Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 12)

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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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?

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Ws-Yeo, Sorry I couldn't give you a more direct answer. I am just a mom with lots of questions myself. You did take my advice and were very persistent. Good Luck. PurpleAnne: I wish our son mentioned it to each doctor he saw. We had no idea that he would have to mention an acne drug he took 6-7 years earlier. Almost seems you need to have a tattoo that says, Previous Accutane User...almost like a warning label. Really do mention it. I feel it has to be considered. I feel it has to be considered with each drug you take from now on. My opinion.

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Certainly dry lips

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Thanks, Dc, Ft Worth.
I have mentioned it to my podiatrist-considering surgery on one of my feet. He couldn't figure out why the bones in my foot look as if there had been major trauma-other than stress fracture when I was a heavy runner. Accutane also has a rep of interfering w/bone formation/ repair/even w/ minor injury. He was very concerned about it-he said the he noted it in my present medical record as well. And he too suggested that I make a point of making certain all of my doctors are aware of it...

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I am really surprised at the length of time that it seems that your doctors are putting you on Accutane. I took it back in the late 1990's for cystic acne. I was only allowed to take it for 5 months and even then I had to have blood work done monthly to measure my trigylceride levels were within a normal range and verify I wasn't pregnant. It was my understanding at that time that doctors were not supposed to put people on extended treatments, but for these shorter treatment plans. I was fortunate because after dealing with many other treatments for my acne over my teens and early 20's, Accutane completely cleared up my skin and I have never had a problem since.

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Hi there everyone, it's been about a week later, and I figured by myself that Accutane has caused me to get Reynaud's disease, because my hands, feet, knees, nose and ears are always feeling cold now - and I'm only 16; and this disease isn't supposed to be caught until I'm at old age. Accutane is a piece of s**t.

Is there any way to get rid of Reynaud's disease? I had a quick Google search, and nothing seems to help. Is there even a cure for Reynaud's disease? Because it's made me really cold, and I start shivering in pretty normal temperatures. :(

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I am 46 and was on accutane when I was 18 for approx 1 yr. I had side affects like anorexia, I dropped from 127 to 115. I had blood in my stool and hair loss. By the time I had all these symptoms, I read up on the drug and decided my dr had me on too high of a dosage. I took myself off of it. My skin has been clear and great ever since. I have had no long time side affects that I know of. I have indegestian but my dad has the same problem. I decided to read up on it due to seeing a legal commercial on TV.

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Hi,
my daughter took Accutane for 6 months when she was 17. She is now 26 and has complained that the lactose intolerance she had as an infant and toddler, which resolved itself in childhood has returned. She has also complained that certian foods do not sit well. These symptoms do not seem as severe as many described but are they possible side effects of the
Accutane?
Another question, I had always suspected that the ankle she broke playing soccer shortly after taking Accutane was some how related to the Accutane but as it was a sport injury it was never looked into. Comments?
Thank you.

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To Dennis,
I too have been having abdominal pain since on accutane. But I would wager to bet your stomach problems are from the 1600 mgs of motrin you are taking everyday. That in itself will ruin your stomach. I hope you get well soon.

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Trusted Doc's But Shouldn't Have,

Hi. My son also had had ankle pain and swelling on the top of his foot after any kind of physical activity since taking a generic form of Accutane ( Amnessteen). He has had 3-4 x-rays of it over the past 5 years and for has no explained reason from a physician why it hurts with activity. He also gets a pump about 8 inches above his ankle that causes pain. The pump seems to go away a few days after physical activity is ceased. At the present, doctors seem to have no answers.
Not sure about your daughter having trouble with taking certain foods. Maybe a visit to a gastroenterologist may answer any questions you .

Best Wishes to you and you daughter,
Scott

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Ws-Yeo

Go and have our thyroid checked as it would make you feel cold esspecially in the feet and hands. I myself have thyroid problems, but did develop raynaud's in my right hand only Odd I know...Anyways you would know as if you stick your hand in cold water and take it out it would change colors lasting being very blue. Go get lab work on the thyroid and maybe Iron.

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Hi Oli girl,
thanks for replying. I will definitely have my thyroid and throat area checked out: I always have had an excessive amount of saliva and mucus build up in my throat since I took those pills. What a load of freakin' side effects that they didn't tell me about...

