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For frequently asked questions on Roaccutane, click here.
If you are about to commence or have just been commenced on
Roaccutane, read on.
Before you leave the rooms
 | Collect the following documents from the secretary on your way
out: |
Your blood test form
An information booklet on Roaccutane
Roaccutane
Diary
The practice web address so that you could read the FAQ
page on Roaccutane in our web site.
| All female patients to read and sign consent form and to have a
negative pregnancy test before collecting script for Roaccutane |
| Make your follow-up appointment for one month.
| Go to the path lab to have your blood test taken.
| If you are taking your blood tests later (not on the same day as
your consultation), it is preferable to take it fasting ie. eat
nothing from 10pm the previous night and take the test in the
morning.
| If you belong to a medical aid which allows you to obtain
Roaccutane as a "chronic medication", bring in the forms
for completion, along with your prescription. The medical aid
takes about two weeks to authorise Roaccutane on such a plan.
Cost of filling Chronic Medication plan forms is R60-00.
| The medical aid sometimes requires a letter of motivation.
The cost of writing this letter is R60-00. Add R20-00 for one
photograph and R40 for two.
| Phone the rooms (265 1505) after one
week for your test results and to find out if you can start
Roaccutane. Please note that results are not phoned
through to patients, even if the results are abnormal.
| If the test results are normal, you will be advised accordingly by
the secretary. You may then start the Roaccutane.
| If the results are abnormal, your call will be put through to
doctor who will discuss the results with you and advise you
about the steps that are necessary to be taken subsequently.
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| Write you name and personal particulars requested
| Write the names of the months in the spaces provided
| Fill in your weight.
| Insert one tick for each capsule taken.
| Indicate the start of each new box (N)
| Indicate the date of blood tests (B)
| Indicate the date of your visits (V) |
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Some of the information, eg side effects etc. may be recorded on the
reverse of the page.
At each visit, the following will be checked.
| Starting date of Roaccutane
| Number of boxes completed (20mg x 60)
| Number of months completed
| Total number of capsules taken to date
| Side effects |
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| Please bring your diary along at each visit.
| You will need to mention the above details on your follow-up
visit. |
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Follow up visits
| During you follow-up visit in
one month, a clinical assessment will be made of your acne, side
effects will be enquired about and ways of dealing with them will be
discussed. Your diary will also be checked.
| If all is well, you will be called back once a month until the end
of your treatment.
| However, if you have any problems in between, you may phone in or
send an e-mail, or make a booking to come in personally. |
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How long will treatment be administered for?
| Roaccutane is discontinued once a total dose of 120-150mg/kg is
reached. The total dose is calculated during your follow up
visits. The length of time that Roaccutane is taken varies
between individuals. On average, the duration of treatment is
4 to 6 months. |
How to calculate your dosage and
duration of treatment
Each box of Roaccutane contains 60 capsules (each capsule being
20mg).
weight in kg
|
dosage
|
no. of boxes
|
duration of treatment in months
|
| upto 40 |
1 capsule twice a day |
4 |
4 |
| 41-50 |
1 capsule twice a day |
5 |
5 |
| 51-60 |
1 capsule twice a day |
6 |
6 |
| 61-70 |
1 capsule twice a day |
7 |
7 |
| 71-80 |
1 capsule twice a day |
8 |
8 |
| 81-90 |
1 capsule twice a day |
9 |
9 |
| 1 capsule three times a day |
9 |
6 |
| 91-100 |
1 capsule twice a day |
10 |
10 |
| 2 capsules twice a day |
10 |
5 |
The starting dose varies around 0,5 mg per kg and can be stepped up
depending on how well the medication is tolerated.
| Blood tests are usually requested at the start of treatment, after
one month and at the end of treatment. However, additional
tests may be requested between these times, depending of the results
and response to treatment.
| If the second blood test is not entirely normal, you may need to
have blood tests performed monthly and the dosage of Roaccutane may
need to be adjusted.
| If the blood test is completely abnormal, you may be asked not to
start the Roaccutane. In this case, an alternative medication
may need to be chosen. |
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| Tests taken include: AST, ALT,
Bilirubin, Triglycerides and Cholesterol. These tests are best
taken fasting (no eating or drinking from 10pm the previous night).
However, if it is not convenient to take the bloods fasting, they
may be taken at any time, provided you realise that they may need to
be repeated fasting if abnormal. |
Take 10mg Prednisone (2 x 5mg tablets) daily for two weeks. If
the acne settles, stop the Prednisone. If not, continue for a
further two weeks.
For frequently asked questions on Roaccutane, click here.
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