Accutane
Accutane (generic isotretinoin) is a powerful oral retinoid used for severe, treatment-resistant acne. It works by shrinking sebaceous glands and reducing sebum production, helping normalize abnormal keratinization (clogging), and reducing inflammation—hitting multiple drivers of acne at once.
“Post-Accutane syndrome” (sometimes also discussed as post-retinoid sexual dysfunction) is the community term for symptoms that persist after stopping isotretinoin, often including sexual and neuropsychiatric complaints. Some regulators and safety reviews acknowledge concerns about sexual and psychiatric side effects that may continue after discontinuation, and safety updates have discussed reports of sexual dysfunction events. In the research/clinical discussion around enduring sexual dysfunction syndromes, isotretinoin is sometimes grouped alongside SSRIs (PSSD) and finasteride (PFS) as conditions with reported overlap in persistent sexual symptoms. For people who already have PFS/PSSD, many communities consider isotretinoin “high-risk” for flares/worsening based on anecdotal reports and symptom overlap
Crash Anecdotes:
My Personal Risk Ranking:
Extreme Risk of Permanent Worsening (for PFS/PSSD/PAS):
If you currently have PFS/PSSD/PAS, these substances may carry an extreme risk of worsening symptoms—potentially in a lasting way—and is best avoided.