What is the Typical Dosage of Accutane? Accutane is a wax-based caplet pill that is taken orally every day. The usual recommended dose of Accutane is 1 milligram per kilogram of body weight daily. For example, a 160 pound male will take approximately 80 milligrams per day. The recommended dosage is split into two Accutane treatments per day and must be taken with a meal due to the likelihood of the drug causing stomach nausea. Pills are typically available in doses of 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg and 40 mg.The duration of a course of Accutane is typically 15 to 20 weeks but may last up to 6 months at most. Approximately 85% of patients reported a clearing of their acne or skin problems after one course of treatment. Others may require a second course after a short break.
What if I miss a scheduled dosage?
If a patient misses taking one of the daily dosages, it is important that they do not try to catch up doses or double up doses at the next scheduled treatment time. They should simply skip that dose and continue with regular treatment intervals.
Taking more than the recommended dosage of Accutane at one time can introduce too much of the drug into the system at once and cause problems such as:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Warmth or tingling under the skin
- Swelling of the lips, and
- Loss of balance or coordination
If you have overdosed on Accutane it is important that you seek emergency medical treatment immediately.
To date, approximately 5,000 lawsuits have been filed against the maker of Accutane by people with side effects including Bowel Inflammation or Irritation, Crohns Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Birth Defects, Hair Loss or Blindness.