What is Absorbica?
Absorbica is a brand name formulation of isotretinoin, an oral retinoid medication used to treat severe recalcitrant nodular acne—it is NOT ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel (which are combined oral contraceptive pills). The question appears to contain an error in its expanded context.
Isotretinoin (Absorbica) Overview
Absorbica is isotretinoin, a systemic retinoid that works by reducing sebum production, normalizing keratinization, and decreasing inflammation in severe acne cases that have not responded to other treatments including oral antibiotics 1.
Isotretinoin formulations like Absorbica are reserved for severe recalcitrant nodular acne when other therapies have failed, as it carries significant risks including teratogenicity (severe birth defects) 1.
Critical Safety Considerations
Pregnancy Prevention Requirements
All patients of childbearing potential must use two forms of contraception simultaneously starting one month before treatment, during treatment, and for one month after discontinuation due to extreme teratogenic risk 1.
Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are commonly prescribed as one form of contraception for women taking isotretinoin, with ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel being a frequently used option 1.
Contraceptive Options for Isotretinoin Users
Progestin-only contraceptives may worsen acne and should generally be avoided in patients being treated for acne vulgaris 1, 2.
COCs containing ethinyl estradiol 30-35 μg with levonorgestrel or norgestimate are appropriate first-line contraceptive choices for adolescents and women requiring contraception while on isotretinoin 1.
The Pearl index for ethinyl estradiol 20 μg/levonorgestrel 100 μg is 0.88 pregnancies per 100 woman-years, demonstrating high contraceptive efficacy 3.