What to do now

  1. Call the treating clinician. Tell your prescriber, on-call clinician, or doctor that you took one extra dose.
  2. Have the details ready. Give the product name, capsule strength, how many capsules you took, when you took them, and any symptoms.
  3. Get next-dose instructions. Ask the clinician whether and when to take the next scheduled dose. Do not try to compensate by taking any additional medication.
  4. Use Poison Control as a backup. In the United States, call 1-800-222-1222 or use its online tool if you took more than one extra dose, do not know how much you took, develop symptoms, or cannot reach a clinician promptly.

Possible symptoms after too much isotretinoin

U.S. prescribing information associates isotretinoin overdosage with vomiting, facial flushing, severely chapped lips, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, and loss of coordination. Report symptoms promptly when you call.

When to call 911

Call 911 if the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be awakened.

This is different from a missed dose

An accidental extra dose is not the same as forgetting one dose. Do not use missed-dose advice to manage an extra dose. See what to do after missing one Accutane dose.

Frequently asked questions

Should I wait to see whether symptoms appear?

No. Contact your prescriber or doctor now even if you feel well, and ask what to do about the next dose.

Should I take my next Accutane dose at the usual time?

Ask your prescriber or doctor. Whether to take the next dose at the usual time depends on the product, strength, and timing of the extra dose.

Sources

  1. DailyMed — Isotretinoin Capsules Prescribing InformationDailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine
  2. MedlinePlus — Isotretinoin Drug InformationMedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
  3. Poison Control — Get HelpPoison Control, National Capital Poison Center
  4. Poison Control — About webPOISONCONTROLPoison Control, National Capital Poison Center