Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 42)

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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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

Nancy, isn't it funny how when Doctos can't diagnose from the symptoms, they tell teens and women it is depression. That does not usually happen to men. No, I'm not a woman's lib'r, but I speak truth. My son did not fit all the criteria for A.S., especially because the pain in his chest and heart radiating down his arms. He also had his arms and legs just ache so bad he couldn't move, almost paralyzed. And that isn't noted as a symptom under A.S. But the sacrioliac (sp?) is where the A.S. shows up. If a doctor doesn't know what he's looking for or has never seen A.S. on an xray, he/she may miss it. Each time the pain gets real bad is when the person is in a flare and that is when the fusing is occurring. So you see, the pain IS causing damage. That's why its so important to get diagnosed correctly and be treated asap. Research everything you can on ankylosing spondylitis before going back to you doctor. Good luck and God bless.

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Nancy - I had Vit A levels tested about 4 months after Accutane. I was on high end of Normal. So they weren't abnormal, but on the upper side of normal.

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Nancy.. i stopped my son taking cod Liver Oil as it contains Vit A and wouldnt consider Multivitamins either. I also watch what foods he ears as twice he has Sweetcorn he had the terrible Head Pains. i read that the more yollow the corn the more Vit A is in it. .
Had m son seen her Doc today. he is checking Vit levels but said they don't check Sertonin. He also suggested he sees someone in Mental Health and i asked about AS. he said he doesn't fell he has them kind of problems.. So as some of you already know they want to say its the Mental problems causing the body pains :( ...Will wait to see if the bloods show anything as its 8 months since he last had them done.
Keep Strong Guys

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Hello Nancy. Hows it goin? I just want to tell you a little bit about what i researched about vitamins. Apparently, the human body can't seem to take out Vitamins A, D, E and K. Once the body takes this in, It cannot take it out... Like for example Vitamin C, when u take vitamin c, the body will be able to just pee it out. Unlike Vitamin A, which the body stores. So you might want to consider just taking fish oil for omega 3. and not multivitamins. I would actually just choose the vitamins you take like Vitamin B. I also want to warn you a little thing i noticed about the zinc. Yes the body needs this but an over intake could help speed up schizophrenic symtoms. I also read about this coz my brother accidentally took some zinc in our house and somehow it made his mental health worse and worse. Im not sure if it was just coincidence. Bt it could be possible. I think maybe having a proper diet will be better than pills. Hope everyone is being positive.

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Wendy,
I am unable to send my email address via this thread. Sorry.

To all looking for a natural replacement for serotonin.....I found one that one of my other sons takes for migraines. I am not promoting it as good or bad, but just as an alternative to prescription meds. It’s called Serotune. It’s supposed to help increase serotonin, dopamine and GABA levels. My son said it is helping with his headaches that he takes with another natural product called Three-Lac (or Five-Lac).
We have also had blood test done showing low levels of vitamin B. Son took one vitamin B pill from PCP one pill a month for 4 months then his levels where normal.
Stay Strong,
Scott

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do not take it after 2 months it has caused my intense chest pain and after a scare wich i think was a heart attack or stroke i went to my doctor got an ekg and my heart rythm was off and my chest constantly hurts worst decision taking this medicine it is terrible and acne is a much better problem than having cardiovascular pain and discomfort its very scary if i could tell anyone a good peice of advice it would be to never take this medicine my brother did and he was fine but i have felt like i could die of a heart attack at any moment not worth it please dont take it.

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zinc helps aid Vit A. I know a lot of suffers who have issues with zinc. I myself would not take it. Some believe that by taking it, it helps push the Vit A out of the system.

