The weeks and the cumulative doses of the first adverse events related to oral isotretinoin in acne patients: analysis of 300 patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study is to find out in which weeks and in which cumulative doses the side effects emerge and to study whether or not there is a significant variance between the observed period and doses of the emergent side effects of the patients taking the daily doses of below and above 0.5 mg/kg.

METHODS: Patients were started treatment with doses of 0.25-1 mg/kg isotretinoin, and a form was given to the patients to mark which probable side effects occurred in which weeks and called for weekly follow-up for the first 2 months.

RESULTS: The median of the complaints of emerged side effects such as chellitis, dry face and facial erythema, photobia and nyctalopia was in less than 4 weeks. When the doses taken below and above 0.5 mg/kg are compared, the side effects observed to have differences between both the week they occurred and the cumulative doses are xerosis, dry face, exacerbation of acnes, nervousness, and somnolence.

CONCLUSIONS: We believe that knowing which weeks the side effects are observed first, warning about the side effects that may especially occur in the first 4 weeks, and ensuring some measures are taken before the side effects are observed will increase the success of patient compatibility and management of side effects.