Absorica vs Accutane – detailed comparison:
Absorica
It is the brand name of a drug called isotretinoin, which belongs to a group of drugs known as retinoids.
Isotretinoin works by preventing oil production in glands under the skin.
Uses
This prescription medication is typically used to treat the most severe form of acne, called nodular acne.
Nodular acne is characterized by the presence of large, inflamed, and painful breakouts.
It can occur on the back, face, and body.
Note – this type of acne can cause severe scarring and should be treated by a dermatologist.
Nodular acne is caused by a few different factors, including – an abnormal buildup of dead cells within the pore, overactive sebaceous glands, and overgrowth of acne-causing bacteria.
Dosage
The usual recommended dose ranges from 0.5 to 1 mg/kg/day given in two divided doses.
Note – to decrease the risk of esophageal irritation, sufferers should swallow the capsules with a full glass of liquid.
Side Effects and Precautions
Common side effects may include:
- dry nose causing nosebleeds;
- back pain;
- dry eyes;
- chapped lips;
- dry skin.
Rare side effects may include:
- hallucinations;
- problems with your hearing;
- pain in your bones or joints or in your back;
- sudden numbness or weakness;
- bloody or tarry stools;
- seizure (convulsions);
- rectal bleeding;
- dizziness;
- severe diarrhea;
- severe headaches;
- jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes);
- thoughts about hurting yourself;
- feeling aggressive or irritable;
- dark urine;
- changes in behavior;
- pain when swallowing;
- crying spells;
- chest pain;
- severe stomach pain;
- muscle weakness;
- purple skin rash that spreads;
- sleep problems;
- burning in your eyes;
- feeling light-headed or short of breath;
- swelling in your face or tongue;
- fever (high temperature);
- pale skin.
Contraindications
To make sure that this medication is safe for you, tell your healthcare provider if you have:
- type 2 diabetes;
- a history of mental illness;
- osteoporosis or low bone mineral density;
- asthma;
- an eating disorder, like anorexia;
- liver disease;
- an intestinal disorder like – ulcerative colitis or inflammatory bowel disease;
- high LDL cholesterol;
- a food or drug allergy;
- heart disease.
Alcohol
You should avoid or limit drinking alcoholic beverages while taking this medication since alcohol can substantially increase the risk of side effects.
Drug Interactions
It may negatively interact with other medications, especially:
- Celexa (citalopram);
- acetaminophen;
- clindamycin topical;
- Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine);
- Flonase (fluticasone nasal);
- Adderall XR (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine);
- levocetirizine;
- Advil (ibuprofen);
- icy hot;
- Norco (acetaminophen/hydrocodone);
- Ambien (zolpidem);
- ProAir HFA (albuterol);
- bupropion;
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine);
- clindamycin;
- Wellbutrin (bupropion);
- clonazepam;
- lamisil;
- zolpidem;
- doxycycline;
- Wellbutrin XL (bupropion);
- hydroxyzine;
- Tylenol (acetaminophen);
- ibuprofen.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Do not breastfeed while taking this medication because it is excreted in human breast milk and may negatively affect the infant. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding before you take this medication.
This medication should be avoided by pregnant women since birth defects and premature births may occur.
Also, a program called iPLEDGE has been set up to make sure that pregnant women do not take this medication.
Accutane
It is the brand name of a drug called isotretinoin, which belongs to a group of drugs known as retinoids. It works by preventing oil production in glands under the skin.
This medication is produced by Hoffmann La Roche, a Swiss multinational healthcare company. The US Food and Drug Administration first approved this medication in 1982.
Uses
This prescription medication is typically used to treat the most severe form of acne, called nodular acne.
READ MORE: Loryna vs Gianvi
Dosage
The initial recommended dose is usually 40 mg per day for 2-4 weeks. The recommended maintenance dose is 1mg/per kg per day.
Side Effects and Precautions
Side effects may include:
- dryness of the mouth, nose, lips, or skin;
- back pain;
- changes in the fingernails or toenails;
- joint pain;
- sudden numbness or weakness;
- cracking or peeling skin;
- feeling dizzy or nervous;
- seizure (convulsions);
- trouble concentrating;
- ringing in the ears;
- thoughts of hurting yourself;
- hearing loss;
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
- sleep problems;
- clay-colored stools;
- hallucinations;
- dark urine;
- depressed mood;
- bloody or tarry stools;
- changes in behavior;
- loss of appetite;
- aggression or agitation;
- a sudden and severe headache;
- rectal bleeding;
- blurred vision;
- crying spells;
- bone pain or fracture;
- hearing problems;
- peeling and red skin rash;
- fast heart rate;
- joint stiffness;
- severe diarrhea;
- easy bruising or bleeding;
- severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to the back;
- severe blistering;
- purple spots under your skin.
Contraindications
To make sure you can safely take this medication, tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these other medical conditions:
- type 2 diabetes;
- a personal history of depression or mental illness;
- asthma;
- high LDL cholesterol levels;
- an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa);
- high triglycerides;
- liver disease;
- heart disease;
- an intestinal disorder, like – ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease;
- osteoporosis.
Alcohol
You should avoid or limit drinking alcoholic beverages while taking this medication since alcohol can substantially increase the risk of side effects.
READ MORE: Vivarin vs Adderall
Drug Interactions
It may negatively interact with other medications, especially:
- Control (phenylpropanolamine);
- Abilify (aripiprazole);
- gabapentin;
- Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine);
- Klonopin (clonazepam);
- Ambien (zolpidem);
- Lexapro (escitalopram);
- amoxicillin;
- minocycline;
- biotin;
- metformin;
- doxycycline;
- Singulair (montelukast);
- ibuprofen;
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine);
- Lamictal (lamotrigine);
- Xanax (alprazolam);
- melatonin;
- Zyrtec (cetirizine);
- omeprazole;
- Zoloft (sertraline);
- Prozac (fluoxetine);
- phentermine.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Do not breastfeed while taking this medication because it is excreted in human breast milk and may negatively affect the infant. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding before you take this medication.
This medication should be avoided by pregnant women since birth defects and premature births may occur.
READ MORE: Vestura vs Gianvi
Bottom Line – Absorica vs Accutane
Absorica (active ingredient – isotretinoin) is a form of vitamin A that is used to treat severe nodular acne, which has not responded to other treatments. It works by reducing the amount of oil released by oil glands in the skin and helps your skin renew itself more quickly.
Accutane (active ingredient – isotretinoin) is a medication that is used to treat severe nodular acne. It works by reducing the amount of oil released by oil glands in the skin and helps your skin renew itself more quickly.
In conclusion, both medications have the same active ingredient but have a different brand name and inactive ingredients.
Regarding their price, the average retail price for Absorica is $1,820, while the average retail price for Accutane is $950.
READ THIS NEXT: No Doz vs Vivarin
References https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3970835/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2835909/