Drug & supplement interaction

Acupuncture + Isotretinoin

Isotretinoin brand names: Accutane, Amnesteem, Claravis, Sotret, Absorica, and others.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Acupuncture and Isotretinoin in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Acupuncture and Isotretinoin

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Isotretinoin and Acupuncture in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — research on Acupuncture alongside specific medications may be limited.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Acupuncture at all — not against Isotretinoin, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

Acupuncture is a treatment rather than something you take. Tell whoever provides it which medicines you use, and ask your prescriber whether it is appropriate for your health and treatment. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Acupuncture safety at a glance

Acupuncture overall Use caution Generally safe when performed by a licensed practitioner with sterile, single-use needles.

Pregnancy Possibly Safe When used appropriately at most acupoints and performed with sterile needles. Some clinical research shows that acupuncture has been used during pregnancy and l... Read the full pregnancy detail

Breastfeeding Possibly Safe When used appropriately at most acupoints and performed with sterile needles. Some clinical research shows that acupuncture has been used during pregnancy and l... Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Isotretinoin and Acupuncture? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Acupuncture and Isotretinoin May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so having Acupuncture while taking the medicine can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do. 5 of them are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

Fainting Worth acting on Additional detail
Acupuncture
“Fainting and dizziness have been reported rarely. Tiredness, transient sedation, and vasovagal shock have also been reported rarely. Numbness has been reported rarely. Crying and irritability have been reported.”

Acupuncture · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in vertigo.
6 sources cited

102639. Fan W, Kuang X, Hu J, et al. Acupuncture therapy for poststroke spastic hemiplegia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2020;40:101176. PubMed

102646. Zhang L, Tang Y, Hui R, et al. The effects of active acupuncture and placebo acupuncture on insomnia patients: a randomized controlled trial. Psychol Health Med. 2020:1-15. PubMed

103432. Qin X, Coyle ME, Yang L, et al. Acupuncture for recurrent urinary tract infection in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJOG. 2020.

103435. Fan SQ, Jin S, Tang TC, Chen M, Zheng H. Efficacy of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis: a trial sequential meta-analysis. J Neurol. 2020. PubMed

105403. Jang A, Brown C, Lamoury G, et al. The effects of acupuncture on cancer-related fatigue: updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Integr Cancer Ther. 2020;19:1534735420949679. PubMed

104723. Yang XY, Yang NB, Huang FF, Ren S, Li ZJ. Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021;20(1):9. PubMed
Isotretinoin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Isotretinoin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Chest pain Worth acting on Additional detail
Acupuncture
“Minor pain, swelling, and bruising have been reported with acupuncture in clinical trials.

Mishandling acupuncture needles can cause traumatic damage to the body. There have been case reports of epidural and subdural hematomas from improper acupuncture, resulting in paresthesia, hemiparesis, quadriparesis, and sensory deficit.”

Acupuncture · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in back pain.
6 sources cited

102626. Hou W, Pei L, Song Y, et al. Acupuncture therapy for breast cancer-related lymphedema: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2019;45(12):2307-2317. PubMed

102627. Yu S, Zhu L, Xie P, et al. Effects of acupuncture on breast cancer-related lymphoedema: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Explore (NY). 2020;16(2):97-102. PubMed

102628. He Y, Guo X, May BH, et al. Clinical evidence for association of acupuncture and acupressure with improved cancer pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Oncol. 2019;6(2):271-8. PubMed

102636. Hwang MS, Lee HY, Choi TY, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of acupuncture and electroacupuncture against chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(17):e19837. PubMed

102638. Wang L, Xu J, Zhan Y, Pei J. Acupuncture for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Biomed Res Int. 2020;2020:6972327. PubMed

102640. Zhang J, Liu Y, Huang X, et al. Efficacy comparison of different acupuncture treatments for functional dyspepsia: A systematic review with network meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:3872919. PubMed
Isotretinoin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Isotretinoin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Liver problems Worth acting on Additional detail
Acupuncture
“Nonsterile conditions during acupuncture or the use of nonsterile acupuncture needles can lead to infection. There have been case reports of mycobacterial infection, hepatitis B, necrotizing fasciitis, fatal acute peritonitis, fungal spinal infection, bilateral facet joint septic arthritis, skin infections with gordonia species, and subcutaneous or paravertebral abscesses following treatments which included acupunctu…”

Acupuncture · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in hepatitis.
6 sources cited

101374. Choi ME, Jung CJ, Won CH, et al. Case report of cutaneous nodule caused by Gordonia bronchialis in an immunocompetent patient after receiving acupuncture. J Dermatol. 2019;46(4):343-346.

