Psychiatric Adverse Events in Patients Taking Isotretinoin

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In this review of 17,829 psychiatric adverse event associated with isotretinoin use reported to the US FDA between 1997 and 2017, depressive disorders (42.3%), emotional lability (16.6%), and anxiety disorders (13.5%) were most common. These adverse events occurred most often in the 10- to 19-year-old age group (52.5%).

In 2009 and 2010, the rate of completed suicides in patients taking isotretinoin was 8.4 and 5.6 per 100,000 patients, respectively, which was lower than that for the general US population during those years (11.8 and 12.1 per 100,000 individuals in 2009 and 2010, respectively). Other reported events included insomnia, self-injurious behavior, and psychotic disorders. The authors suggest a screening tool such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 to screen for depression at each monthly visit for all patients on isotretinoin therapy.

– Caitlyn Reed, MD

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Benjamin Hidalgo-Matlock
Skin Care Physicians of Costa Rica

Clinica Victoria en San Pedro: 4000-1054
Momentum Escazu: 2101-9574

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