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I am 30 years old and took Accutane when I was in high school. I had severe acne and nothing seemed to work. I tried all kinds of prescriptions. My dermatologist recommended Accutane. I took the highest dose allowed for 6 months. I can't remember the exact dosage. It cleared up my skin completely. Not sure why but my derm recommended another round of 6 months at a lower dose to ensure that my acne would never return. At the time (I think it was 1998) there was no warning that Accutane causes depression. So for those who have commented that we should have researched the drug before taking it - the warnings in 1998 were definitely not the same warnings we have now in 2012. I can't remember if it was during the first or second round of treatment but I became very depressed to the point that I tried to kill myself. I never wanted to go to school, let alone get out of bed. I went from being a great student involved in all sports to nearly failing out of high school for never going to class and wanting to give up. My mom started to realize that it might be the Accutane and had me stop after about 3 months on the lower dose. I was able to graduate high school and somehow make it to college. I never returned to my normal self pre-Accutane. I was outgoing, motivated, and definitely not depressed. I also have a hearing impairment that I was diagnosed with at 3 years old. I think it got a lot worse since taking Accutane and I have extreme Tinnitus (ringing of the ears) that I experience 24/7. I don't even remember having Tinnitus before taking Accutane. It's been over 14 years since I've taken Accutane but I'm starting to think my depression never went away and to top it all off I still have acne. The single biggest regret I have in my 30 years living is taking Accutane. Forgot to mention that I also have digestive problems and never suspected Accutane until reading this thread. It scares me to think that Accutane has caused all these horrendous side effects for many people and there seems to be no reversal of the damage. My heart goes out to anyone whose life was adversely affected from this horrible drug.

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It is really hard to read some of the posts on this board but I wish I would have read them a long time ago. Maybe my son would be alive. If you have taken this **it, please be care with your cardiovascular health. My son died of athroschlerotic cardiovascular disease that we truly believe was directly caused by this drug. Please get your heart checked and your cholesterol checked. He was only 27 years old with no family history of heart disease. He also suffered with the psychological issues that others have experienced. We have lived with the side effects of this drug for a long time and we didn't know it until it was too late. I hope you guys find some help for the horrible things this drug has caused in all of our lives.

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Alegria:
I have to admit I agree with you about the depression being a WOMAN or a TEENS problem...Infuriates me at times. When my son was at his last P/C appt.(2-3 wks ago) everything he complained about she said oh it;'s the Depression..Finally I looked at her & said so are you saying that people with Depression can't get SICK???? Why are You dismissing his SYMPTOMS...She gave me a dirty look, I really don't CARE anymore, Tired of these Dr's thinking it's ALL IN THE HEADS!!!!! I am going to bring up the AS to the Rhem. when we go..How SCARY that must be for your son to get such PAIN that it practically PARALYZES him... So Sad to know that... Interesting how you note that if a DR. does NOT know what he is looking for he could miss it. Sometimes I wonder about PRACTICING MEDICINE??? Will let you know how I make out with the Rhem... STAY STRONG, GOD BLESS..

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To Oli Girl & Mitch....
Oli Girl have you had your Vit. A levels checked recently? Up until now I was unable to have my son's checked. It's been about 2 years since ingesting the poison and they are Normal but I wonder how HIGH they really were. Just curious if you know what your VIT A is at now. (Mitch) I know what you mean about trying to AVOID the Vit. A, my son has become a LABEL reader of all foods... I often wonder if when they were on the POISON & were getting Massive doses of The Vit. A if the body doesn't go through some type of WITHDRAWAL from Vit. A, when they STOP the drug, make any sense??? Maybe the BODY can't Handle going from HIGH doses of the VIT A and then back to normal. It's like I keep Racking at my Brain trying to Figure out what causes these EFFECTS in the people that take it. The SCARY thing is that when I TELL Dr's about the LONG LASTING Side Effects from this drug they say, Oh I didn't know it caused that or they say NO, That drug is out of the system can't be from that.. I Wish your son WELL with his upcoming Blood work. Keep Us posted...GOD BLESS

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Hi Bro Needs Help...First I want to say I read a post you had on here the other day about your brother . Seems he is doing BETTER??:-) VERY Happy to read that!!!
I COMMEND you for the type of Brother You are and how you have gone to Extreme Lengths to HELP your Brother. I hope things Get BETTER & BETTER for him... On to the Vitamins my son does take a Fish oil (Omega) seems to help sometimes with his Joints. I also think you may be on to something about B Vitamins, seems they are the ones that HELP with the Nervous system. I know when I sent him to a Homeopathic Dr. about a year ago she was giving him B12 Shots so thinking the B Vit's are probably a good idea... Thanks for writing, hope you are doing WELL... Take Care, GOD BLESS.

