Women taking isotretinoin should be informed of the drug's side effects with their health a primary focus and a potential embryo's health a secondary focus, but not be forced to take unrelated medicines.
Upon its initial release many women were not informed of isotretinoin's teratogenic effects. Currently the opposite extreme is being taken - the program iPledge requires women to jump through hoops to obtain their medication. However, doctors have noted iPledge has not been shown to be any more effective at decreasing birth defects than a simple warning is. The only decrease has been in a woman's ability to obtain medication in a timely manner without invasion of privacy. Women taking this drug have higher IBS incidence, linked to the unnecessary hormone BC women are required to take