Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 22) (Top voted 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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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?

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My sister was on accutane for a while and had a lot of the dryness and red skin that I guess is typical. I was about to be put on it as well, but my doctor wasn't too keen on it and he put me on tetracycline instead, which seemed to help. My sister though has had a lot of stomach type issues since being on it and it's interesting to read others comments about gastrointestinal problems. I also did a search and came across some info on this legal site (http://bit.ly/9gQyPx) -- it sounds like maybe someone's getting a lawsuit going. I'm not sure how you prove it, but there's just too much that seems coincidental with everyone's stomach or intestinal problems. I told my sister to stop taking it. Has anyone else out there heard any more about a lawsuit? thanks.

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I am so surprised of all this about accutane. My husband now 44 took it in his early 20's and has really no side affects, well maybe some indigestion which we all get. I have a best friend that took it and has no problems, too. I have more bowel/stomach problems and body aches from curved spine & neck and bulging disc and I was never on it. But we were considering accutane for her when she makes 12. She is now 11 and been battling with acne since 8. She is now trying Epiduo topical and Cetaphil soap. So I guess it does not affect everyone that has taken it? It makes me really think to not put my daughter on it. I wish you all well.

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I've been on accutane for one day I took my first pill today 40mg 1 pill a day. After taking it, it felt like it didn't go down properly and I had a severe stomach pain for a good hour. I'm reading all these post and I dont know what to do. My parents would be mad if I told them I wanna get off it if they just paid 125$ for it! What should I do! Help me please.

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Nervous 15 year old,

You may want to show your mom and dad these post. I had no idea of all the possible side effects from these drugs when I listened to the doctor tell my son it was time he was on Accutane. Educating yourself over any medications you take is always a godd idea. Show your parents these post and ask your doctor any questions you may have while prescribed this drug. If your parents would like to ask me any questions . Please tell them to email me. I check my email about once a day. Your problems taking the first pill may just have been indigestion. I believe you should take food and drink some water when taking some medications Good Luck !

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Thanks a lot I took my second pill today and it didn't hurt, But I have a question was the doctor moditering your son? I have to go back monthly for blood work they check if theres anything wrong. I told my mom about all this she said maybe all these people didn't get monitored. So did he get monitored?

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Nervous 15 year old,

Everybody that takes these drugs must be monitored every 30 days by a physician. This is part of the “ I Pledge Program” that all parents and some patients have to sign before you can be prescribed these drugs.
Every month the doctor will check your cholesterol and liver function test just as a precaution. That doesn't mean something is wrong, it just means that it is part of your doctors job to do blood work on you while on this medication. Don't worry, having blood work done doesn't hurt. You should be open with your Mom and the doctor if you have any questions while prescribed this medication.

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Scott, I just got my blood test results from 2 different doctors. All my vit. levels are normal, my liver is good, muscle enzymes are normal. The doctors can't help me, been going for 4 yrs. So now im going to treat my muscle and joint pain with glucosamine and chondroitin with msm, as well as hyloronic acid. If anyone out there knows how to reverse the effects of accutane please reply.

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I've been on accutane for almost 7 months and I'm about to get off. The results are amazing, but it takes dedication. I've had migranes everyday, my eyes are extremely dry, my hair which used to get oily within 5 hours of washing it now takes 3 days to get oily, i'm pale but I've never gotten burned as easily as I've been getting burned on this, and I've been throwing up at least once a week and before accutane I'd thrown up maybe 7-8 times (not counting my baby days). I've had extreme fatigue, joint pain, and muscle aches. I don't recommend it to anyone that doesn't have oily hair and hasn't tried everything under the sun, but I do reccommend it to anyone that can't get rid of their acne. PALE PEOPLE BEWARE OF SUNBURN!!!!!!!!!!

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Brian,

Thanks for the post. I recently tried a product which can be found at GNC stores. It's called Baxyl. You can learn more about it by going to Baxyl.com. I recently purchased this product for my back pain. It took about three weeks and I really could tell some of my back pain had let up. I am not a sales person for Baxyl, but I now have two of my sons taking it daily and it seems to help them too, including my son that took Accutane. Baxyl is Bioactive Hyaluronan acid. It seems to work like Hyaluronic acid does in a pill form but better. If you or anyone else that has tried it or tries Baxyl and it works, please let us know.

Sounds like you have seen and been through a lot in this world. Thanks for keeping all of us safe while in the military.

God Bless,
Scott

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I was put on Accutane when i was 16 years old, we were told of some side effects, (mainly the ones having to do with if i was to get pregnant on the medication) and so we went ahead with it. I was only on it for 5 months and my acne was basically cleared. I am 22 almost 23 and i havent really experienced any of the extreme side effects as some of you.....but reading all of this has me kind of freaking out! I wish i had never takin it now because i will be paranoid of getting these problems. I do have indigestion problems sometimes and have noticed my once really thick hair has thinned somewhat in the last two years but i've been told that is just getting older and stress related....now im not so sure. I wish i had never gotten curious and looked up the long term side effects!