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Hello Nancy. Yes He seems ok now. Like his psychological problems seems to have gone already. I mean like his hallucinations, and his schizophrenic episodes are gone. he doesnt seem to be as depressed anymore. But I believe he still has to take his medication for like another year just to be sure he doesnt experience relapse. He is taking olanzapine, risperdal, epival for his seizures and now lexapro to help with his mood. In the beginning i dint approve of him taking these meds coz i know that they are harmful to his body but considering that he took accutane, which is a very powerful drug, we realized that it could help and we trusted his doctor for putting him on these medications. Many people who suffer episodes take this. and as a result of taking accutane, his mental health went downhill. No amount of natural healing could stop him from going into depression. That is why i now believe the meds did help. He is now sort of back to school part time and at least is enjoying his life. His stool problems seems to have gone already when his mind was intact. Maybe depression can destroy the whole body. I am glad that we were able to help him during the time he had mental problems. It has been very hard to our family and we are glad that at least he seems to be sort of back on his feet. But of course the side effects of the meds he is taking now is taking its toll. like some weight gain, but anything to make him not go thru schizophrenia again ya? Of course I sort of believe now that if we had seen his condition and had seeked help the 4 months we saw the signs and symptoms, maybe he his mental health wouldnt have gone downhill and reach him getting schizophrenia. I hope you can all seek the help you need. I pray for all the victims of the horrible drug.