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Ive been on claravis (same thing) for about 2 months now and i havent had any problems, except for the dry skin and chapped lips. i am 14 and reading all of this freaked me out a little, but i am on the lowest dose given. so im not sure if people develop these long term cases from having a higher dose and being on it longer?

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Hey guys, please help.

I developed severe cystic acne that has left some scarring. However, in my opinion, most of my cystic acne has subsided and I'm left with a few cysts that have died down in size (but are still there). BUT I don't think all the bacteria has been killed. My cheek that experienced the most cystic acne is just red and inflamed right now, but there's no active acne on it. My guesses at the cause of my cystic acne is STRESS and VERY harsh skin-peeling cleansers that I changed to. I have been on accutane for just over 2 weeks now. My muscles are always sore and tender, my face flushes easily, my body sweats easily, my eyes are sensitive to sunlight already, my sleeping pattern is ruined, and there was a brief period where I experienced suicidal thoughts.

I read all your long-term side effects and it's scaring me.

My derm told me accutane is the only way to cure my cystic acne. Is he weird in saying that or is he right? He hardly explained any of the side effects of accutane either.

I really want to get off accutane, but I feel helpless, because my derm said it's the only way to get rid of it.

Should I try changing my diet and sticking with some form of antibiotics??? As well as the hormone pill or whatever it's called?

Oh yeah, I'm on a low dose too. 20mg/day, and I'm already experiencing those stupid side effects.

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Dear K.I..
It is , if you are having suicidal thoughts, you need to contact your doctors asap and tell him/her about it. If you have to wait a month to see them again, please call your Primary Care Physican and twll them how you feel. Please let your doctor that your muscles are sore also. These are two factors that the drug warning labels state you should tell your doctor about right away, even if you have to call your doctor and make a early appointment. There are many drugs including accuatne that can effect your moods. These side effects can be stopped by ceasing this medication. They are also early warning signs that accutane may not be for you.Iif you doctor isn't telling you all you need to know about accutane, get another doctors opionion. Allot of these side effects can just be temporary, especially since you have only taken accutane for a short period of time. We will be thinking of you and let us know how you make out. Best wishes ans stay stong, everything will be OK.

scott

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Dear K.I.,

I am in agreement with Scott. The suicidal thought(s) is enough reason to stop the medication immediately. Our son still suffers with mental health issues brought on by Accutane three years later. A healthy mind and your very life far outweigh a clear complexion. I would suggest that you do some research on allergies, diet and natural supplements as a way to help the skin problem. I know it is not an easy decision but for me this the only choice is to get off Accutane and possibly get a new doctor. All the best!!

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Scott and Kathy - thanks for the advice.

I stopped taking accutane.

While on accutane, I would have trouble sleeping and I would wake up in the middle of the night feeling very depressed and suicidal, but
when I managed to get back to sleep and woke up the next morning, the suicidal thoughts
completely disappeared. So I kept taking accutane. Until the suicidal thoughts crept into my mind during the day as well, and the thought of throwing myself in front of a bus when I was walking in the city was inviting. Yeah, it might sound funny but thinking back to how I felt at the time is truly scary and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. I felt completely empty, alone and alien. Also I want to point out that sometimes it takes me hours to fall back asleep, and sometimes I never do fall back asleep.

I can't handle 20mg/day, and I can't imagine any higher dosages, especially over a 7 - 9 month period (which is how long my derm wanted me to stay on it). Though I'll point out that I'm 5'0 and weigh really light if that makes a difference.

I think my derm is untrustworthy because he told me hair loss on
accutane is completely false, when it was stated in the booklet he GAVE me that common side
effects include hair SHEDDING. And in the official list of side effects that comes with the pills it states that in rare cases, PERMANENT hair loss may occur.

Can I seriously trust this derm who can't even acknowledge one of the most common, NON-life threatening side effects of accutane (hair loss)?

Anyway... in the mean time I've switched to an anti-inflammatory diet.

I've also called my dermatologist and I'll be seeing him in a few days to explore other treatment options.
I also have an appointment with my GP the day before to get a referal to a different dermatologist for back-up.

I have a feeling that many of the rare side effects of accutane are actually much more common than Roche makes it out to be...