101383. Glas AW, Jüttner AM, Kooter AJ. Necrotising fasciitis after acupuncture treatment in an immunocompetent patient. BMJ Case Rep. 2016;2016. pii: bcr2016216405. PubMed

101389. Kim D, Lee S. An autopsy case of fatal acute peritonitis complicated by illegal acupuncture therapy. Forensic Sci Int. 2017;276:e13-e15. PubMed

114215. Hyun MH, Kim JH, Jang JW, et al. Risk of Hepatitis C Virus Transmission through acupuncture: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Korean J Gastroenterol 2023;82(3):127-136. PubMed

114257. Yuan J, Goh AGW, Mohamed Shah MTB. Bilateral facet joint septic arthritis induced by acupuncture: A case report highlighting diagnostic challenges and the importance of early intervention. Am J Case Rep 2024;25:e944596. PubMed

114260. Yang R, Hu Y, Liu S, Wang H. Subcutaneous and paravertebral abscess following massage and acupuncture with cupping: A case report and literature review. Asian J Surg. 2024 Jun;47(6):2632-2634. doi: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2023.08.210. Epub 2023 Sep 7. PubMed
Isotretinoin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Isotretinoin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Bleeding or bruising Worth acting on Additional detail

Acupuncture

“Acupuncture, when used appropriately, is generally well-tolerated.

Most Common Adverse Effects:

Bruising, pain, and swelling.

Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):

Some case reports raise concerns about acute respiratory failure, circulatory failure, hemothorax, infection at the needle site, pneumocranium, pneumothorax, kidney laceration, and death.”

Acupuncture · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in pain.

Isotretinoin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Isotretinoin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
A higher chance of infection Worth acting on Additional detail

Acupuncture

Recorded for Acupuncture in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Bleeding or bruising above.

Isotretinoin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Isotretinoin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Mood changes or irritability / Drowsiness Additional detail

Acupuncture

Recorded for Acupuncture in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Fainting above.

Isotretinoin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Isotretinoin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Back pain Additional detail

Acupuncture

Recorded for Acupuncture in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Chest pain above.

Isotretinoin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Isotretinoin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Numbness or tingling Additional detail

Acupuncture

Recorded for Acupuncture in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Chest pain above.

Isotretinoin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Isotretinoin. Read the label on DailyMed ›
Joint pain Additional detail

Acupuncture

Recorded for Acupuncture in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Liver problems above.

Isotretinoin

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Isotretinoin. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Showing the 10 most notable of 16 shared effects — ranked by how unusual each one is, not just whether both lists mention it.

Reported for Acupuncture but not commonly for Isotretinoin: stomach upset, blood clots and shortness of breath.

Effects for Isotretinoin come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Acupuncture come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Where a percentage is shown, it is the share of 46,523 voluntary FDA FAERS reports for Isotretinoin that mention that effect — a reporting proportion, not an incidence rate and not evidence the drug caused it. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Possibly Safe

When used appropriately at most acupoints and performed with sterile needles. Some clinical research shows that acupuncture has been used during pregnancy and labor without reports of significant adverse effects. POSSIBLY UNSAFE...when acupuncture at the SP6 acupoint is used. There is some concern that this acupoint can increase the risk of early contractions and miscarriage. Most evidence also suggests that acupuncture is safe for patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). One large clinical study and a meta-analysis show that receiving acupuncture one or more times between follicle stimulation and pregnancy testing does not affect the pregnancy or live birth rate when compared with sham acupuncture or no intervention. However, a smaller study shows that acupuncture performed off-site immediately before and after IVF embryo transfer reduces the pregnancy rate by 21% when compared to no additional intervention. Use caution until more is known about the safety of acupuncture during IVF. There is insufficient reliable information available about the use of electroacupuncture or laser acupuncture during pregnancy; avoid using.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