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Anna,
Thank You for your recent post. It is people like you and so many others that leave their personal stories on here that others read and become informed on Accutane, Amnesteem™ Claravis™ Sotret® and Roacutane. It is my understanding that Accutane is no longer available not only n the USA for over a year, but now everywhere. I have learned a great deal on ideas that may happen or may help my son improve his health.
I am puzzled, like everyone else how and why these generic forms of Accutane are still on the market in the USA and probably everywhere else.
I've said it over and over again, simply put, its politics. Drug Company’s make poisons like these; do just a few tests on animals, than a small selected group of people. Then write their own success stories and sell it to the FDA with $$$$$ sent to politicians political campaigns and back pockets. Corporate leaders of drug companies take turns working for the FDA then back to the drug companies to get Accutane and its generics onto the market. Let’s not forget the huge amount of money Drug Companies hire and pay lobbyists (sometimes a devil in a suit) to do their dirty work for them on Capital Hill.
The FDA has authorized these drugs to be on the market since the years 1980’s. The FDA has admitted that Accutane and its generic brands are in the top 5 of all medications that are harmful.
The FDA and the drug companies continue to work together to add more long term side effects to the warning labels to protect their ass as they continue destroying the health of innocent young adults. If we would do something like this on our own, we would be thrown in jail for a lifetime.
I am a believer that prescription drugs are necessary for human life. Some drugs have increased our life spans and our needed when the need for the drug out weights the risk factors. But, for Crying out loud, how can the FDA justify taking a drug that was created and manufactured as a chemotherapy drug for cancer and feed it like candy by doctors to our children for acne. Yes……we would be placed in jail for first degree murder in some cases, but physicians in the medical field continue to turn their backs on their own patients and stick together like a organized silent mob handing out these medications daily as a quick fix to acne while it destroys the internal functions of very healthily teenagers for the rest of their life. HOW CAN THIS BE??
Unfortunately our legal system will now only take cases of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohns Disease against drug companies that manufacture these drugs. Simply because IBD was not mentioned in the warning label at one time as a possible long term side effect. How can these drugs now have a list a mile long of possible long term side effects for something like acne, which most teenagers will have for a period in their lives? Why are our doctors telling us to try all other medications, over the counter included before this drug is consumed? Instead your PCP will say, take Doxycycline, then Tretinoin Cream then, nothing works….its time your child is put on Accutane or one of its generic brands. Sound familiar? Then when my 14 year old son was sent to a dermatologist for treatment, we were lied to time and time again on the possible side effects of Amesteem. Oh, I have prescribed this medication 1000’s of times and never had ANY complaints of side effects once the medication is stopped. Tell this to then my 15 year old son after taking HIGH DOSES of AMESTEEM for six months at 60 mg a day when he almost passed out in the middle of a High School track event then rushed to the hospital only to find out this drug had completely dried out his colon and had significant blood coming out of him in a bowel movement five minutes after being in the ER. That was the last day he ever played High School Football or Track again. Shortly after that is back pain lead him to many test of MRI’s, total Bone Scans of the body, Colonoscopy’s, more blood test between 14-21 years of age than most people get in a lifetime. To watch him struggle with the side effects is devastating to all that have seen this first hand in their life’s.
On May 28, 2009, I found this forum and added the first remarks left on this post. I was an emotional wreck that day, I felt I had no one left to talk to. I sat down in agony of my son and posted a remark without even using spell check. I just wanted someone to hear me. No doctor. No specialist, No return email or letter from the FDA letting me know they received my complaint letter I left on Amesteem to their site, I was all alone after I had taken my son to see over 7 doctors and specialist for answers.
Here is how a rheumatologist phrased my son’s condition 5 years ago after telling me he will be on anti inflammatory and pain medication for the rest of his life:
Imagine a baseball breaking a window in a house, imagine you cleaned up all the glass on the floor you could see, then imagine someone walking over the floor and getting a very tinny piece of glass in their toe and didn’t realize it was there at the time. Then imagine this small piece of glass cause a small infection in the toe. Then the toe becomes infected which leads to a blood disease and then your whole body is trying to fight off everything that happened. Now your son, from a little piece of glass in his toe now has arthritis in both shoulders, both wrist and right hand, he has abnormal liver function test results and may have Ankylosing Spondylitis in his back also. I looked at this doctor straight in the eye and said†Do you think the drug he took( Amesteem) for acne could of cause it, maybe like the baseball you just described in your explanation of his condition now? He said NO.
I thank you all that have left your personal, some tragic stories of yourself, your children and loved ones on this post.
I also challenge any lawyer that reads this to reach out and help those that need it on here. I realize you are up against a money machine when fighting a drug company. Make the case about the kids and what these drugs have done to the future of America and the rest of the world. Start a class action law suit, you don’t have to look far to find those who need you.
Together We Are Strong,
Scott

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This site my be helpful for anyone researching Spondylitis. Enteropathic Arthritis found on this site seems to fit my sons symptoms well.

spondylitis.org/about/ibd.aspx

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Scott and Everyone, I have been trying to find a lawfirm to take my son's case and was hopeful when Hagen Berman decided to "take a look" at what I had against Roche Pharmaceutical. So...this is to inform everyone what the attorneys are looking for - a case witha sure outcome of lots of money and that has been proven by using the IBD claim. If you took a generic, they won't take the case. It has to be Accutane manufactured by Roche. Secondly, they only want severe cases of Inflammable Bowel Disease. They will not take cases of Ankylosing Spondylitis because to date there have been no successful cases. I will not give up. I am pursuing more law firms. Also, ankylosing spondylitis causes severe pain but don't let the doctors put your child/young adult on pain medicine for pete's sake because it could result in addiction. AND, it will only mask symptoms all the while the A.S. will be causing PERMANENT damage. Make them treat the disease. I'm not a proponent of rx drugs, but Enbrel does stop the flares and the flares are what cause the fusing of the spine. So make sure you find an excellent rheumatologist who properly treats your child/young adult. I have one in CA if you need one. Lastly, I won't stop my endeavor to find a law firm either to take my son's case or file a complaint in the hopes of getting it certified as a class. Please know this - a class has to include members with the same or very similar symptoms. For example, the class action I would inititate would be for everyone with a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. As you all know, class actions make the lawyers rich and the victims usually don't see much. That is why it is better to file an individual case. With pharmaceutical cases, I believe attorneys will take them on a contingency. I will keep you all informed of any progress I make.

