Accutane Effects and Side Effects
Accutane (generically known as Isotretinoin) is a synthetic form of Vitamin A used to treat severe acne or recalcitrant cystic nodular acne.
Accutane works by shrinking the skin's oil glands and decreasing the amount of oil they release. It is taken in capsule form daily and used by millions of people worldwide.
Side effects of Accutane can be serious and can appear after even short-term use of the drug. Furthermore, Accutane can stay in a person's system for a long period after medication has been stopped.
Among the side effects associated with Accutane are: inflammatory bowel disease, hearing impairment, hypertension, pancreatitis, osteoprosis, hepatotoxcity, bone fractures, psychiatric problems, liver damage and kidney damage. Further problems include damage to the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, and the auto-immune system.
In addition to all these side effects, women who are pregnant while taking Accutane or shortly after taking Accutane run a risk of having a baby with serious birth defects. Such birth defects include brain disorders and problems with the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Isotretinoin (the generic form of Accutane) is in FDA pregnancy category X meaning that it is known to cause severe birth defects in an unborn baby as well as causing miscarriage, premature birth or death of the baby.
Patients on Accutane may also suffer from depression, psychosis, and suicidal tendencies while on Accutane. As of 2000, the FDA had learned of more than 65 suicide incidents and over 1,300 psychiatric problems experienced by Accutane users. In 1999 the FDA requested Accutane's label be changed to reflect the risk of suicide.
Accutane is manufactured by Hoffman-LaRoche and has been on the market since 1982.
Accutane News
[ ACCUTANE: NBC4] Aug-22-07: New creams are replacing Accutane, which medical experts say can cause dangerous side effects -- from depression to birth defects.
[ ACCUTANE: InjuryBoard] Jul-09-07: New Jersey jury awards $2.619 million to a man who claimed the acne drug Accutane caused his inflammatory bowel disease.
[ ACCUTANE: Madison St. Clair News ] Feb-22-07: Accutane case comes to court as victim claims the drug caused him to develop Crohn's Disease, an ulcerative or inflammatory disease of the bowel.