Ya happened to contradict yourself... you said you were looking for non-biased info but asked for personal experiences from people. Regardless I hit some of the drug sites I go to when I pull a strange pill out of my pocket... Me and drugs.... lol
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Isotretinoin
(eye soe tret' i noyn)
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Acne is caused by inflammation of the skin. It primarily affects teenagers, but it also affects adults. Severe acne causes permanent scarring of the skin. The inflammation is caused in part by an increased secretion of sebum (oily substance) from glands in the skin (sebaceous glands). The sebum provokes inflammation, and the inflammation resolves (heals) with the formation of a scar (keratinization). The exact mechanism of action of isotretinoin is not known; however, it may reduce acne by reducing the secretion of sebum. If less sebum is secreted it is likely that there will be less inflammation and keratinization. The Food and Drug Administration approved isotretinoin in 1982.
The most common side effects of isotretinoin are dry skin, itching, dry nose, nosebleeds (epistaxis), cracks in the corners of the mouth (chilitis), dry mouth, and inflammation of the whites of the eyes. Joint aches also are common. Patients may develop an increase in blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Psychiatric problems such as depression, hallucinations and suicidal behavior have been reported. Rare side effects include skin infections, peeling, sun sensitivity, hearing impairment and hepatitis. Rarely, isotretinoin can cause brain swelling (pseudotumor cerebri or intracranial hypertension), which produces nausea, vomiting, headache, and changes in vision.
Isotretinoin is in a class of drugs called retinoids. Retinoids are a class of compounds consisting of four isoprenoid units joined in a head-to-tail manner. All retinoids may be formally derived from a monocyclic parent compound containing five carbon-carbon double bonds and a functional group at the terminus of the acyclic portion. To avoid confusion with previously used names in this field no parent hydrocarbon is named.
Retinoids are a class of Vitamin-A derivatives, some of which show antipsoriatic activity in topical or oral (systemic) forms. Do not confuse these drugs with 'normal', dietary Vitamin A, which can be deadly in large doses. Retinoids are not Vitamin A, and there is little evidence that taking massive quantities of Vitamin A will have any effect on psoriasis.
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Any allergies?
Isotretinoin, a retinoid, is available as Accutane in 10-mg, 20-mg and 40-mg soft gelatin capsules for oral administration. Each capsule contains beeswax, butylated hydroxyanisole, edetate disodium, hydrogenated soybean oil flakes, hydrogenated vegetable oil, and soybean oil. Gelatin capsules contain glycerin and parabens (methyl and propyl), with the following dye systems: 10 mg - iron oxide (red) and titanium dioxide; 20 mg - FD&C Red No. 3, FD&C Blue No. 1, and titanium dioxide; 40 mg - FD&C Yellow No. 6, D&C Yellow No. 10, and titanium dioxide. Chemically, isotretinoin is 13-cis-retinoic acid and is related to both retinoic acid and retinol (vitamin A). It is a yellow to orange crystalline powder with a molecular weight of 300.44.
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(Too much info to paste here)
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