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Isotretinoin

Medication oral retinoid skin
Aka: Roaccutane, Oratane, Acnotin
Brands seen in Singapore: Acnotin, Nimegen, Roaccutane, Oratane
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Severe acne that has not responded to other acne medicines
When to take
NHS: once or twice a day, with food, for around 3 months
Take with
Food · NHS: capsules swallowed whole, SAMe times daily
Pros & cons
Pros
  • NHS: for severe acne other prescriptions did not clear
  • HealthHub: cuts skin oil and clears inflammation
  • NHS: a course is usually around 3 months
Cons
  • Dry lips, eyes, skin and nose are common (HealthHub)
  • HealthHub: mood changes, depression, rarely suicide
  • NHS: not to be taken in pregnancy — harm to the baby
Sources
  1. HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, 5,511 rows, pulled via datastore_search API) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “8 registered isotretinoin products, all Forensicclassification 'Prescription Only': SIN13333P ACNOTIN 10, SIN13051P ACNOTIN 20, SIN10767P NIMEGEN SOFT CAP. 10 mg, SIN04920P/SIN04921P ROACCUTANE CAPSULE 10 and 20 mg, SIN14628P/SIN11782P/SIN11781P ORATANE CAPSULE 5, 10 and 20 mg — all oral capsules”
  2. NHS Medicines A-Z — Isotretinoin (Roaccutane), reviewed 26 June 2026: what it is for · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Isotretinoin is a medicine used to treat severe acne. It's only available on prescription … used to treat severe acne when other prescription medicines have not worked … usually prescribed by a healthcare professional who specialises in treating skin conditions”
  3. NHS Medicines A-Z — Isotretinoin (Roaccutane): how to take it · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Most people need to take isotretinoin once or twice a day. You'll usually need to take it for around 3 months … swallow them whole … take them with food … you'll need to have regular check-ups and blood tests”
  4. NHS Medicines A-Z — Isotretinoin (Roaccutane): things to avoid, food, drink and alcohol · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “do not spend too long in the sun … do not use skincare products containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide … do not use waxing or laser treatments for hair removal … it's best to not drink alcohol … could cause liver problems”
  5. NHS Medicines A-Z — Isotretinoin (Roaccutane): pregnancy and contraception · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “You must not take isotretinoin during pregnancy, or if you're trying to get pregnant … it can cause miscarriage or serious problems with how your baby develops … start using contraception at least 1 month before you start taking isotretinoin”
  6. HealthHub (MOH Singapore / Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore) — Isotretinoin medication information leaflet, reviewed 22 June 2023 · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Isotretinoin is used to treat severe acne that has not responded to other acne medications. It reduces the amount of oil produced by the glands in the skin and clears inflammation … Take this medication with or after food”
  7. HealthHub — Isotretinoin leaflet: common and serious side effects · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Red, cracked and sore lips … Irritated and dry eyes … Dry skin, sometimes with peeling … Dry mouth … Dry nose … Increased risk of sunburn … mood changes including depression and less commonly, suicide”
  8. HealthHub — Isotretinoin leaflet: food and medicines to avoid · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Avoid taking alcohol when taking this medication as it can increase the level of triglycerides … Do not take vitamin A supplements … Do not take this medication if you are on any tetracycline class of antibiotics (doxycycline, minocycline, and tetracycline)”
  9. HealthHub — Isotretinoin leaflet: contraception requirements · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “You must use strict birth control for at least 1 month before you start isotretinoin, for the whole time … and for at least 1 month after discontinuing … Discuss contraception with your doctor or pharmacist”
  10. FDA DailyMed — CLARAVIS (isotretinoin) capsules, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA: Highlights of Prescribing Information · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Recommended dosage is 0.5 to 1 mg/kg/day given in two divided doses with food for 15 to 20 weeks. Adult patients with very severe disease (scarring, trunk involvement) may increase dosage to 2 mg/kg/day in two divided doses”
  11. HealthHub — Isotretinoin leaflet: skin and hair-removal procedures · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “planning to undergo any skin or hair removal procedures e.g. waxing, dermabrasions, facial peels, laser treatments. This medication may cause skin to become more fragile … Avoid these procedures during treatment and for at least 6 months after stopping”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.