From our Q&A

Questions About Acupuncture or Isotretinoin

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Acupuncture or Isotretinoin, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Is it Safe To Get A Tattoo While Using Accutane? Answered by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD · September 2022 ›

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Isotretinoin

This page covers Acupuncture only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Isotretinoin page lists 49 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Vitamin A (major), African Wild Potato (moderate), Alfalfa (moderate) and Angelica Archangelica (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 35 moderate · 12 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Isotretinoin page

“Vitamin A is the first thing anyone on isotretinoin (Accutane, Absorica, Claravis) should check their supplements for, because isotretinoin is itself a vitamin A derivative and stacking more on top can push levels into toxic range. It is one of two major-rated entries among the 49 supplements and herbs known to interact with this acne…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Isotretinoin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Acupuncture and Isotretinoin Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Acupuncture

Steady interest

#1,180 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Medication Isotretinoin

Top 5%

#43 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?

Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Acupuncture reference on this page ↓
Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Acupuncture and Isotretinoin records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.

Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS.

Treatment approach

About Acupuncture

What is Acupuncture?

Chronic pain
Low back and neck pain
Osteoarthritis (especially knee)
Headache and migraine
Nausea and vomiting
Stress and well-being

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. There is moderate evidence it may help certain types of chronic pain and nausea, while evidence for many other uses is weak or unclear. When done by a licensed, trained practitioner using sterile, single-use needles, it is generally considered safe for most people.

Not applicable (a physical therapy, not an herb or supplement) · Manual needling, electroacupuncture, ear (auricular) acupuncture, acupressure, laser acupuncture

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Acupuncture is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Acupuncture record says about it on its own.

Acupuncture: dosing

There is no standard "dose" for acupuncture the way there is for a pill. Treatment plans differ by practitioner and condition. If you are not seeing benefit after a reasonable trial, discuss whether to continue.

From our Acupuncture monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Acupuncture monograph & all interactions

Medication

About Isotretinoin

What Is Isotretinoin Used For?

Brand names: Accutane, Amnesteem, Claravis, Sotret, Absorica, Roaccutane

Isotretinoin is used to treat severe recalcitrant nodular acne — large, deep, inflamed breakouts (nodules 5 mm or bigger) that haven't cleared with conventional treatments like antibiotics. It is approved for non-pregnant patients 12 years of age and older. Brands include Absorica, Absorica LD, Accutane, Amnesteem, Claravis, and generic isotretinoin capsules.

Because of its serious potential side effects, isotretinoin is reserved for patients whose acne is truly severe and has not responded to other standard treatments. A typical course lasts 15 to 20 weeks, and many patients experience prolonged remission — sometimes permanent clearing — after a single course.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Isotretinoin

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (46,523 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Depression 5,609 reports

Inflammatory bowel disease 5,250 reports

Colitis ulcerative 3,800 reports

Dry skin 2,326 reports

Pregnancy 2,080 reports

See full Isotretinoin drug information

Keep checking

Other Drugs & Acupuncture

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Acupuncture — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major

0Moderate

0Minor

2,829No known interaction

2,829 No interaction

No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Acupuncture against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Acupuncture list.

