{"id":172,"date":"2026-10-01T09:46:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T23:46:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novameds.health\/au\/product\/isotretinoin\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T01:31:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T15:31:40","slug":"isotretinoin","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/novameds.health\/au\/product\/isotretinoin\/","title":{"rendered":"Isotretinoin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section id=\"overview\" data-nav=\"Overview\"><span class=\"kicker\">Overview<\/span><h2>What Isotretinoin is<\/h2><p>Isotretinoin is an oral retinoid used for severe forms of acne that have not responded to other treatments. It is prescribed under specialist supervision.<\/p><p>Suitability and dosing are decided by a prescriber on the basis of the approved product information.<\/p><\/section>\n<section id=\"how\" data-nav=\"How it works\"><span class=\"kicker\">How it works<\/span><h2>Acting on the <em>sebaceous glands<\/em><\/h2><p>Isotretinoin is a retinoid taken by mouth. It shrinks the sebaceous glands and reduces the production of sebum, normalises the shedding of cells lining the hair follicle and, indirectly, reduces the bacteria and inflammation involved in acne.<\/p><div class=\"mech\"><div><b>Sebaceous glands<\/b><span>Smaller glands, much less sebum.<\/span><\/div><div><b>Follicles<\/b><span>Fewer blockages and less inflammation.<\/span><\/div><\/div><p>Guidelines reserve it for severe acne, or acne that has not responded to other treatments.<sup><a href=\"#references\">1<\/a><\/sup><\/p><\/section>\n<section id=\"safety\" data-nav=\"Safety\"><span class=\"kicker\">Safety<\/span><h2>Side effects and warnings<\/h2><p>Common and important side effects include:<\/p><ul class=\"bul\"><li>Dry skin, lips and eyes, and nosebleeds<\/li><li>Raised blood lipids and liver enzymes, checked with blood tests<\/li><li>Muscle and joint pain<\/li><li>Mood changes, depression and, rarely, suicidal thoughts<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"warn\"><svg class=\"icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-alert\"\/><\/svg><div><strong>Important<\/strong>Isotretinoin can seriously harm an unborn baby. It is supplied only under a pregnancy prevention programme and requires careful medical monitoring. Contact your doctor promptly about any change in mood.<sup><a href=\"#references\">2<\/a><\/sup> Always read the patient information leaflet.<\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section id=\"documents\" data-nav=\"Documents\"><span class=\"kicker\">Documents<\/span><h2>Product information<\/h2><div class=\"docs\"><div class=\"doc-row\"><span class=\"ico\"><svg class=\"icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-file\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span>Patient information leaflet<small>Supplied by the partner pharmacy<\/small><\/span><\/div><div class=\"doc-row\"><span class=\"ico\"><svg class=\"icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-file\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span>Summary of Product Characteristics<small>Official product information<\/small><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section id=\"faq\" data-nav=\"FAQ\"><span class=\"kicker\">FAQ<\/span><h2>Common questions<\/h2><div class=\"faq\" style=\"margin-top:18px\"><details open><summary>Do I need a prescription?<svg class=\"icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/summary><p>Isotretinoin is a prescription-only medicine. After your request, the partner pharmacy verifies whether and how supply is possible, for example through an existing prescription or an assessment by an independent doctor where permitted.<\/p><\/details><details><summary>Why are blood tests needed?<svg class=\"icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/summary><p>Isotretinoin can raise blood lipids and liver enzymes. These are checked before and during treatment, as set out in the product information.<\/p><\/details><details><summary>What is the pregnancy prevention programme?<svg class=\"icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/summary><p>A set of measures, including pregnancy tests and effective contraception before, during and after treatment, required for anyone who could become pregnant.<\/p><\/details><details><summary>Do I pay when I send a request?<svg class=\"icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><use href=\"#i-plus\"\/><\/svg><\/summary><p>No. Payment is arranged individually with customer service once your request has been reviewed and can proceed.<\/p><\/details><\/div><\/section>\n<section id=\"references\" data-nav=\"References\"><span class=\"kicker\">References<\/span><h2>Sources<\/h2><ol class=\"refs\"><li><span>Zaenglein AL, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. <i>J Am Acad Dermatol<\/i>. 2016;74:945\u2013973.<\/span><\/li><li><span>MHRA. Isotretinoin (Roaccutane): introduction of new safety measures. <i>Drug Safety Update<\/i>, October 2023.<\/span><\/li><li><span>Isotretinoin: Summary of Product Characteristics.<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An oral retinoid used for severe acne, supplied under strict safety conditions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":236,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[28],"product_tag":[41],"nm_classification":[],"class_list":["post-172","product","type-product","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","product_cat-skin-hair-dermatology","product_tag-prescription","first","instock","shipping-taxable","purchasable","product-type-variable"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novameds.health\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/172","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novameds.health\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novameds.health\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novameds.health\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=172"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novameds.health\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novameds.health\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=172"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novameds.health\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=172"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novameds.health\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=172"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novameds.health\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=172"},{"taxonomy":"nm_classification","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novameds.health\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/nm_classification?post=172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}