Pregnancy is an absolute contraindication for therapy with Acnecutane®.
If pregnancy occurs, despite warnings, during treatment or within a month after the end of therapy, there is a very high risk of a child with severe developmental defects.
Isotretinoin is a drug with a strong teratogenic effect. If pregnancy occurs during the period when a woman orally takes isotretinoin (at any dose and even for a short time), there is a very high risk of a child with developmental defects. Acnekutan® contraindicated in women of childbearing age, unless the condition of a woman meets all of the following criteria:
· she should have a severe form of acne, resistant to conventional methods of treatment;
· she must accurately understand and follow the doctor's instructions;
· she should be informed by the doctor about the dangers of pregnancy during treatment with Acnecutane®, within one month after it and urgent consultation in case of suspected pregnancy;
· she should be warned about the possible ineffectiveness of contraceptives;
· she must confirm that she understands the nature of precautions;
· she must understand the need and continuously use effective contraceptive methods within one month prior to treatment with Acnecutant®, during treatment and for a month after its end (see section "Interaction with other drugs"); It is desirable to use at the same time 2 different methods of contraception, including barrier;
· she should receive a negative result of a valid pregnancy test within 11 days before the drug is taken; a pregnancy test is strongly recommended to be performed monthly during treatment and 5 weeks after the end of therapy;
· she must begin treatment with Acnecutane® only on 2-3 day of the next normal menstrual cycle;
· she must understand the need for a compulsory visit to the doctor every month;
· when treating for a relapse of the disease, she should constantly use the same effective methods of contraception within one month before the beginning of treatment with Acnecutant®, during treatment and within a month after its completion, and also undergo the same reliable pregnancy test;
· she must fully understand the need for precautionary measures and confirm her understanding and desire to apply reliable methods of contraception, which the doctor explained to her.
The use of contraceptives in accordance with the above instructions during treatment with isotretinoin should be recommended even to women who usually do not use contraceptive methods due to infertility (except for patients who underwent a hysterectomy), amenorrhea, or who report that they do not have sex.
The doctor should be sure that:
· the patient suffers from severe acne (nodular-cystic, conglobate acne or acne with the risk of scarring); acne, not amenable to other types of therapy;
· a negative result of a valid pregnancy test was obtained prior to taking the drug, during therapy and 5 weeks after the end of therapy; the dates and results of the pregnancy test must be documented;
· the patient uses at least one, preferably two, effective methods of contraception, including the barrier method, within one month before initiating treatment with Acnecutant®, during treatment and for a month after its termination;
· the patient is able to understand and fulfill all of the above requirements for protection from pregnancy;
· the patient meets all of the above conditions.
Pregnancy test
In accordance with current practice, a pregnancy test with a minimum sensitivity of 25 mME / ml should be performed in the first 3 days of the menstrual cycle:
Before the start of therapy:
· To exclude a possible pregnancy before the application of contraception, the result and the date of the initial pregnancy test must be recorded by the doctor. In patients with irregular menstruation, the timing of the pregnancy test depends on sexual activity, it should be performed 3 weeks after unprotected intercourse. The doctor should inform the patient about the methods of contraception.
· The pregnancy test is carried out on the day of appointment of Acnecutane® or 3 days before the patient's visit to the doctor. The specialist should register the test results. The drug may be prescribed only to patients receiving effective contraception at least 1 month prior to initiating therapy with Acnecutant®.
During therapy:
· The patient must visit the doctor every 28 days.The need for monthly pregnancy testing is determined in accordance with local practice and taking into account the sexual activity preceding the menstrual cycle disorders. If there is evidence, a pregnancy test is conducted on the day of the visit or 3 days before the visit to the doctor, the test results must be recorded.
End of therapy:
· After 5 weeks after the end of therapy, a test is performed to exclude pregnancy.
Recipe for Accutane® a woman capable of childbearing can be discharged only for 30 days of treatment, continuation of therapy requires a new prescription of the drug by a doctor. It is recommended that a pregnancy test, a prescription and preparation be conducted on the same day.
If, despite the precautionary measures taken, during treatment with Acnecutane® or within a month after its termination, pregnancy nevertheless has come, there is a high risk of very serious malformations of the fetus.
When pregnancy occurs, Acnecutane therapy® terminate. We should discuss the expediency of maintaining a pregnancy with a doctor specializing in teratology.
Because the isotretinoin has a high lipophilicity, it is very likely that it enters the breast milk. Because of possible side effects of Acnecutane® can not be given to nursing mothers.
To male patients:
Existing evidence suggests that in women exposure to the drug that came from the semen and semen of men taking Acnecutane®, is not sufficient for the appearance of teratogenic effects of Acnecutane®.
Men should be excluded from the possibility of taking the drug by other people, especially women.