Anyway, to completely sum up ALL my side-effects on accutane for just over 2 weeks anyone who reads this:

- insomnia (every single night on accutane, without fail, I woke up in the middle of the night and had extreme difficulty falling
back asleep, sometimes stayed up the rest of the night)
- suicidal thoughts
- muscle soreness (in my calves, then it also spread to other areas)
- flushing (I don't know what flushing means but my face turns red and really hot to touch)
- body is abnormally sensitive to temperature changes (felt prickling sensations all over my body like someone was pricking me with the end of a knife... but not as painful, then felt my body temp rise suddenly, about to break out
into a sweat)
- eyes sensitive to sunlight, harder to focus (noticed this in my lectures at uni)
- some hair shedding at my temple... I know this for sure because I have a freckle on my scalp that used to be completely
hidden unless I parted my hair and looked for it, but now it easily shows near my temple.
- back of my shoulders are sore, groin pain, and felt jabbing pains at the back of my left ankle
- once I woke up in the middle of the night with a very loud ringing in my ears
- had my eyes wide open in the dark and I felt blind
- it felt like a cloudiness was covering the outer corner of my left eye that really freaked me out. So I turned on my phone to a text message and put the phone to the
right side of me and kept my head straight, and kind of shifted my eyes to the right and I could read the text clearly. I put the phone to the left side of me, shifted my eyes to the left and the text was blurry.

I didn't imagine it, I checked several times. It was always blurry on the left side, and this has never happened to me before. But I don't know how that's possible after being on this drug for only
2 weeks. Oh well, I don't care who believes me, these all happened on a low dose and a very short period... It felt like a thin film was partially covering my eye so I rubbed my eye to get rid of it and it was still there. This freaked me
out the most.

This happened on the last night I took accutane which really sealed my decision to stop taking it.

Oh yeah, sometimes (but infrequently) I get sharp, short-lived pains in my upper stomach (only
started happening after I took the drug)...

I just think I'm one of the unlucky ones where my body just can't handle high doses of vitamin A... I guess to my body, 20mg is a highly toxic dose. I dunno how it works... I think everyone's really different.

Despite my list of side-effects I was so tempted to get back on accutane for a few seconds because I still feel really
conflicted and still not sure if I'm over-reacting. But I think it's best to wait it out until my next appointment.

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Dear K. I.,
I am glad to hear you are felling better. Thanks so much for posting all the side effects you felt. I believe you. My son to 20 mg in morning and 40 mg in the evening everyday for 6 months. Your case is proof that on 20 mg a day for a few weeks can start a chain reaction of side effects. I would bet just taking it for a few weeks have not permanently done any damage to you in the long run. I am very happy that you are feeling better. Being honest to others about suicidal thoughts isn't easy. Your posting here will let others know they are not alone if they have any of the symptoms you experienced.

Best Wishes !
Scott

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I am 19 years old and i started taking accutane a month and a half ago now my eyes are blood shot red and my right eye is swollen. Both my eyes are dry and it pains a lot in my right eye. My doctor has prescribed me artifical tears to lubricate the eyes. I have stooped taking accutane and by doing this my eyes are slowly loosing the redness. I will say to all those who are on this drug STOP TAKING IT IT IS NOT WORTH IT....

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Singh,
Thanks for your post !
Best wishes,
Scott

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Just finished 6 months @40ml. A day. Found this thread b/c 3 weeks off the Accutane, I'm feeling a bit lethargic and was wondering if there was a withdrawal period. This is my 2nd round, first was in 1999.
A lot of terrible stories on here that seem a little overly dramatized. Uh, I'm sorry, but Accutane doesn't cause Anorexia and half the ailments everyone on here is going on about. The guy w/ the son hearing voices, come on, really? Your son, may have had psychological problems before the accutane you were not aware of and they were excarerbated by The Accutane. Hello People, iPledge, 5 pages of warnings and possible side effects. Not like you had no warning. Half the things y'all are going on about were brought on by LIFE NOT Accutane.
Did I feel some depression, sleeplessness, moodiness, yes, I most certainly did. I would NEVER PUT A TEENAGER ON THIS DRUG UNLESS IT WAS AN EXTREME CASE OF CYSTIC ACNE. Read the warnings/side effects. If you're predisposed to depression..not for you. If you're a teenager who's brain is still developing w/ hormone swings.. not for you. But don't be blaming accutane because you almost pooped your pants jogging. Drink some rice milk. Oh my arm just fell asleep from typing..ACCUTANE!

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