Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 10)
(Newest replies first)

I have a son that took accutane 60 mg a day for six months in a row three years ago. Now after many trips to doctors over strange medical problems, it seems accuatne is the culprit medication that has caused servere joint and muscle pain, severe dry lips, redness in face, eye infections of own immune system attacking itself, systems of osteoarthritis in both shoulders, both wrist and right hand, blood in stool, possible hair loss, abnormal liver function test results in AST and ALT. My son went from being a high school football and track athlete while taking this medication three years ago to someone that is in constant pain just washing a car. After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne. All one has to do is look online what vitamin A overdose does to someone and then you have the results of what this medication has done to my son. This drug needs to be taken off them market ASAP and the drug companies that make it need to compensate all teenagers that they have possible ruined their future. Shame on them! What is going on here?

REPLY

REPORT

Please make an appointment with a bioidentical hormone specialist. I believe that the medication caused andropause largely destroys the testosterone your body and organs make. Low testosterone causes mostly the same affects we've all had. Headache, nausea, flu symptoms, lethargy, fatigue, not concentrating, muscle loss, loss of strength, digestion and libido. I went in and the doctor was great!! Super enthusiastic and really listened to my and my problems. I got blood work done quick then came in and he put a small cut on the top of my butt and put the pellets in so they time release and absorb better than gels or creams and no annoying needles every day. Please gives this a try. Or read the book Testosterone for Life. Check it out it may change your life!! I'm on day 4 and I'm less moody, my head and back and joints don't hurt, digestion is improving. Thank you!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

May I start by offering my condolences to all of you that have had your life's ruined by this poison, in a way it makes me glad to know I'm not alone but sick because I know your suffering. For the last year my life has been horrific. I've had numerous health problems, complications and overall deterioration since taking this and the shock of dealing with it all concluded in me trying to kill myself last week, and so I'm now locked in a psychiatric unit. In the space of a year I've lost 20 kilos which I assume is from the chronic dehydration that crept up on me, I've had dry itchy burning skin all over, pain in all joints to a point where I feel as if I've been hit by a truck, constipation, bloated bladder, flushed thin skin, hair loss, fatigue and crippling weakness, horrific blurred vision accompanied by itchy dry eyes, headaches, nausea, tinnitus, brain fog and that's without going on about black baggy eyes wrinkles, circulation that's that bad my feet swell hands and back swell. It's devastating to think that just because I wanted to improve my self esteem and trusted a professional doctor my life is now destroyed, I feel as if my body is aged to a point of no return, my mum and dad try to understand but they can't fully, I mean how can they, they're not in my body and never will be. It's a surreal feeling of waking up everyday and been trapped, been repeatedly punished for a mistake you made, not just been punished physically but mentally, everyday thinking what if and blaming yourself. It bothers me when I here of Sick and twisted people that rape and murder children, steal from the elderly, kill drink driving, get addicted to coke for years and still never have to suffer like we have and continue to, Scott if you read this I would like to find a way of communicating with your son I am 20 and feel that it would be greatly beneficial to speak to someone who understands this hell, and to anyone please let me know a way of communicating with someone. For the last 6 months I have continually thought about the life I used to lead and it makes me happy to know at least I spent that time doing things that made me happy I no longer can I just wish I had cherished those moments for longer. Lately I've found myself thinking about having children or settling down in the future it bothers me because these are things I know I will miss out on in the future, no woman will want a crippled aged partner to start a family with, who can't play games with their children or work to provide for them, I can't even go in the sun, in fact I'm barely able to function, it really is ironic isn't it that the reason we took this drug was to feel free and now we are trapped forever, I'm sorry if I'm been negative I just can't see myself lasting 5 years not in this suffering its in humane. My heart bleeds when I read your pain, my love to all, Liam

REPLY

Was this helpful? 5

I have the same question. My 17 y.o. started Accutane and just finished day six. Dr. started him at 80 mg/day which pharmacist said "seems a little high". By day four he had the flaking skin, scalp dry lips and glazed looking eyes. By day five his eyes were both pink. We had read all the literature and assumed these were "normal" side effects that we were willing to take on /endure. By chance, my son had an eye appt. today - routine - no eye problems - it had just been a long time and thought we should get his eyes examined during summer break. Dr. said he has cataracts in both eyes and said he would stop Accutane immediately; that my son was not a good candidate for it. I am so grateful we had that appt. today - otherwise, we would have continued with the Accutane, not even knowing the risk re: exacerbating cataracts... Eye Dr. said he'd "never seen anything like it". He wants to see my son in another 3 months. Said there is probably a congenital reason, but he would not take a chance with Accutane. I called the dermatologists office and only got to speak with an assistant who said the Dr. told her that my son "would not be experiencing any side effects this early after only 6 days on generic Accutane". BUT... no apology or concern shown at all that there is published info re: accutane and cataracts. We were not aware of this at all. The assistant said the Dr. would call us - we never heard a peep from her. So, now I'm wondering just how it will take to get this poison out of my son's system as well... He is handling this so well - He is so tired of the cysts/acne, but agreed that taking Accutane just isn't worth it... Not from all that we've read (and yet the dermatologist pushed and pushed for it, telling us how she even put her own son on it... Well, good for her. I'd rather love my sweet boy as he is with a face full of acne than know his health is in jeopardy or that he may have life-long side effects from this drug. WHY are they even allowed to prescribe this???

