Public Understanding and Awareness of Isotretinoin Use and Safety in Al Ahsa, Eastern Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND:: Acne vulgaris, a chronic inflammatory disease, is among the most common dermatologic conditions worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, Isotretinoin is commonly used to treat mild acne even without prescription.

OBJECTIVE:: To explore the practice and knowledge of community in Saudi Arabia regarding dispensing, counseling practices, and safety of isotretinoin-containing products.

METHODS:: A cross-sectional survey, using a self-administered questionnaire, was conducted in 3 sections: demographics, self-medication attitude (in the form of self Isotretinoin use), and identifying the side effects associated with the use of isotretinoin.

RESULTS:: A total of 1069 participated in the study. Around half of the participants (44.2%) used isotretinoin with only mild acne as their first choice, which is contrary to the recommended guidelines. Virtually one-fifth of the participants did not examine the lipid profile, liver enzymes, and blood glucose level before isotretinoin use. Not many participants identified lipid (58.7%) and liver (44.1%) depression (53.3%), inflammatory bowel disease (75.9%), osteoporosis (60.3%), and sunburns (36.3%) as risks allied with isotretinoin use. Most participants (88.9%) appropriately recognized teratogenicity as the greatest hazard concomitant with the use of isotretinoin. Nevertheless, 20% of the women did not know that they must cease the drug at least 6 months before pregnancy.

CONCLUSION:: This study shows that community residents are not satisfactorily aware of the proper use and jeopardies of isotretinoin. Therefore, greater consideration ought to be dedicated to augment the safe use of isotretinoin. We recommend the implementation of tools to enhance the safe use of isotretinoin and the imposition of more effective regulations to limit nonprescribed isotretinoin dispensing in Saudi Arabia.