Acnex 20 Capsule

Reviewed By Dr. Mekhala Chandra, MD, MBBS

Last updated on 09 Feb 2026 | 03:40 PM (IST)

Acnex 20 Capsule belongs to a group of medicines called retinoids (vitamin A derivative). It is used to treat severe acne that has not responded to other treatments.

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₹137 MRP ₹149.538% off

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Acnex 20 Capsule is currently sold out

Same composition alternative:

Isotroin 20 Capsule

₹449~~₹519.6~~

Available alternative from Cipla

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Acnex 20 Capsule

strip of 10 soft gelatin capsules

₹137

~~₹149.53~~

Same composition

Isotroin 20 Capsule

strip of 15 soft gelatin capsules

Isotretinoin (20mg)

by Cipla Ltd

Get in 30 mins

₹449

₹25.47 per unit

₹382

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₹1200

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General Information

Contains

Isotretinoin (20mg)

Marketer

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Storage

Store below 25°C

The content is shown in English

Product introduction

Acnex 20 Capsule should be used in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Take it with or without food, preferably at the same time each day to avoid a missed dose. It may take several weeks for your symptoms to improve but keep taking the medicine regularly to get the most benefit. If you notice no improvement after a few weeks, see your doctor again.

The most common side effects include dry skin, rash, and increased liver enzymes. They are not usually serious and often disappear after getting used to the medicine but if they bother you or do not go away, tell your doctor.

Acnex 20 Capsule may make you more sensitive to sunlight so you should limit your exposure to the sun. It may also make your skin more fragile. Avoid any waxing (hair removal), or laser treatments during treatment. Additionally, it may cause dryness of the mouth, lips, and eyes so drink plenty of water and use a moisturizer. This medicine may lead to birth defects, do consult your doctor if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy.

Uses of Acnex Soft Gelatin Capsule

Treatment of Acne

Benefits of Acnex Soft Gelatin Capsule

Treatment of Acne
Acnex 20 Capsule helps treat acne by reducing the production of sebum (a natural substance) that causes acne. This kills acne-causing bacteria and prevents spots or pimples from appearing. It usually takes a few weeks to have a noticeable effect so keep taking it even if it appears not to be working. Sometimes acne may get worse before it gets better, however, with proper use, your skin will get clearer. This medicine will help improve your mood and uplift your confidence as your skin becomes acne-free.

Side effects of Acnex Soft Gelatin Capsule

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Acnex

Increased liver enzymes
Rash
Dry skin

How to use Acnex Soft Gelatin Capsule

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Acnex 20 Capsule may be taken with or without food.

How Acnex Soft Gelatin Capsule works

Acnex 20 Capsule is a derivative of vitamin A. It acts on glands (sebaceous) to reduce the production of a natural substance (sebum) that causes acne. Also, the controlled sebum production kills acne-causing bacteria. It also works as an anti-inflammatory to decrease inflammation (redness and swelling).

All substitutes for Acnex 20 Capsule

For information purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicine.

Quick tips

You have been prescribed Acnex 20 Capsule for the treatment of severe acne.
Take it with food.
Avoid exposure to sunlight while using Acnex 20 Capsule. Use protective measures such as sunscreen or protective clothing.
Avoid face waxing and laser treatment while using this medicine as it makes your skin more fragile.
It may cause dryness of mouth, lips, and eyes. Drink plenty of water, use moisturiser and avoid wearing contact lenses. Inform your doctor if it bothers you.
Do not take Acnex 20 Capsule if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Safety advice

Alcohol

CAUTION

Alcohol should be used with caution while taking Acnex 20 Capsule.

Pregnancy

UNSAFE

Acnex 20 Capsule is highly unsafe during pregnancy. It can cause serious harm to the unborn baby, including birth defects and pregnancy loss. Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

Breast feeding

UNSAFE

Acnex 20 Capsule is unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Data suggests that the drug may cause toxicity to the baby.

Driving

UNSAFE

Acnex 20 Capsule may cause temporary visual disturbances. Do not drive until your vision is clear.

Kidney

CAUTION

Acnex 20 Capsule should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment may be needed.

Liver

UNSAFE

Acnex 20 Capsule is unsafe to use in patients with liver disease and should be avoided.

Interaction with drugs

Taking Acnex with any of the following medicines can modify the effect of either of them and cause some undesirable side effects

Severe

Doxycycline (Oral Route)

Do not consume Isotretinoin with Doxycycline.

Severe

Demeclocycline (Oral Route)

Do not consume Isotretinoin with Demeclocycline.

Severe

Doxycycline (Oral Route)

Do not consume Isotretinoin with Doxycycline.

Severe

Doxycycline (Injection Route)

Do not consume Isotretinoin with Doxycycline.

Severe

Lymecycline (Oral Route)

Do not consume Isotretinoin with Lymecycline.

Frequently asked questions

Is Acnex 20 Capsule safe to use?

Acnex 20 Capsule should be used with care since it is associated with significant adverse reactions. It should be used only for patients with severe nodular acne who are unresponsive to conventional therapy, including systemic antibiotics. In addition, Acnex 20 Capsule should not be used by pregnant women because it can cause severe birth defects.

Is Acnex 20 Capsule a steroid?

No, Acnex 20 Capsule is a retinoid (vitamin A) which is used to treat severe types of acne.

What are the recommended tests during Acnex 20 Capsule therapy?

Your liver enzymes and serum lipids will be checked before the treatment is started. These levels will also be monitored 1 month after the start of treatment and subsequently at 3 monthly intervals unless more frequent monitoring is clinically indicated.

