Acne Medications (Oral)

Oral isotretinoin for acne: what to know before ordering

This category holds the oral retinoids used for acne. Isotretinoin is stocked at 5MG, 10MG, 20MG and 40MG capsules under a range of brands, with oral tretinoin also carried. These are the treatments used when topical preparations and oral antibacterials have not been enough, and they work on all four drivers of acne at once: oil production, follicle blockage, bacteria and inflammation. That is why they are as effective as they are.

What a course actually involves

Courses run for months rather than weeks, and treatment is usually planned around a cumulative total rather than a fixed end date. Most people get worse before they get better, with a flare in the first weeks that is expected rather than a sign of failure. Dryness is near universal: lips, eyes, nose and skin, often needing lip balm and eye drops throughout.

Pregnancy: the critical point

The critical point is pregnancy. Isotretinoin causes severe birth defects, and that risk is not small or theoretical. Anyone who could become pregnant needs reliable contraception before, during and for a period after treatment, along with pregnancy testing, and this is precisely why the medicine is normally managed under close medical supervision with a monitoring programme around it. Do not take it, or share it, without that in place.

Monitoring, and what to avoid during treatment

Beyond pregnancy, liver enzymes and blood lipids are monitored during treatment, alcohol is limited, and vitamin A supplements are avoided since the medicine is a vitamin A derivative. Tetracycline antibacterials are not combined with it. Waxing, laser and dermabrasion are deferred until well after treatment ends, as the skin is fragile. Mood changes have been reported and are worth raising promptly.

If a course is interrupted

If a course is interrupted, resuming is a conversation with the doctor supervising it rather than a matter of simply carrying on, since the cumulative total is what the plan is built around.

Sourcing, expiry dates and delivery

Every listing shows the molecule, strength and capsule count, with the guaranteed minimum expiry date. All stock ships from India through licensed distributors.