• Accutane is an extremely concentrated vitamin A derivative.pills image by Karol Grzegorek from Fotolia.com
  
  Accutane is the trade name for isotretinoin, a potent derivative of naturally occurring vitamin A. It is prescribed to patients who suffer from severe acne, and the four- to six-month pill-taking regimen is powerful enough to produce permanent results for roughly half of all Accutane users. Unfortunately, the potency of the drug can mean the onset of unpleasant side effects, and there is a short, but important, list of things that must be avoided while taking the medication.
  
  

Pregnancy Risks

• Large amounts of vitamin A in the bloodstream during pregnancy can cause birth defects, such as enlargement of the fluid-filled spaces in the brain, retardation, ear and eye deformities, cleft palate and heart defects. It is extremely important for women who are taking Accutane to use birth control to avoid a pregnancy during the course of treatment. For full prevention, the simultaneous use of birth control pills and condoms is recommended.
  
  Future pregnancies are not affected by past Accutane usage, as the medication is flushed from the body after nine days of treatment cessation.
  
  

Donating Blood

• Any blood donated by an Accutane patient will contain extremely high levels of vitamin A, which can cause birth defects in an unborn child if the donor recipient is pregnant. Even if the recipient of an Accutane-tainted blood donation isn't pregnant, unpleasant side effects can still occur, such as nausea, diarrhea, dry skin and lips, dizziness, joint pain and hair loss.
  
  Potential blood donors are screened by a nurse or physician before any blood is drawn, during which time the donor will be asked if she is taking any medications. Any individual taking Accutane will be refused as a blood donor until the treatment has ceased and the medication has had enough time to leave the donor's system.
  
  

Sunlight Exposure and Tanning Beds

• Accutane makes the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet-rays exposure, increasing the risk of sunburn and skin cancer. Patients should avoid long periods of time spent out in direct sunlight, as well as the use of tanning beds. Further precautions should be taken, such as covering up with clothing as much as is comfortable and wearing a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15 or higher on exposed body areas.