Which safety check is correct when dispensing isotretinoin?

Which safety check is correct when dispensing isotretinoin?

• A. Check negative pregnancy test
• B. Allergy status
• C. Liver function
• D. Blood pressure

Answer: (A)

Isotretinoin is highly teratogenic, so the most important safety check before dispensing is confirming that the patient is not pregnant. A negative pregnancy test ensures there is no current pregnancy, which is essential to prevent fetal exposure at the start of therapy. In practice, this check is part of a broader risk-management plan that also emphasizes continued contraception and periodic testing, but the gating step for dispensing is verifying non-pregnant status. Allergy status, liver function, and blood pressure are relevant to overall safety and monitoring during isotretinoin therapy, but they are not the primary test that determines whether the medication can be dispensed at that moment.

Isotretinoin is highly teratogenic, so the most important safety check before dispensing is confirming that the patient is not pregnant. A negative pregnancy test ensures there is no current pregnancy, which is essential to prevent fetal exposure at the start of therapy. In practice, this check is part of a broader risk-management plan that also emphasizes continued contraception and periodic testing, but the gating step for dispensing is verifying non-pregnant status.

Allergy status, liver function, and blood pressure are relevant to overall safety and monitoring during isotretinoin therapy, but they are not the primary test that determines whether the medication can be dispensed at that moment.