Name brand oral isotretinoin used to treat severe inflammatory acne. Accutane first became available in 1982.
A derivative of vitamin A, Accutane worked by shrinking sebaceous glands, reducing the number of pore blockages and breakouts. Although Accutane use came with a host of side effects, it was a very effective treatment especially for those whose acne wasn't responding to other medications.
Accutane was taken off the market in June 2009 after its maker, Roche Holding AG, decided it was no longer financially feasible to continue making the drug. The drug company had been losing sales to generic versions of Accutane since they were introduced in 2002.
Generic versions of Accutane are still available, and include generic isotretinoin, Amnesteem, Claravis and Sotret.
