a glowing review for everyone who was in the position I was before starting. My flare-up began the summer of my senior year of high school and got so terrible when I moved away for college. It was so bad, and I was so embarrassed that I moved back home. Huge, hard cyst-type zits all over my face with redness. No amount of makeup could hide it. I finally made the choice to just do this treatment. It's the best choice I have ever made. I have actually been off of it for almost two years now and still don't get much... a few every now and then but small and hardly ever. The side effects-NOT THAT BAD. Yes, I had very dry eyes... but nothing some good drops couldn't fix. I also had a dry nose, but nothing some good spray couldn't fix. Towards the end of my treatment, I even started my outdoor college soccer practices. I was in the sun, I was running and out of breath, but everything was just fine! The worst part about this drug for me was taking the pills. I have a fear of swallowing pills, but I did it with some yogurt, and it's no big deal. Here's the thing... FOLLOW THE RULES. My sister took this before me. She ruined it for herself. She decided smoking while taking it is no big deal... wrong. It ruined her breathing to a point where she had to stop the drug... and her skin was much worse than mine. Five years later, she is on it again and doing great. So don't listen to all the scary reviews. You will be fine! You can manage the side effects. You can get more help from your derm. YOU GOT THIS."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2022

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "Don't take this drug, I'm warning you. I had very bad acne on my back, chest, and face. I took Accutane for 6 months, and it really cleared my skin, however, the permanent side effects are much worse. My acne came back to the same state as it was before, but now I also struggle with very dry skin, dry mouth, dry eyes, eczema, and others. Trust me, I'm telling you this for your own good, don't take it."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2016

Claravis (isotretinoin) for Acne "I've had bad acne since I was in middle school. I didn't do anything about it until around the summer of 10th grade because I started to get cystic acne on a regular basis. My dermatologist put me on Doxycycline. At the time, I was not always regular with taking pills, and when my acne did get better and started to go away, I thought I was fine. The acne just kept coming back, and I took antibiotics and creams like retinol and Epiduo and all sorts of benzoyl peroxide washes, but nothing worked. So my dermatologist finally convinced me to get on Accutane. As of right now, I'm 5 months in, and my skin has never been better, it's amazing. My side effects were dry eyes (I have contacts), dry face, dry lips, and nosebleeds. I honestly wish I did it sooner!"

• Meg...
• May 23, 2016

Claravis (isotretinoin) for Acne "When I turned 30, my acne became much more cystic and spread to my neck, chest, and back. My bacne was so bad it hurt to take a shower. Within 3 weeks of starting Claravis (30 mg daily), I started to experience dry skin and lips. Over the months, I developed rashes on my hands and arms due to dry skin. I had several nosebleeds and dry eyes, but was able to remedy all the dryness with lip balm, saline solution, and various lotions/moisturizers. I also became thirsty all the time, but this began to subside going into my 4th month. The dryness was a very small price to pay for the AMAZING results. My face, neck, chest, and back are almost 100% CLEAR!!! I didn't have any other side effects, and my ONLY regret is not taking this medication sooner!"

• Lai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 25, 2019

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I started getting acne when I was 13 when I first got my period. At first, it wasn't that bad, I would have whiteheads that wouldn't come back after I popped them. Then it started to get bad when I was 15 to the point where it would leave dark marks (hyperpigmentation). I used Cetaphil, which burned my skin and made my acne worse. So, we went to the dermatologist and decided that it would be best to go on Accutane. I'm 3 months in now, and my skin looks good. Before, I would get these deep pimples that would be very painful and leave huge marks. But there are side effects that you should be aware of, which are nosebleeds, possibly depression, dry eyes, and dry skin. And the monthly pregnancy test (if you're a woman) and blood tests. To moisturize your skin, I would recommend CeraVe facial cleanser (it has hyaluronic acid, which hydrates the skin), Isdin micellar solution, Vanicream lite lotion, and round cotton pads."

• TDS...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 13, 2020

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "Took Accutane when I was 14. Pretty sure it stunted my growth by closing my growth plates as I stopped growing during my treatment. I still have permanent dry eyes and brain fog and severe depression now 8 years later. It's not worth the gamble, I didn't even have the choice, I was just a kid that followed doctor's orders. Please ask yourself why you would want to give yourself or your loved one an extreme retinoid overdose. It causes widespread damage to the body that is permanent."

• All...
• December 21, 2013

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "At the age of 30, I still dealt with breakouts. After trying all sorts of over-the-counter products that just hurt me, I went to the doctor. We took the steps of prescription washes and antibiotics. Still had breakouts. So I decided to try Accutane. I'm currently starting my fifth month, and I haven't had a breakout or a single pimple in over three months. My side effects were dry, peeling lips (nothing Carmex can't fix), dry eyes, very sensitive skin (though working in a hospital doesn't help). So far, I am so satisfied with this medicine. Yes, it is a hassle to get, but worth it."

• lan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2016

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I was on Accutane for almost 2 months. About a month and a half in, my eyes started to bother me. They were incredibly dry and it constantly felt like I had an eyelash in them. They were burning like crazy and hurt to move. I was worried I had an infection, so I went to my eye doctor. They told me both of my optic nerves were swollen and referred me to a neuro-ophthalmologist. I was immediately taken off Accutane. It has been a couple of weeks since I stopped the medication and my eyes have finally stopped bothering me. If I had continued the medication, I could've had permanent eye damage. The scariest side effects may be rare, and this drug may be a 'holy grail' for stubborn acne, but is clear skin really worth going blind, etc?"

