I took accutane in the late 90's for nodular-acne that I acquired in my late teens and early twenties... The dermatologist told me that it was the best. I took a moderate dosage for 6 months. During that period, I had to visit the doctor every month for blood-tests, try to stay out of the sun as much as possible, and run through a tube of lip-balm a week... because the stuff will completely dry you out from head to toe. There is nothing glamorous about Accutane - it works wonders, but it sucks while you are on it. It made me really depressed too... In fact, a year or two after I got off of Accutane, I heard about some law-suits of kids committing suicide and their parents blaming the Glaxo... I was never suicidal, but I did not want to go out in public for the first 3 or 4 months on the stuff.
If Accutane is your last resort, then by all means use it... Try other avenues if possible. It's not like taking a vitamin, so be smart about it.