If you have severe acne that has not responded to other treatments, a healthcare provider may prescribe
Accutane® (
isotretinoin). The medicine is available in 10, 20, and 40 mg capsules. Your healthcare provider will consider several factors before recommending an Accutane dosage for you. Some of these factors include how you respond to Accutane, your weight, and the severity of your acne.
When using 40 mg
Accutane capsules, the dosage is usually taken twice a day. In most cases, the recommended dose of Accutane is 0.5 mg to 1 mg per kg of body weight (about 0.23 mg to 0.45 mg per pound) each day, divided into two daily doses. It is best to take your dosage with food, as taking this medication on an empty stomach significantly decreases its absorption.
You can only get a 30-day supply of Accutane at a time. Each time you need more, you will need a new prescription and a new authorization from the iPLEDGE program (the program designed to prevent birth defects caused by Accutane). If you are a woman of childbearing potential, you will need to have a negative
pregnancy test every month (done by a laboratory) and must use two different forms of birth control.
(Click Accutane Dosage for more information on using Accutane for treating severe acne that has not responded to other treatments. This article also offers tips on when and how to take this medication and discusses some of the factors that may affect your dosage.)
