Taking a higher dose of isotretinoin (otherwise known as Accutane) could save you from needing a second course later on, according to a research letter in the August 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Researchers looked at a group of 102 people who had taken isotretinoin for at least 4 months consecutively. What they found was that taking a higher dose of isotretinoin didn't lower the chance of acne returning at some point. Those who took a higher dose were just as likely to have an acne relapse as people who took a lower dose.
The difference was those who took the higher dose of isotretinoin were less likely to need a second course of the medication. So, even if acne came back, it seems it wasn't as severe or could be controlled with other medications.
This was only a look at a very small group, so more research still needs to be done.
Of course, this doesn't take into account the side effects of isotretinoin. This medication can cause severe dryness, birth defects (if taken during pregnancy), and has recently come under fire for possibly causing inflammatory bowel disease. Taking a higher dose can increase your chance of developing side effects.
Isotretinoin often can clear acne even when every other medication has failed. But it should only be used to treat very severe, stubborn cases. Your doctor can tell you if isotretinoin is an option for you, or prescribe another medication that is a better treatment fit for your acne.
Source: Coloe J, Du H, Morrell DS. "Could higher doses of isotretinoin reduce the frequency of treatment failure in patients with acne?" J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011 Aug;65(2):422-3.
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