See the full Acupuncture interactions page

See every supplement checked against Isotretinoin, ranked by severity

Evidence & sources

Acupuncture References

The 99 references that drive our Acupuncture monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Smith CA, Collins CT, Cyna AM, Crowther CA. Complementary and alternative therapies for pain management in labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006;(4):CD003521. PubMed
Smith, C., Crowther, C., and Beilby, J. Acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. Birth 2002;29(1):1-9. PubMed
Helmreich, R. J., Shiao, S. Y., and Dune, L. S. Meta-analysis of acustimulation effects on nausea and vomiting in pregnant women. Explore (NY) 2006;2(5):412-421. PubMed
Carlsson, C. P., Axemo, P., Bodin, A., Carstensen, H., Ehrenroth, B., Madegard-Lind, I., and Navander, C. Manual acupuncture reduces hyperemesis gravidarum: a placebo- controlled, randomized, single-blind, crossover study. J Pain Symptom Manage 2000;20(4) PubMed
Habek, D., Barbir, A., Habek, J. C., Janculiak, D., and Bobic-Vukovic, M. Success of acupuncture and acupressure of the Pc 6 acupoint in the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2004;11(1):20-23. PubMed
Guerreiro da Silva, J. B., Nakamura, M. U., Cordeiro, J. A., and Kulay, L., Jr. Acupuncture for low back pain in pregnancy--a prospective, quasi-randomised, controlled study. Acupunct Med 2004;22(2):60-67. PubMed
Hantoushzadeh, S., Alhusseini, N., and Lebaschi, A. H. The effects of acupuncture during labour on nulliparous women: a randomised controlled trial. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 2007;47(1):26-30. PubMed
Selmer-Olsen, T., Lydersen, S., and Morkved, S. Does acupuncture used in nulliparous women reduce time from prelabour rupture of membranes at term to active phase of labour? A randomised controlled trial. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2007;86(12):1447-1452. PubMed
Craig LB, Rubin LE, Peck JD, Anderson M, Marshall LA, Soules MR. Acupuncture performed before and after embryo transfer: a randomized controlled trial. J Reprod Med. 2014;59(5-6):313-20.
Smith CA, de Lacey S, Chapman M, et al. Effect of Acupuncture vs Sham Acupuncture on Live Births Among Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2018;319(19):1990-1998. PubMed
Choi ME, Jung CJ, Won CH, et al. Case report of cutaneous nodule caused by Gordonia bronchialis in an immunocompetent patient after receiving acupuncture. J Dermatol. 2019;46(4):343-346.
Domenicucci M, Marruzzo D, Pesce A, Raco A, Missori P. Acute Spinal Epidural Hematoma After Acupuncture: Personal Case and Literature Review. World Neurosurg. 2017;102:695.e11-695.e14. PubMed
Eghbal K, Ghaffarpasand F. An Acute Cervical Subdural Hematoma as the Complication of Acupuncture: Case Report and Literature Review. World Neurosurg. 2016 Nov;95:616.e11-616.e13. PubMed
Glas AW, Jüttner AM, Kooter AJ. Necrotising fasciitis after acupuncture treatment in an immunocompetent patient. BMJ Case Rep. 2016;2016. pii: bcr2016216405. PubMed
Jian J, Shao Y, Wan L, et al. Autopsy diagnosis of acupuncture-induced bilateral tension pneumothorax using whole-body postmortem computed tomography: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(44):e13059. PubMed
Kim D, Lee S. An autopsy case of fatal acute peritonitis complicated by illegal acupuncture therapy. Forensic Sci Int. 2017;276:e13-e15. PubMed
Narasimhalu K, Ting SKS, Lim SH. Post-acupuncture headache: an unfortunate case of an inadvertent lumbar puncture. Singapore Med J. 2018;59(10):557-558. PubMed
Oskarsson P, Walker CA, Leigh-Smith S. Bilateral pneumothoraces following acupuncture. BMJ Case Rep. 2017. pii: bcr-2017-221310. PubMed
Sanchez DR, Bradfield JS, Traina MI, Wachsner RY. Acupuncture Needle in the Heart. Tex Heart Inst J. 2017;44(6):426-428. PubMed
Shuang H, Yichun K. A case of perforating injury of eyeball and traumatic cataract caused by acupuncture. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2016;64(4):326-7. PubMed
Wigger O, Stortecky S, Most H, Englberger L. Cardiac perforation as a rare complication of acupuncture. Eur Heart J. 2016;37(17):1383. PubMed
Hou W, Pei L, Song Y, et al. Acupuncture therapy for breast cancer-related lymphedema: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2019;45(12):2307-2317. PubMed
Yu S, Zhu L, Xie P, et al. Effects of acupuncture on breast cancer-related lymphoedema: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Explore (NY). 2020;16(2):97-102. PubMed