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

Yes! After going through an awful 6 month round of accutane i now have the worst stomach issues ever. It seems some days no matter what i eat i have severe stomach pain & i go through a bottle of pepto in a matter of days! I am also dealing with going through early menopause & find that this is also linked to the drug. Anyone who has had to deal with the physical & emotional pain of acne knows that a cure sounds like a piece of heaven. However had i only known what i would go through after i may have quickly changed my mind. I personally think that it shouldnt even be offered as an option. Even knowing some of the side effects the temptation to be free from acne clouds really thinking the side effects through. I mean after all we all pretty much think "that can't happen to me". I've learned the hard way that if it says a 1% chance guess what... someone had to be the 1% & it might be you! Again the side effects i am now experiencing i had no idea about! Not a clue! It is good to know that i am not alone in this!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

As I read other posts here, I see several other side effects I now suffer, including intestinal problems and tinitus.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Don't take it ever...it messed me up

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I can't believe you were put on that high a dose, your derm should be in jail. Seriously, f*** this drug and scum who push on young people while lying about its safety. Something must be done about this poison.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 5

Hello Everyone,

It was 6 years ago as of yesterday I remember starting this post in such an emotional wreck over concerns for my son that developed blood in his stool on his 6 month of treatment with Amnesteem (generic Accutane). Although Ryan will never have the health he had before being prescribed this poisonous drug, the response from everyone on here has help me cope and educate me to be able to be here for my son as much as a parent could be. The remarks left by others who have lost their child to suicide and have shared their story's of their love ones have brought me to tears many times along with the hopelessness some feel after we have found out we have been no more than a guinea pig for BIG PHARMA to make billions from these drugs. For those of you reading this post for the first time, please take a deep breath and read some of the remarks left by some that have very helpful remarks with that will help you along this very unexpected unwanted physical and emotional journey. May God Bless !

REPLY

Was this helpful? 10

I took the generic form of Accutane (Claravis) in 2010. I suffered the usual side effects while on it dry lips, sensitive skin, joint/muscle pain. The dermatologist prescribed 1.5 mg/kg/day with a cumulative dosage of 270 mg/kg for 6 months for a few pimples behind my ears. The dermatologist reassured me over and over that all of the side effects were temporary. Within one month of stopping, I developed digestive problems, dry hair, dry skin, deep wrinkles, ankle pain, back pain, shoulder pain, fatigue, tinnitus, early periods, basically accelerated aging. All of these side effects are still here with me today and don't look to be "temporary" anymore. I just found out that I am post-menopausal based on my latest blood work. There is no reason to go through premature menopause that I can think of except...oh yea this chemo treatment that I was given for a few pimples back in 2010. Unbelievable, this treatment ruined any chance of having my own child. The effects of this drug are worse than acne. Acne doesn't cause joint pain, digestive problems, dry skin/hair, hair loss, brittle nails, accelerated aging, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, low libido, erectile dysfunction, infertility, osteopenia, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases, etc. Acne doesn't kill your organs, your colon, your ovaries. This drug kills!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 11

Melissa, I took isotretinoin when I was sixteen. Within a couple of months of taking it, I too was diagnosed with aplastic anemia and had to go through a bone marrow transplant. I'm very sorry to hear that your son did not have a successful outcome. I'm 2 years post transplant and luckily healthy. I'd be interested in hearing from you about what happened to your son, and any research into isotretinoin-induced aplastic anemia you may have carried out. Sorry if this brings up bad memories.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

My daughter was on accutane for a year in 2008 and now is disabled. She is 21 and has severe joint and muscle pain and swelling, rashes, iritis, fatigue, at times neuropathy.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