• the...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2015

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "After hearing about the horror stories, I was hesitant to try Accutane. I tried Minocycline (Solodyn), Doryx (Doxycycline), and Bactrim DS. The only thing that was pretty good at clearing was Bactrim DS. Bactrim worked best but was not working anymore. I had no choice but to go with Accutane. It was a little drying with the eyes initially, and my lips still get dry. What people fail to mention is that your body adjusts to the side effects and that you won't have an initial breakout if you start low. I started at 40mg. Going to 60mg this month (my second month). Don't forget, Accutane takes between 2-4 months to see clearing. Good luck! :)"

• Bra...
• July 15, 2013

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "Accutane worked great for me. When I quit smoking and started working out at the gym, I broke out on my cheeks and my back. Took Accutane for 4 months (80 mg daily) and had dry lips, dry eyes, dry face (moisturizer daily), very red and sensitive skin, and peeling hands. Made it through with a little bit of suffering, and I must say my face is 100% clear and it had been 2 months without it so far, and my back is about 80% better. Might consider another short treatment in the winter to try and combat my back a little more, but so far very satisfied with my results. I know I was worried sick and contemplated taking it for weeks after reading reviews and then finally took the plunge. Don't regret it for a second. A million times happier."

• Cel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2015

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I just started Accutane two weeks ago, 10 mg a day, and this is a miracle in a pill!! I had large, painful, inflamed acne along my jawline. After the first day, the inflammation was GONE! The second day, my acne basically fell out of my pores. I do experience dry lips, itchy skin, dry eyes, and hair loss, but it's worth it. Also, it is giving my skin a chance to heal, and I don't know why, but some report SCARRING, but for me, it made my scars and even stretch marks diminish. I think I'm the perfect candidate for the drug. If one has inflammatory acne, this is the drug to take."

• Sho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 9, 2014

Amnesteem (isotretinoin) for Acne "I am 40 years old and have been struggling with adult acne for ten years now. My face has always been oily, and topical creams/antibiotics have only been temporary fixes. My dermatologist and I decided to finally give isotretinoin a try. I started taking Amnesteem in September 2013. The first three months I had moderate breakouts, as expected. But in December and so far this month, I've not had any acne, with the exception of a small bump I noticed today. I just had my last appointment with my dermatologist yesterday, where he gave me my last prescription. The only side effects have been dry eyes, skin, and lips, but not severe at all. Aquaphor for the lips and CeraVe for my face have been awesome. So far, very happy with the results."

• Xev...
• July 29, 2016

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I've been taking Oratane (off-brand Accutane) for nearly 6 months now. My dosage was 20 mg during the first month and then 40 mg for the remainder of my cycle. I'm a 24-year-old male (I was 23 when I began taking the drug) with mild (but irritating) facial acne and moderate acne on my upper back. I found that my acne cleared up towards my second month of treatment. The only side effects I've encountered are dryness - dry lips being the main one, but easily remedied with chapstick. My skin (particularly on my face) and eyes also occasionally get dry, these can be tackled with moisturizer and eye drops. Aside from that, everything has been smooth sailing. I recommend Accutane to anyone with severe acne or stubborn acne that won't go away."

• Anonymous
• January 14, 2011

Amnesteem (isotretinoin) for Acne "I am 32 years old and have struggled with acne since high school. I was completely freaked out about taking this medication after reading all the horror stories online, but after talking to my doctor, I knew I wanted to give it a try. I am in my 2nd month of taking the medication, and I have seen dramatic results. I have not had any bad side effects so far. I have had dry lips (to be expected), but they have not been bad at all (thanks to Aquaphor Lip Repair - I constantly put it on). My skin is dry, which is also to be expected. I wear contacts, and my eyes do get dry at times, but no drops help. I do notice joint aches at times, so I take Tylenol or Advil, and it helps. It's nothing severe at all. BEST MEDICATION EVER."

• Sun...
• October 4, 2015

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I'm going into my 5th month on Accutane at 60 mg. The first 4 months yielded minimal, if any, results, and I got the biggest cystic lesion in my history of acne in the 3rd month. Now, my skin is cleared of acne lesions and congestion. My skin is red, sensitive, scarred, and hyperpigmented. My eyes are dry, and my lips require Aquaphor frequently. Overall, this medication has brought me confidence that I forgot I had. My derm said, 'Wow, look at your skin, it looks wonderful.' It made me emotional to hear. If you are considering this drug for persistent acne, then my recommendation is to make this decision with your doctor. You will not be disappointed. Nothing else worked for me, and I tried every med out there, topically and orally, hormonally."

• Gaw...
• May 30, 2018

Accutane (isotretinoin) for Acne "I went on Accutane in 1982. I had chronic acne on my shoulders and back. My lips and nose immediately dried up, cracked, and bled. My eyes got so dry I constantly had to use drops. My joints started to ache constantly. My thick hair and eyelashes started falling out. My arm hair, underarms, and legs stopped growing. My eyebrows decided to almost disappear. My hair on my head never returned to its original thickness, nor did my eyelashes or eyebrows. The hair on my arms, legs, and underarms all but disappeared. I got extremely tired for a full year. It did clear up my acne issues. My biggest complaint is joint pain! I still have it 36 years later. I would joke that I felt like a cancer patient going through chemo, so tired, losing hair. I never knew it was originally for chemotherapy treatments until 2016. I discovered others were having joint pain 20 to 30 years later also. Wish there would have been some kind of recognition that joint pain is a permanent side effect from Accutane."