He Y, Guo X, May BH, et al. Clinical evidence for association of acupuncture and acupressure with improved cancer pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Oncol. 2019;6(2):271-8. PubMed
Hwang MS, Lee HY, Choi TY, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of acupuncture and electroacupuncture against chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(17):e19837. PubMed
Wang L, Xu J, Zhan Y, Pei J. Acupuncture for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Biomed Res Int. 2020;2020:6972327. PubMed
Fan W, Kuang X, Hu J, et al. Acupuncture therapy for poststroke spastic hemiplegia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2020;40:101176. PubMed
Zhang J, Liu Y, Huang X, et al. Efficacy comparison of different acupuncture treatments for functional dyspepsia: A systematic review with network meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020;2020:3872919. PubMed
Huang Z, Liu S, Zhou J, Yao Q, Liu Z. Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for chronic discogenic sciatica, a randomized controlled sham acupuncture trial. Pain Med. 2019;20(11):2303-2310. PubMed
Garland SN, Xie SX, DuHamel K, et al. Acupuncture versus cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in cancer survivors: A randomized clinical trial. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2019;111(12):1323-1331. PubMed
Garcia MK, Meng Z, Rosenthal DI, et al. Effect of true and sham acupuncture on radiation-induced xerostomia among patients with head and neck cancer: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(12):e1916910. PubMed
Zhang L, Tang Y, Hui R, et al. The effects of active acupuncture and placebo acupuncture on insomnia patients: a randomized controlled trial. Psychol Health Med. 2020:1-15. PubMed
Mak TC, Chen HY, Cho WC. Acupuncture for overactive bladder in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupunct Med. 2019;37(6):321-331. PubMed
Foroughinia S, Hessami K, Asadi N, et al. Effect of acupuncture on pregnancy-related insomnia and melatonin: A single-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Nat Sci Sleep. 2020;12:271-278.
Pei L, Geng H, Guo J, et al. Effect of acupuncture in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. Mayo Clin Proc. 2020;95(8):1671-1683. PubMed
Qin X, Coyle ME, Yang L, et al. Acupuncture for recurrent urinary tract infection in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJOG. 2020.
Huang K, Liang S, Chen L, Grellet A. Acupuncture for tinnitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Acupunct Med. 2020:964528420938380. PubMed
Fan SQ, Jin S, Tang TC, Chen M, Zheng H. Efficacy of acupuncture for migraine prophylaxis: a trial sequential meta-analysis. J Neurol. 2020. PubMed
Zhong L, Wang J, Li F, Bao X, Liu H, Wang P. The effectiveness of acupuncture for dysphagia after stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:8837625. DOI
Yang XY, Yang NB, Huang FF, Ren S, Li ZJ. Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021;20(1):9. PubMed
Tu JF, Yang JW, Shi GX, et al. Efficacy of intensive acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2021;73(3):448-458. PubMed
Lee B, Lee J, Cheon JH, Sung HK, Cho SH, Chang GT. The efficacy and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018;2018:1057539. PubMed
Zhang Q, Gong J, Dong H, Xu S, Wang W, Huang G. Acupuncture for chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupunct Med. 2019;37(4):211-222. PubMed
Jang A, Brown C, Lamoury G, et al. The effects of acupuncture on cancer-related fatigue: updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Integr Cancer Ther. 2020;19:1534735420949679. PubMed
Weagle K, Henneberry RJ, Atkinson P. Pneumothorax Following Acupuncture. Cureus 2021;13(3):e14207. PubMed
Bäumler P, Zhang W, Stübinger T, Irnich D. Acupuncture-related adverse events: systematic review and meta-analyses of prospective clinical studies. BMJ Open 2021;11(9):e045961. PubMed
Yamaguchi R, Makino Y, Torimitsu S, Chiba F, Kihara Y, Iwase H. Fatal bilateral pneumothoraces after electroacupuncture treatment: A case report and literature review. J Forensic Sci 2021. PubMed
Pakravan F, Salehabad NH, Karimi F, Isfahani MN. Comparative Study of the Effect of Licorice Muco-adhesive Film on Radiotherapy Induced Oral Mucositis, A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Gulf J Oncolog 2021;1(37):42-47.
He M, Qin W, Qin Z, Zhao C. Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Med Res 2022;27(1):58. PubMed
Hullender Rubin LE, Smith CA, Schnyer RN, Tahir P, Pasch LA. Effect of acupuncture on IVF-related anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Biomed Online 2022;45(1):69-80. PubMed
