As such, it’s normally used as a last resort option for patients with severe acne that hasn’t healed using other treatments. But, as we know, with great power comes great responsibility. If you experience any of these side effects while using isotretinoin, it’s important to seek immediate medical assistance.In general, while the most common side effects of tretinoin and isotretinoin and both fairly mild, isotretinoin has a larger and more serious range of potential side effects. A week before really looking into retinoic acid's mechanism a girl I was seeing was having troubles with wrinkles on her face, so I suggested she can have my bottle of isotretinoin, as I, of course, wasn't using it.I guessed that it would be safe and wasn't too sure if it had given me anxiety since I had really attributed the earlier panic attack to the pregnenelone. If you have acne that does not respond to non-pharmaceutical creams and washes, daily use of tretinoin is likely to be an effective treatment.Studies show that tretinoin results in a significant improvement in acne symptoms. Indicated vs. Off-Label Use of Topical Retinoids Indicated uses: Acne Vulgaris Tretinoin (Retin-A ®, Retin-A Micro ®, Avita ®). Tretinoin comes in a range of forms, the most popular of which are topical cream and gel. With oral retinoids, there may be a possible risk of disorders such as depression and anxiety. I'll be (and hopefully my friend) will discontinue taking isotretion. Since 1995, topical tretinoin has also been FDA approved for use in reducing signs of aging on the face caused by sun damage [source: Lutz]. I finally (after doing a lot of research) learned about retinoic acid's (RA) effect on the central nervous system.Isotretinoin is the only non-psychotropic drug in the FDA's top 10 list of drugs associated with depression. Our You can also learn more about how to use tretinoin to improve your skin and reduce the signs of aging in our guides to using tretinoin for This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The most common side effects of tretinoin are dry skin, irritation and skin peeling. So, in the showdown between tretinoin vs. isotretinoin, who should you side with? However, because there's currently no type of topical isotretinoin, it's important to remember using it will affect your entire body, as opposed to the spot treatments offered by tretinoin. Tretinoin is a form of vitamin A that helps the skin renew itself.. Tretinoin topical (for the skin) is used to treat acne, to smooth rough facial skin, and to reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles and mottled skin discoloration.. Tretinoin topical may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. It’s sold under a variety of brand names, including Retin-A and Renova. In rare cases, isotretinoin has been linked to suicidal thoughts.Rare side effects of isotretinoin also include joint and muscular pain, stomach pain and digestive issues, fever, pain while swallowing and changes to hearing and vision. This means that tretinoin should be enough to reduce your acne and improve your facial skin to a level with which you’re happy, assuming your acne isn’t extremely severe.For more severe acne, your doctor might suggest using isotretinoin. They are two of the most effective, widely used medications on the market for treating acne, but time and time again, people ask us which one is better.Despite their similar names and purpose, tretinoin and isotretinoin are very different drugs. Studies have shown in 67% of patients that didn't have psychiatric problems before use of isotretion, their usual depression effects went away after stopping using it after a few months. It can also cause a dysregulation of neurotransmitters in striatum and hippocampus (in particular the It has shown to induce a significant reduction in activity of the orbitofrontal cortex (a brain region associated with depression).