Washout Period for Pregnancy Post Isotretinoin Therapy

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND: Isotretinoin is an oral medication used for the treatment of severe acne unresponsive to other medications. This drug is teratogenic and should be prescribed with appropriate caution in selected group of patients. The washout period for pregnancy post isotrenoin therapy has always been a topic of controversy. Several guidelines have recommended a wash out period of one month if pregnancy is planned in a patient being administered with the drug. OBJECTIVE: This article discusses the available evidence for different recommended wash out periods and addresses important clinical questions that arise. METHODS: Pubmed research was carried out to collect relevant data using the keywords isotretinoin, pregnancy, contraception, pharmacokinetics and guidelines. CONCLUSION: Our research based on the published data concludes that a wash out period of 35 days post isotretinoin therapy is adequate in routine clinical practice.