| Accutane Side Effects: Ulcerative Colitis Crohn's Disease Inflammatory Bowel Disease Severe Depression / Suicidal thoughts Birth Defects Liver Damage |
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| "When companies place profits over the people that they serve, we, as lawyers, should feel a special need to hold them accountable. Without accountability, there can be no positive change." Todd Kelly |
| Accutane Litigation |
Isotretinoin (trade name: Accutane) is a powerful drug used in the treatment of acne.
Four to five months of Accutane treatment usually leads to clearing of acne. It is a
potent medication that is very effective for nearly all types of breakouts. Accutane is
needed for moderate to severe acne that has failed other treatments. It should be used
for a severe, scarring acne. Is also used for acne present for many years that has not
respond completely to antibiotic pills and creams. While it has many side effects, in
some ways it is safer than long-term antibiotic usage. Most other acne-controlling
medicines are antibacterial agents, which are effective only if used daily. Over two
million people have taken this drug, so a lot is known about its safety and
effectiveness
Accutane is a naturally occurring derivative of vitamin A and is detectable in the
bloodstream of all people. Vitamin A in large doses has the same effects as Accutane,
both good and bad, but quickly becomes harmful since it builds up in the tissue.
(Important: Don't take any vitamin A while on Accutane). Accutane is formed
naturally in the body from the Vitamin A present in the bloodstream. This is why
large amounts of Vitamin A taken during pregnancy cause the same birth defects that
Accutane does. Fortunately, because it is a naturally occurring product, the body is
able to quickly remove Accutane from the bloodstream. It is gone from the blood
within nine days and has no lasting effect on future pregnancies.
Accutane "cures" about half of those people who take it so that they never need to do
anything else for acne. In the first few weeks of treatment, about one in five patients
gets a little worse, and one in 500 patients gets much worse. The rest either get much
better, or better for a while. There is nothing else in the world that comes close to
being this effective for severe acne. The usual patient takes it for 4 to 6 months, but
some need more and must be "retreated" for an additional 4 to 6 months.
Taking Accutane with food increases the absorption of the medicine. The more
Accutane one takes, the greater the chance of cure. Unfortunately, side effects depend
on the dose as well. At the lowest doses, there are almost no side effects at all. At the
highest, everyone get rather nasty side effects, which are related on the drying effects
on the oil glands. The dose needs to be adjusted to strike a balance between
effectiveness and side effects.
Side effects that are common are listed here. Chapped lips (90%), countered by a
using Vaseline or Aquaphor as a lip moisturizer, Dry skin and itching (80%) helped
by frequent moisturizer creams, Dryness of nose, mild nosebleed (80%), helped by
"AYR nasal gel", Irritation of the eyelids and eyes (40%), Joint and muscle pains
(15%), Temporary hair thinning (10%), Rash (7%), Intestinal symptoms (5%),
Urinary symptoms (5%), Headache (5%), Increased sensitivity to sun (5%),
Decreased night vision (<1%), Depression, thoughts of suicide (<1%).
Accutane may increase the level of blood fats, sometimes to risky levels. This reverts
back to normal when the drug is stopped. Occasionally it may affect the liver. That's
why regular blood tests are necessary during Accutane treatment. There is little risk
of any damage if these precautions are followed.
The most damaging side effect of Accutane is serious birth defects if taken during
pregnancy. It is critically important for women not to take Accutane while pregnant,
and not to become pregnant while taking it. Women who are, or might be, sexually
active while taking Accutane must use an effective method of birth control, of which
the birth control pill is the most effective. Birth control pills do rarely fail, so an
additional method of birth control such as a condom for the male partner or a
spermicidal foam or sponge is also needed. Because the birth defects caused by
Accutane are so serious, it's important not to share the pills with others.
Some people develop headaches while on Accutane. These respond to Advil or
Tylenol. If a persistent headache develops while on Accutane, the medication should
be stopped and the physician notified. Accutane has been reported to cause depression
and thoughts of suicide, though a recent study has not shown any correlation.
