Tret Ash 10 mg

For an appropriately assessed patient isotretinoin provides treatment for severe acne that has not improved sufficiently with other medicines. The aim is to control active lesions and reduce ongoing inflammatory damage.

Treatment benefits include the following.

• Reducing excessive skin oil production

• Reducing severe inflammatory acne lesions

• Treating acne that has resisted adequate standard therapy

• Limiting ongoing acne activity that contributes to new scars

Acne returns in some patients. Further treatment requires another clinical assessment.

Acne involves excess sebum and blocked follicles together with inflammation. Sebum is the skin's natural oil. When follicles become blocked the surrounding skin develops inflamed lesions.

Isotretinoin reduces the activity of sebaceous glands and lowers sebum production. It also helps reduce follicle blockage and inflammation. The changed follicle environment becomes less favourable for acne associated bacteria.

Improvement develops over time. An early flare occurs in some patients before acne begins to settle. A marked worsening needs review rather than a self directed change in dose.

Dry lips and dry skin are linked to the medicine's effects on oil production. Start the gentle skin care routine advised by your clinician.

Take Tret Ash 10 mg exactly as prescribed. Do not assume that the pack strength means one capsule daily. Your clinician decides the total daily dose and how it should be taken.

For conventional oral isotretinoin a common starting dose is 0.5 mg per kilogram of body weight daily. The usual dose range is 0.5 mg to 1 mg per kilogram daily. Lower doses are used for selected patients according to tolerability and clinical needs. These figures explain dose selection and are not instructions to calculate your own regimen.

The Asher product page advises swallowing the capsule whole with water and generally taking it with food. Follow the instructions on your supplied pack. Conventional isotretinoin is taken once or twice daily according to the prescription. Do not chew or open a capsule to divide its contents.

A course commonly lasts several months. The duration depends on response and the total treatment received. Do not stop because the first few lesions improve or extend the course using leftover medicine. Your prescriber decides when treatment is complete.

Liver function and blood fats are checked before and during treatment. Your clinician sets the testing schedule. Patients who can become pregnant need the required pregnancy tests and prevention plan.

Report new mood changes or sexual symptoms during follow up. If you miss a dose follow the leaflet or ask your pharmacist. Do not double the next dose. Seek urgent advice if you take more than prescribed. Never share capsules with someone else who has acne.

Dry lips and dry skin are common isotretinoin effects. Dry eyes and nosebleeds also occur. Some patients experience muscle or joint discomfort. Blood tests detect changes such as increased triglycerides or liver enzymes. Use a gentle moisturiser and lip balm. Ask a pharmacist about suitable eye drops if needed. Report troublesome symptoms and avoid driving when your vision is affected.

Stop treatment and seek urgent medical advice for a severe headache with nausea or vision changes. Severe abdominal pain or bloody diarrhoea also needs urgent assessment. Blistering or peeling skin requires prompt medical help. Seek emergency care for breathing difficulty or swelling of the face or throat. Report new depression or significant behavioural changes promptly. Thoughts of self harm need immediate help. Stop Tret Ash and contact your prescriber immediately if pregnancy occurs or is suspected.

Do not take isotretinoin if any of the following applies.

• Pregnancy or plans for pregnancy during treatment or within one month after stopping

• Breastfeeding

• Inability to follow the required pregnancy prevention measures

• Allergy to isotretinoin or another capsule ingredient

• Liver impairment

• Excessively high blood fat levels

• Excess vitamin A in the body

• Current treatment with tetracycline antibiotics

If you can become pregnant use the effective contraception agreed with your clinician for one month before starting. Continue throughout treatment and for one month after the last dose. Attend the required pregnancy tests.

Tell your clinician about previous depression or other mental health concerns. This needs assessment rather than automatically excluding treatment. Discuss kidney disease and significant food allergies too. Capsule excipients differ between products so check the actual ingredient list before use. Isotretinoin is not recommended for children younger than 12 or for acne before puberty.

Tell your prescriber about all medicines and supplements before starting. Include skin treatments bought without a prescription. Ask your pharmacist to check any new medicine during the course.

Important products to discuss include the following.

• Tetracycline antibiotics including doxycycline  and minocycline

• Vitamin A supplements

• Other retinoid medicines

• Strong exfoliating acne products

• Medicines that affect contraception

• St John's wort

Isotretinoin must not be combined with tetracyclines because of the risk of increased pressure inside the skull. Vitamin A supplements add to retinoid toxicity. Strong exfoliating treatments increase local irritation.

Avoid alcohol or follow the limit agreed with your clinician because treatment affects liver function and blood fats. Keep prescribed contraception in place. Do not stop another prescribed medicine yourself to manage an interaction. A pharmacist can review supplements and skin products before you add them.

Follow the storage directions on your supplied pack.

• Keep capsules in their original packaging until use

• Follow the temperature limit stated on the pack

• Protect the medicine from moisture and excessive heat

• Keep out of the reach and sight of children

• Check the expiry date before use

• Do not use capsules from damaged packaging

• Return unwanted or expired medicine to a pharmacy for safe disposal