First isotretinoin prescription says twice a day. Is once a day OK instead?

On theqoo's beauty board, someone who had just been prescribed isotretinoin for acne asked a practical question. They had been told to take one capsule morning and evening, but reviews about extreme dryness scared them, so could they just take one a day on their own? It was a public holiday, so they could not call the clinic.

The 10 replies mostly said: do not cut it down on your own.

• People explained that regimens differ, one a day, one twice a day, or one every two or three days, and that the doctor sets it based on skin and overall health.

• The most common advice was to take it as prescribed first and go back if side effects become hard to handle.

• On the other hand, a long-term user said two a day makes dryness quite intense, and suggested asking the clinic about adjusting the dose if worried.

• The poster decided to follow the prescription.

**Desk note:**​DermNet explains that the isotretinoin dose is set by the dermatologist based on body weight and other clinical factors, and that if side effects are troublesome the doctor may pause treatment or reduce the dose. At 1 mg per kg per day, dry lips affect essentially everyone. Above all,isotretinoin must not be taken in pregnancy; women who could become pregnant need reliable contraception during treatment and for four weeks after stopping. Any dose change should go through the prescriber.

If you have taken isotretinoin, how did you cope with the dryness?

Original thread: theqoo beauty board — how often to take isotretinoin · Reference: DermNet — Isotretinoin

#Isotretinoin #Acne #Dermatologist