Is the effect of Acnex 20 Capsule permanent?

It has been observed in many patients that a single 15-20-week course effectively cures the condition and prevents it from coming back. If at all a second course is required, one should wait for at least 8 weeks after completion of the first course. This is because experience with Acnex 20 Capsule has shown that the symptoms in the patients with acne may continue to improve following treatment with Acnex 20 Capsule.

Why is Acnex 20 Capsule so dangerous during pregnancy?

If pregnancy occurs during treatment with Acnex 20 Capsule then, there is an extremely high risk that the baby may be born with severe birth defects.

Can Acnex 20 Capsule cause cancer?

No, there are no reports of Acnex 20 Capsule causing cancer. In fact, it may be useful in some forms of head, skin, and neck cancers.

What are the long-term side effects of Acnex 20 Capsule?

A normal course of treatment of Acnex 20 Capsule is 15–20 weeks. Therefore, the long-term effects of low doses have not been studied. However, it may have some effect on bone mineral density. It may decrease bone mineral density in some patients, resulting in osteoporosis or fractures.

Does Acnex 20 Capsule affect male fertility?

No, Acnex 20 Capsule does not affect the fertility of male patients. No significant effects were seen on ejaculate volume, sperm count, total sperm motility, morphology, or seminal plasma fructose.

Does Acnex 20 Capsule damage your liver?

There may be a transient increase in liver enzymes with Acnex 20 Capsule use. Therefore, regular laboratory tests are required. These values generally return to normal after some time. If the levels remain elevated for a long time, your doctor may discontinue the use of Acnex 20 Capsule.

Fact Box

Chemical Class

Retinoids

Habit Forming

Therapeutic Class

DERMA

Action Class

First-Generation Retinoids

References

Robertson DB, Maibach HI. Dermatologic Pharmacology. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 1056.
Burkhart C, Morrell D, Goldsmith L. Dermatological Pharmacology. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. p. 1812.
Sardana K, Madan A. How to Treat Acne. Sardana K, editor. In: Clinical Approach to Acne Vulgaris. 1st ed. New Delhi: CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt. Ltd.; 2015. pp. 64-67.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 745-47.
Isotretinoin. Nutley, New Jersey: Roche Laboratories Inc.; 2002. [Accessed on 2 Apr. 2019] (online) Available from:
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). [Accessed 03 Apr. 2019] (online) Available from:
Central Drugs Standard Control Organization. Safety guidelines for isotretinoin. 2018. [Accessed 05 Jul. 2023]. (online) Available from:
Isotretinoin [Prescribing Information]. East Windsor, NJ: Aurobindo Pharma Ltd.; 2024 [Accessed 19 Jan. 2026]. (online). Available from:

User feedback

Patients taking Acnex 20 Capsule

Once A Day

82%

Twice A Day

10%

Alternate Day

Thrice A week

Twice A Week

What are you using Acnex Soft Gelatin Capsule for?

Acne

97%

Others

How much was the improvement?

Average

58%

Excellent

29%

Poor

12%

What were the side-effects while using Acnex 20 Capsule?

Cracked lips

32%

Dry skin

32%

Dry nose

16%

No Side Effect

11%

Dry eye

How do you take Acnex Soft Gelatin Capsule?

With food

81%

With or without food

19%

Please rate Acnex 20 Capsule on price

Expensive

52%

Average

40%

Not Expensive

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Disclaimer

Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.

Marketer details

Name: Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Address: Off. Ashram Road, Ahmedabad - 380 009., Gujarat, India

Vendor Details

Country of origin: India

Lab tests offered by us

Why we need a prescription?

Acnex 20 Capsule

Save more with additional offers

Save more with additional offers

General Information

Contains

Marketer

Storage

Product introduction

Uses of Acnex Soft Gelatin Capsule

Benefits of Acnex Soft Gelatin Capsule

Side effects of Acnex Soft Gelatin Capsule

How to use Acnex Soft Gelatin Capsule

How Acnex Soft Gelatin Capsule works

All substitutes for Acnex 20 Capsule

Tretin-Iso 20 Capsule

RESOten 20 Capsule

Ibitret 20mg Soft Gelatin Capsule

Lacne 20 Softgel Capsule

Zipac 20mg Soft Gelatin Capsule

Quick tips

Safety advice

Alcohol

Pregnancy

Breast feeding

Driving

Kidney

Liver

Interaction with drugs

Doxycycline (Oral Route)

Demeclocycline (Oral Route)

Doxycycline (Oral Route)

Doxycycline (Injection Route)

Lymecycline (Oral Route)

Frequently asked questions

Is Acnex 20 Capsule safe to use?

Is Acnex 20 Capsule a steroid?

What are the recommended tests during Acnex 20 Capsule therapy?

Is the effect of Acnex 20 Capsule permanent?

Why is Acnex 20 Capsule so dangerous during pregnancy?

Can Acnex 20 Capsule cause cancer?

What are the long-term side effects of Acnex 20 Capsule?

Does Acnex 20 Capsule affect male fertility?

Does Acnex 20 Capsule damage your liver?

Fact Box

Chemical Class

Habit Forming

Therapeutic Class

Action Class

References

User feedback

Patients taking Acnex 20 Capsule

What are you using Acnex Soft Gelatin Capsule for?

How much was the improvement?

What were the side-effects while using Acnex 20 Capsule?

How do you take Acnex Soft Gelatin Capsule?

Please rate Acnex 20 Capsule on price

Want to know more

Have issue with the content

Disclaimer

Marketer details

Vendor Details

Lab tests offered by us

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