What is Claravis and what does it do?
The medication Claravis® (isotretinoin) is prescribed to treat severe acne when
antibiotics are not effective. Acne occurs when the skin's oil-secreting glands get clogged
causing bacteria to grow in the pores and blemishes to form. Claravis® works by reducing the
amount of oil (sebum) produced by your glands and shrinks the size of the glands. Although
blemishes may worsen during the first two to three weeks of use, most people start to see
improvements in about a month and the full effect in 3-5 months. The drug is effective 60 - 65%
of the time.
Claravis® directions
Take the drug in doses by mouth two times a day with food or milk to increase the amount of
the drug absorbed into your body. Doses range from 15 to 75 mg depending on your weight and the
severity of your acne. Pregnant women or women trying to get pregnant should never take Claravis® because it carries the risk for miscarriage or serious birth
defects.
As a result of the risk of miscarriage and defects, each month, Claravis® prescriptions must be hand-written by a doctor for no more than
a 30-day supply. Each month, women taking Claravis must have a negative pregnancy test result.
Because of this procedure, the drug is not available online. To learn more about the Claravis®
dispensing procedures, visit the FDA Web site.
Learn more about acne in our Health Encyclopedia.
View acne products available
on Walgreens.com
If you're looking for more specific answers to specific questions, ask a Walgreens pharmacist here.
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