To stay safe on your journey to recover from acne, it’s important to stay informed, follow your prescriptions carefully, and avoid alcohol. Accutane and alcohol should not be combined as this combination spawns numerous uncomfortable and even hazardous side effects. Since the substances are processed by the liver and have an impact on various body systems, using them in combination may result in an increased adverse effect of this or that substance. Not only can this affect your physical wellness, but it can also affect your mood, skin condition, and energy levels.
Monitoring Your Health During Accutane and Alcohol Use
5 If you’ve been taking this medication for some time, it has likely built up in your system, meaning it will take even longer to flush out. Alcohol can interfere with the medication’s absorption and metabolic process, potentially making Accutane less effective and delaying treatment results. Struggling with substance use or worried about how alcohol might be affecting your health while on Accutane? If you have persistent or severe acne problems, or have questions about Accutane therapy, contact Sanova Dermatology to schedule your appointment with one of our skin care experts.
Binge drinking or moderate drinking can lead to the severe side effects mentioned above. This is why it’s generally unsafe to drink alcohol while undergoing Accutane treatment. However, if you must drink, consume as little as possible and avoid dehydration. Accutane has some side effects, including dry skin, headaches, itching, nosebleeds, birth defects in pregnant women, and liver damage.
The drug is a retinoid derived from vitamin A, so the body reacts to the drug similarly to it. Because vitamin A is not water soluble, it can build up in your liver if you take too much of it. This is why drinking alcohol while taking Accutane increases the risk of liver damage. Abstaining from alcohol while taking isotretinoin can be tough, but it’s much harder if you binge drink or struggle with alcohol use disorder.
Worst Antidepressants to Mix with Alcohol
Both substances are metabolized in the liver, so combining them places extra stress on the organ, potentially leading to inflammation, elevated enzyme levels, and long-term damage. Have a transparent conversation with your provider before mixing Accutane and alcohol. Being honest allows them to guide you toward safer choices or even adjust your treatment plan if needed. The drug does have side effects, including those related to taking it along with alcohol use.
Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. In the event of a medical emergency, call a doctor or 911 immediately. This website does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Site. Reliance on any information provided by this website is solely at your own risk. Consumption of alcohol and being on Accutane enhances the chances of liver damage, elevated cholesterol levels, and even greater adverse reactions such as exhaustion, nausea, and altered moods. While Accutane may be a standard acne treatment, it comes with severe risks to your body if used improperly.
Accutane’s Overall Impact on the Body
Since it can complicate your liver’s health, it’s best to avoid mixing it with alcohol. It’s important to avoid alcohol, other vitamin A supplements, and certain medications like tetracycline antibiotics, corticosteroids, and other acne treatments. You should also avoid strong sunlight or tanning beds and cosmetic skin procedures. Your doctor can inform you on what to avoid while taking isotretinoin. Everyone metabolizes medications differently, so it’s impossible to say when the body has completely cleared them.
Mental Health Treatment
Like alcohol, Accutane is processed through the liver, so alcohol should be avoided entirely for the entire time you’re taking Accutane. If you’re still taking Accutane, don’t drink alcohol, regardless of when you took your last dose. If you’re taking Accutane, the brand name for isotretinoin, it’s important to avoid alcohol.
The increase isn’t permanent and once you stop taking Accutane your lipid levels decrease. However, unchecked high cholesterol levels can lead to pancreatitis. This is because both alcohol and Accutane affect the central nervous system’s neurotransmitters. Mixing the two substances can trigger a variety of mood issues. There’s a good reason that medical experts recommend abstaining from alcohol altogether while taking Accutane. Researchers estimate that Accutane remains in the body for over a week after a single dose.
The majority of doctors advise not taking any type of alcohol during the time you are under Accutane. In case you are not sure, you should consult your doctor on whether to drink or not. Accutane is a powerful drug, and your liver has to work hard to metabolize it. When you drink with Accutane, it is the same as giving your liver two jobs, which, in the long run, can bring about some degrading issues. Long-term use of alcohol, especially when it’s heavy, can irreparably damage the liver.
- Everyone reacts differently to combining alcohol with prescription drugs.
- You should also avoid strong sunlight or tanning beds and cosmetic skin procedures.
- One of the biggest potential side effects of Accutane is raising “bad” cholesterol and lowering “good” cholesterol.
- Like alcohol, Accutane is processed through the liver, so alcohol should be avoided entirely for the entire time you’re taking Accutane.
Mixing alcohol and Accutane increases the risk of liver damage, elevated triglycerides, and worsened side effects such as nausea, fatigue, and mood swings. The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment options. Everyone experiences acne once in a while, and most people manage fine with over-the-counter remedies.
- This side effect is not very common but does happen in a percentage of users.
- If you’re undergoing Accutane treatment, always talk to your healthcare provider or dermatologist before drinking.
- Along with knowing about possible interactions from alcohol use, there are a few other things to know about Accutane.
Accutane can have certain effects on the liver which, combined with alcohol, can become dangerous. Accutane alone can, in certain cases, damage the liver, so combining it with alcohol can increase that damage. Also a combination of alcohol and Accutane can cause major alterations in the lipids in one’s blood. what happens when you drink alcohol on accutane In some individuals, Accutane has been shown to cause elevations in blood cholesterol and triglycerides, a blood fat. However most patients see a decrease of those lipids to normal levels after the course of Accutane is completed. Physicians generally prefer that you not drink alcohol when you are on Accutane, particularly if your blood reports indicate that there may be early signs of liver stress.
How long does Accutane remain in the body?
Doctors typically only prescribe isotretinoin when all other treatments have failed and for moderate to severe acne cases. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. If you’re undergoing Accutane treatment, always talk to your healthcare provider or dermatologist before drinking.