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Alegria...
Also..PLEASE take NOTE...
One of the LEaders that are out there on Television...concerning claims against this POISON Manufacturer..ROCHE...
IS...ACTUALLY....one provided..to get people to contact an attorney...So....the Statute of Limitations can begin...In other words...When I contacted them...They asked me to provide all of my PROOF...and receipts..for purchasing the POISON...
once they found out..i took the Poison Accutane...nearly 20 years ago...they quickly sent me a Letter...nearly a year later...Explaining to me..that I THEn..had less than a year and a half..to ACTUALLY find a REAL Lawfirm...to proceed with my case...OR..My statute would run out...
So...Obviously..they are In place...to get people to admit..they REALIZE the tie in to Accutane...and...Make it so called IMPOSSIBLE...to SUE...(The Law States...ONCE a Person REALIZES..the pains and Problems with IBS..etc..they have 3 years to make a Claim...against the Manufacturer..)
Im no Lawyer..BUT..I have a REALLY BIG MOUTH!...and I will NOT go to my Final end..without Making DAMN well and CERTAIN......EVERYONE KNOWS...the HELL this Poison Producing Company has Dealt to the Youths that have ingested the POISON!.
Believe ME..I am going to make a HUGE difference in the Outcomes of ALL of this...
Stay TUNED!

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Hello everyone, after taking accutane I have suffered from acid reflux, muscle weakness, joint pain and depression. So sorry to hear about what this drug did to so many kids just like me.

Recently i have read online about how accutane depletes the body of SEROTONIN, a substance in the brain responsible for digestion, muscle function and mood. Serotonin relates to all the problems from accutane. I started taking 5-HTP, an otc supplement that transforms into serotonin in the body, and have seen drastic improvements. Please give it a try, as it helped me feel much better 20 minutes after taking the first pill ! I am still looking for a doctor that believes what I tell them, since most of them are too closed minded to realise that accutane does in fact cause all my problems.

Try 5-htp and let your doctors know about this Serotonin theory, so maybe we can get some answers. It helped me, and I really hope it can help some people from here.

I read all the posts of the concerned parents here, and I have to say all my respect for you for the way you are fighting for your children, I hope your children will be completely healthy again. My parents never believed me when I complained and just say walk it off.. and it will go away, and my mom is a DOCTOR...

Please let me know what you think or if anyone has heard about this Serotonin theory

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Hi Nancy - No I Haven't had them checked recently and probably unless I went to a holistic doctor no one would do them. I believe Accutane does some kinda cellular damage, DNA, etc..... I sometimes wonder if it's still not in the system, say liver etc... but who knows. I will say there was a suffer who like most couldn't handle Vit A foods and acutally became deficient in Vit A and could only tolerate it by injection or IV I believe.

Hope all is well w/ everyone.

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Went on accutane and seriously regret it. Its unbelievable the problems I have had and continue to have.... Major depression, A stomach bleed that had me in intensive care for 1 week This was 5 years after finishing, digestive problems, psychosis, feeling of dryness everywhere, joint problems, thyroid problems, fibromyalgia ....... I just don't feel myself though.... And I know 2 guys who were on it.... had SERIOUS depression on it.... And now I BELIEVE that both have changed since and permanent change... Both are like myself kind of depressive... I was NEVER depressive.... I have a thyroid problem at the moment..... so Im hoping I will be healthy when I get my levels better.... But I doubt it somehow. Also my doctor at the moment was a consultant in hoffmann and roche at the time when they were making this drug and told me it does serious harm... He has pinned all my problems to this drug

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