Does Accutane Cause Weight Gain?

Accutane (isotretinoin) is a prescription retinol medication used to treat severe acne. Unlike topical retinoids which are applied directly to the skin, Accutane is a pill taken by mouth. Accutane can help people with hard-to-treat acne that doesn’t respond to other treatments. 

Like all medications, Accutane can cause side effects. Common short-term side effects of Accutane are dry skin, chapped lips, and worsened acne. 

But does Accutane make you gain weight? Let’s take a closer look at how Accutane can affect your weight.

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Does Accutane make you gain weight?

 No. There’s no evidence that Accutane directly causes weight gain.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for evaluating prescription drugs to make sure they’re safe and effective. They also look at study data to determine possible side effects of medications. The FDA didn’t find that weight gain was a side effect of Accutane. 

Other researchers have looked into whether Accutane affects weight. One study showed that Accutane use wasn’t linked to any change in body mass index (BMI). Experts are still investigating how Accutane affects hormones that control appetite and weight — like leptin and insulin. 

What factors contribute to weight gain while taking Accutane?

There’s no direct link between taking Accutane and weight gain. But some people experience weight changes while taking Accutane. The question is: Does this have anything to do with the medication? 

Maybe. Let’s look at how certain side effects of Accutane could lead to weight gain. 

Fatigue 

Some people notice feeling more tired than usual when they start taking Accutane. One study found that about 3% of isotretinoin users experienced fatigue. If you feel more sluggish while taking Accutane, you might become less physically active. Over time, that could lead to weight gain.

Muscle aches

Muscle and joint pain is another possible side effect of Accutane. Up to 1 in 5 people who take Accutane experience muscle aches. This muscle pain is usually mild and goes away once treatment is over. But muscle aches can affect your desire to exercise and stay active. Reduced exercise or activity may cause you to gain weight.

Mood changes

It’s rare, but some people experience mood changes when taking Accutane. There are reports of Accutane users becoming depressed while on treatment. One analysis found that taking Accutane can increase the risk of depression. And depression may cause people to eat more than they normally would and move less. These factors can result in weight gain.

Changes in metabolism

Taking Accutane may affect metabolism — how the body processes the food you eat. Studies have shown that people often experience changes in cholesterol and blood sugar while on Accutane. The link between Accutane and metabolism is still being investigated. But some researchers think that Accutane may change the way that the body uses glucose, and that could impact weight.

Tips to help manage weight while taking Accutane

If your healthcare professional recommends Accutane, it doesn’t mean that you’re going to gain weight. Remember that weight gain on Accutane isn’t common, and there’s still no evidence that Accutane directly affects body weight. 

Here are things you can do to help manage your weight while taking Accutane.

Eat a nutritious diet

One study found that animals fed a high-fat diet while dosed with Accutane gained weight compared to those on a standard diet. Eating a balanced diet will help you to maintain your weight. For most people, a varied diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and unsaturated fats. 

Stay active

It’s hard to get motivated if your medications are making you feel tired. But light, non-strenuous activity can help you stay at a weight that is comfortable for you, and make you feel better. Rarely, high-intensity exercise while taking Accutane can cause muscle damage. See your healthcare professional if you have muscle pain on Accutane. 

Change to a lower dose of Accutane

If you’re gaining weight or having other side effects from Accutane, you may need to lower the dose. In some cases, it’s possible to treat acne with a lower dose of Accutane in order to reduce side effects. But if side effects are severe or don’t go away over time, it may be time to change the medication.

Talk to your prescriber 

At all times, you should be talking with your prescriber about the side effects on Accutane. Get in touch if you experience more than mild weight changes. Large shifts in weight may be a sign that something else is going on. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Jennifer Sample, MD

After a fellowship, Dr. Sample worked as the medical director at the University of Kansas Hospital Poison Center (The University Of Kansas Health System Poison Control Center), which served the state of Kansas for poison exposures. In 2007, she returned to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, as a consultant in clinical pharmacology and medical toxicology.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Christine Giordano, MD

Christine Giordano, MD, is board-certified in general internal medicine. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University.

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