What happens if you drink alcohol on Accutane?
Accutane can raise triglycerides and liver enzymes, which are monitored with blood tests. Increased alcohol intake is another risk factor for high triglycerides. The outcome and any monitoring change depend on the amount you drank, your health history, and your lab results; contact your prescriber or pharmacist after a large exposure or if symptoms or test results concern you.
If you already drank alcohol
Do not skip or change your next Accutane dose on your own. Keep taking it exactly as prescribed unless your prescriber changes the instructions.
Tell your prescriber or pharmacist if you drank a large amount, especially if you have a history of high triglycerides or liver disease or have been told that your blood tests are abnormal. They can decide whether your monitoring needs to change.
Before a fasting lipid test
Wait 36 hours after drinking alcohol before a fasting lipid test. Follow the timing instructions from the clinician or laboratory that ordered your test.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I already drank alcohol while taking Accutane?
Do not skip, double, or change your dose on your own. Take it exactly as prescribed, and contact your prescriber or pharmacist if you drank a large amount or are concerned about symptoms or lab results.
Does Accutane have one safe alcohol limit?
No. Increased alcohol intake is a triglyceride risk factor, so your prescriber must interpret alcohol use with your health history and lab results.
What should I do before a fasting lipid test?
Follow the ordering clinician’s instructions and wait 36 hours after drinking alcohol before the test.