Zhang J, Zhang Z, Huang S, et al. Acupuncture for cancer-related insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytomedicine 2022;102:154160. PubMed
Wan OYK, Cheung RYK, Law MPM, Lee LL, Wang RCC, Chan SSC. Effect of additional acupuncture to pelvic floor exercise on urinary incontinence: A randomized controlled trial. Neurourol Urodyn 2022;41(5):1097-1108.
Fan JQ, Lu WJ, Tan WQ, et al. Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Anxiety Among Patients With Parkinson Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2022;5(9):e2232133. PubMed
Lee B, Ko MM, Lee SH, Chang GT. Acupuncture for the treatment of childhood anorexia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med 2022;71:102893. PubMed
Han KH, Cho KH, Han C, et al. The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment on sciatica: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med 2022;71:102872. PubMed
Rotter G, Ahnert MW, Geue AV, et al. Acupuncture and osteopathic medicine for atopic dermatitis: a three-armed, randomized controlled explorative clinical trial. Clin Exp Dermatol 2022;47(12):2166-2175. PubMed
Hargreaves E, Baker K, Barry G, et al. Acupuncture for treating overactive bladder in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022;9(9):CD013519. DOI
Zhu C, Xia W, Huang J, et al. Effects of acupuncture on the pregnancy outcomes of frozen-thawed embryo transfer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health 2022;10:987276. PubMed
Stringer J, Ryder WD, Mackereth PA, Misra V, Wardley AM. A randomised, pragmatic clinical trial of ACUpuncture plus standard care versus standard care alone FOr Chemotherapy Induced peripheral Neuropathy (ACUFOCIN). Eur J Oncol Nurs 2022;60:102171. PubMed
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Jianyu Y, Haiyan LI, Dingyi X, Mingren C, Rixin C. Efficacy of acupuncture therapy for post-stroke fatigue: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. J Tradit Chin Med 2023;43(1):27-33.
Chen M, Xu Y, Fu X, Xie J, Cao X, Xu Y. Wrist-ankle acupuncture for the treatment of acute orthopedic pain after surgery: a meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res 2023;18(1):106. PubMed
Lyu J, Wang S, Zhang H, Liu S. Acupuncture-exacerbated pyoderma gangrenosum associated with IgG multiple myeloma. Wounds 2022;34(11):E108-E111. PubMed
Sun W, Zhao Y, Liao L, et al. Effects of acupuncture on age-related macular degeneration: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLoS One 2023;18(3):e0283375. PubMed
Kwak SG, Kwon JB, Seo YW, Choi WK. The effectiveness of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy to oral pharmacological medication in patient with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023;102(11):e33262. PubMed
Cheng TY, Chiu AW, Chen M. Kidney laceration after acupuncture and Tuina: A case report. Asian J Surg 2023;46(4):1667-1668. PubMed
Xu L, Tan X, Chen X, Du S, Yue X, Qiao D. Rare, fatal pulmonary fat embolism after acupuncture therapy: A case report and literature review. Forensic Sci Int 2023;345:111619. PubMed
Wang Z, Wang Y, Wang C, et al. Systematic review and network meta-analysis of acupuncture combined with massage in treating knee osteoarthritis. Biomed Res Int. 2022;2022:4048550. PubMed
Wu XK, Gao JS, Ma HL, et al. Acupuncture and doxylamine-pyridoxine for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy : A randomized, controlled, 2?×?2 factorial trial. Ann Intern Med 2023;176(7):922-933. PubMed
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Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Related: nutrient depletion

Isotretinoin Is Linked to Lower Levels of 4 Nutrients

Natural Medicines records Isotretinoin as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Acupuncture — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:

Read the full Isotretinoin nutrient depletion report ›

Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Having Acupuncture While Taking Isotretinoin: Common Questions

Is it safe to have Acupuncture while taking Isotretinoin?

We do not list a known interaction between Acupuncture and Isotretinoin. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.

Do Acupuncture and Isotretinoin have any of the same side effects?

Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 10 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.

Does Isotretinoin interact with any supplements?

Yes. Isotretinoin has documented interactions with 49 supplements in our database — Acupuncture is not one of them. The Isotretinoin interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.