Extremely vigorous exercise should be avoided, as muscle aches can develop.
Four to five months of Accutane treatment usually leads to clearing of acne. It is a
potent medication that is very effective for nearly all types of breakouts. Accutane is
needed for moderate to severe acne that has failed other treatments. It should be used
for a severe, scarring acne. Is also used for acne present for many years that has not
respond completely to antibiotic pills and creams. While it has many side effects, in
some ways it is safer than long-term antibiotic usage. Most other acne-controlling
medicines are antibacterial agents, which are effective only if used daily. Over two
million people have taken this drug, so a lot is known about its safety and
effectiveness
Accutane is a naturally occurring derivative of vitamin A and is detectable in the
bloodstream of all people. Vitamin A in large doses has the same effects as Accutane,
both good and bad, but quickly becomes harmful since it builds up in the tissue.
(Important: Don't take any vitamin A while on Accutane). Accutane is formed
naturally in the body from the Vitamin A present in the bloodstream. This is why
large amounts of Vitamin A taken during pregnancy cause the same birth defects that
Accutane does. Fortunately, because it is a naturally occurring product, the body is
able to quickly remove Accutane from the bloodstream. It is gone from the blood
within nine days and has no lasting effect on future pregnancies.
Accutane "cures" about half of those people who take it so that they never need to do
anything else for acne. In the first few weeks of treatment, about one in five patients
gets a little worse, and one in 500 patients gets much worse. The rest either get much
better, or better for a while. There is nothing else in the world that comes close to
being this effective for severe acne. The usual patient takes it for 4 to 6 months, but
some need more and must be "retreated" for an additional 4 to 6 months.
Taking Accutane with food increases the absorption of the medicine. The more
Accutane one takes, the greater the chance of cure. Unfortunately, side effects depend
on the dose as well. At the lowest doses, there are almost no side effects at all. At the
highest, everyone get rather nasty side effects, which are related on the drying effects
on the oil glands. The dose needs to be adjusted to strike a balance between
effectiveness and side effects.
Side effects that are common are listed here. Chapped lips (90%), countered by a
using Vaseline or Aquaphor as a lip moisturizer, Dry skin and itching (80%) helped
by frequent moisturizer creams, Dryness of nose, mild nosebleed (80%), helped by
"AYR nasal gel", Irritation of the eyelids and eyes (40%), Joint and muscle pains
(15%), Temporary hair thinning (10%), Rash (7%), Intestinal symptoms (5%),
Urinary symptoms (5%), Headache (5%), Increased sensitivity to sun (5%),
Decreased night vision (<1%), Depression, thoughts of suicide (<1%).
Accutane may increase the level of blood fats, sometimes to risky levels. This reverts
back to normal when the drug is stopped. Occasionally it may affect the liver. That's
why regular blood tests are necessary during Accutane treatment. There is little risk
of any damage if these precautions are followed.
The most damaging side effect of Accutane is serious birth defects if taken during
pregnancy. It is critically important for women not to take Accutane while pregnant,
and not to become pregnant while taking it. Women who are, or might be, sexually
active while taking Accutane must use an effective method of birth control, of which
the birth control pill is the most effective. Birth control pills do rarely fail, so an
additional method of birth control such as a condom for the male partner or a
spermicidal foam or sponge is also needed. Because the birth defects caused by
Accutane are so serious, it's important not to share the pills with others.
Some people develop headaches while on Accutane. These respond to Advil or
Tylenol. If a persistent headache develops while on Accutane, the medication should
be stopped and the physician notified. Accutane has been reported to cause depression
and thoughts of suicide, though a recent study has not shown any correlation.
Extremely vigorous exercise should be avoided, as muscle aches can develop.
Accutane was pulled off the market in July of 2009. Read more HERE.