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Danielle let me tell you I feel the same way. I took accutane in 2002 when I was 16, and now I am constantly worried about what accutane may have done to me after reading all these horror stories on the internet. It has become a obession because of the scaremongering but it's all my fault

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Ronny
yeah I think you took it a little to personal. Yes I have had problems since taking accutane but I can't say that accutane was the cause. I do have hair thinning but I'm also 24 abd runs in the family and I stress alot and had quite a few bouts of depression. I just don't know what to blame, myself or the drug. I'm not saying your a scaremonger but they are out there. Don't take it personal.

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I decided not to take accutane. I thought there where way to many possible side effects-even though it is rare that such serious effects happen. Instead now I'm on Mylan-Minocycline once a day-which I'm bad at remembering to take :P and a Retin-A Micro topical (micronized tretinoin, tretinoin gel 0.04%) anyways the tpoical has helped HEAPS-yes I still have horrid acne and scars but my cyctic acne has gone down in size incredibly-my skin is dry and flaky, very sensitive and more prone to burning even though I don't usually every burn-but I'm glad I'm on it-so far it's worth it. It's upsetting what has happened to some of the people/parents on here :( good luck-and thank you for this forum I would have blindly gone on it-and may have regretted it later :)

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accutane side-effects

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I took Accutane when i was in highschool. i didn't have any problem with it then or right after it. I have in the past couple of years been having joint pains and just thought it was from when i hurt my self knee boarding, but that was only in the shoulders. Now it happens in the shoulders elbows and wrist. As I am typing this i am in pain. I work all day with my hands and i had to go home early due to the pain.

i would of never thought to think about it being this drug but my mother told me that people are sueing the company for their problems so i am looking into it and most of what yall are saying happens to me. when i get the money i am going to get looked at. i hate the pain and fear of being stareal scares me to the point when i think about not able to have kids i want to cry.

my mother she worked as a pharmay tech and she is the one who told me all the side affects of the Accutane and i am sorry for everyone who has taken that drug...and to be honest....i still have acne on my back and chest and break out every time i shave. so i dont think it worked all to well.

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I took Accutane in 2006-2007 for 6 months I only had one problem during the time i was taking it and that was one blackout went in for a blood test and CT scan and all they could find was a high Creatine level I was on no other supplements or medicine at the time. Up to this day I'm fine. I was told by my dermatolagist this is a drug he will not subscribe to anyone under 18 because of the possible effects to growth and other systems in your body that haven't matured yet.

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Dear Dc, Fort Worth,

Thanks for sharing your personal story about you son. My son, Ryan took this medication when he was 14-15 years old .Last week he had a Cat Scan done of his stomach looking for inflammation in his bowels, We have not got back dr. report yet. Last August he had a colonoscopy and it was negative but still has occasional blood in his stool. This is only one side effect of many he has to deal with. Unfortunately, I feel your pain everyday of my life.

Best wishes ,
Father of a wonderful son,
Scott

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I began taking Accutane around age 14 after having every sort of acne imaginable covering my face and beginning on my back. I felt completely hopeless at this point after trying everything, and I mean everything. I, like many others, had to do blood work and urine samples monthly to prove I was not pregnant. Going through the process of taking Accutane was almost as humiliating as actually having acne. Your lips peel constantly, you can literally pull large pieces off by the minute. Your skin is very dry as well and it seems neither chap stick nor lotion was strong enough to counteract either. I stayed on Accutane for longer than my mother or I hoped. I was supposed to be on it for 6 months and ended up being on it for about 9 months when my Mother decided enough was enough. Nearer to the end of the 9 months the black heads on my nose began to go away, but after stopping, they came back and now- 3 years later I still have them. I still experience minor out breaks, but nothing at ALL like I used to. I found out years later that you cannot even give blood when on Accutane. It did wonders for my self-esteem, it really truthfully did and while I don't -feel- that I've had negative side effects I really don't -know-. I have some issues with my joints and back pain, but I wouldn't neccesarily define it as crippling. My main concern, like many others, is the long term effects. Yes, it might not be bad now, but what about in 5 years? I would also like to know if anyone has heard of any post-Accutane patients giving birth to children with defects?

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well miranda moore, some people didn't have the luxury of the internet back when they took accutane, not to mention not all doctors are honest about side effects. when a drug is fairly new there isn't alot of info on side effects and such. but then again maybe your mommy didn't explain that to you. oh yeah, and maybe if you weren't so wet behind the ears then you would know that the side effects that people sue over are unknown side effects. side effects that are unknown because of a lack of proper testing and improper fda regulations. but again maybe mommy didn't explain to you how things really work in the real worldo

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This past weekend, while watching TV, I came across a lawyer commercial that said, did you have acne? do you now suffer from IBS or IBD? I quickly googled ibs and accutane and was suprised by what I found. I've been suffering from IBS and chronic dry itchy skin for the past 5 years. I can't believe that I never made the connection between accutane and IBS. I was never made aware of these side effects when I was taking accutane 12 years ago.

Let me just say one thing though... I deal with IBS on a daily basis now. It's an inconvenience at best, and debilitating at worst. But looking back... I would take accutane again in a heart beat, as I suffered from acne for 10 years and it was ruining my life.

But before taking accutane, please exhaust all other medications first... and please know that there are sideeffects much worse than chapped lips. (While taking the drug, I also got Shingles and Uveitus... diseases I would never have gotten otherwise.)

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