Hi, I took this drug 20 plus years ago and nowhere on the literature did it say if you take there may be a risk of getting ulcerative colitis later on in your life, im 34 now, and had my bowel removed 3 years ago, with no chance yet of a reversal. It's only recently since the company roche had one legal case after another filed against them, that they removed the drug in the US and started to warn people of the more serious side effects. I for one believe this drug is dangerous otherwise why else would they now be getting patients to sign before taking it, I wish I had been given the the warnings now available to this generation. There should be a lawyer to take on cases such ad mine but as of yet I haven't found one. Please someone let me know if you know of one, as I feel I'm owed something from the company that turned a fit and healthier marathon runner / personal trainer into a former shadow of himself.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 6

Yes, accutane is devastating to all the mucosal membranes in the human body, it dries and cracks those tissues systemically. Accutane is a retinoid. Have you ever put a retinoid on your skin? Can you imagine taking this internally in pill form? Accutane goes after the intestines (chrons, colitis, Inflammatory bowel disease all were in litigation), bladder (interstitial cystitis and chronic).

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I also now have geographic tongue. It took me a long time to realize that it began just after finishing a course of roaccutane I took 24 years ago.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

There are 2 generics on the market since Roche took accutane off the market around the time of the litigation in 2009. Google accutane/generics and look for pics.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I recently met someone who is 38, mom of 2. She took accurate two different times and it caused her to have interstitial cystitis, same as me. When are we going to get a class?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Not to burst your bubble buuuuutttt the serious long term effects don't take hold until later down the line after you've been off it for awhile. If it was that bad then yes it can be a good thing but only as long as you are aware of all the long life side effects and for many it created other problems that are much worse than acne. Speaking from experience 10 years after last dose. Best of luck

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I'm 20 I'm on my 4th month of accutane, I started at 20 and went to 40,60, now 80 this month,Im very active and workout and play ball a lot. I've had lots of dryness, and it seems recovery takes longer but I always heal. Really it's all about trade offs, the only thing wrong with my appearance is my acne which isn't terrible it just won't go away. starting 4 months in, my skin is looking better than it has in 3.5-4 years. I have just a few blemishes here and there but I deffinetly feel better about myself already. Before you take this medicine you ask yourself, is it worth it? The way you feel about your appearance directly affects your life especially in this day and age. If you treat your body well, your body Will treat you well, eat healthy, exercise, get plenty of rest and drink plenty of water. Not many people experience these health risks, but through my eyes clearing my acne is worth that risk, what good is a healthy life when you will always have that insecurity in your head? You just have to keep your head up and stay positive, cause honestly folks, what's the difference in putting this medicine in your body and smoking/dipping? At least this has a good cause! They make you aware of the side effects before you take it, risk benefit ratio

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

My son 13 was on accutane for 6 months. Stupidly we the parents assumed this drug like most other casual drugs on the market like ibuprofen will have some side effects which will go away once the 6 month treatment is done.

We are now 2 months past the day my son took the last pill, and the symptoms of itchiness all over his body persist, very harshly so. He has scrapped off his skin in many places on his body due to severe itching. Today he is also reporting joint pain in his finger joints which he didn't have before. This is what triggered me to start researching this side effects topics. Yikes! Had I seen this page before I would have stopped his treatment asap or never let it happen.

Apparently my wife was asked to sign a waiver to start this treatment which I need to examine shortly. Our mistake - it was brushed off casually by us to help improve our son's life from acne, which seems like a bargain compared to what we are seeing now as the side effects..

REPLY

Was this helpful? 5

Does isotretinoin has any other shape like white tablets? i am wondering because most of the acne clinic in my country doesn't say much about the drugs name and what it is for . i was prescribed this but i have no idea what kind of drugs is it .

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I had Harvoni treatment last spring. I am not the same. My nervous system is a wreck. My anxiety problems have increased...

263 REPLIES

What are the long term effects of the brain and mood changes in people taking 30mg of oxycodone for years? Do they act w...

6 REPLIES

My wife has been using Nexito Plus for the past 4 years. She is doing good, but she feels sleepy in the morning time and...

3 REPLIES

my boyfriends complaining after taking large dosages prescribed by doctors for sleep that he feels loss of sight, blurre...

3 REPLIES

My doctor just prescribed me Tramadol for a chronic back pain issue. If I take this med every night, will there be any l...

2 REPLIES

I have been taking clopidogrel 75mg + atorvastatin 10mg + metoprolol 10mg + telmisartan 40mg for the past 3 years since ...

1 REPLY

I am 41 yrs male.For the past one month occasionally one or two of my fingers move sideways without my control and then ...

1 REPLY

My father has been prescribed ecosprin 75 along with Dytor plus 10mg, prolomat XL and cardace 2.5 by a cardiologist. He ...

1 REPLY

I was just prescribed this medication by my doctor, because of irregular periods. For the past 2 years I have had my per...

1 REPLY

Folks, like everyone else who has started MULTAQ, I am having second thoughts about it's effectiveness. When I first...

1 REPLY