Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 52)

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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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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@javachick78 I just want to let you know that I think you might need to be on birth control for the rest of your life. I hope you do not ever consider having children. This is because since you took accutane, I believe it will cause either miscarriages or birth defects permanently. This drug alters your body dna and I know of some people that have had children that took isotretinoin and their children have some birth defects. I feel bad just thinking about the future of people who suffer because of the mistake they did. and that was to take accutane to just rid of acne which doesnt really affect your daily life. I guess you must still be ignorant about what it does to your body. the trips to the doctors, such a waste of time. Instead of being outside and being normal, you have to be the lab rat of all the pharma companies and the doctors. I am so thankfull i did not take this medicine. Both my brothers suffer greatly from depression because of this medicine. they dont even know that they are suffering but i saw the change they both went thru. it saddens me. I hope you try to find some answers instead of bashing on people here who are seeking help.

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Perhaps this is one of the reasons Accutane was pulled from the market in the summer of 2009. The medication being given to people this day and age is a generic form called isotretinoin which must be a little different. Regardless, it is still a strong medication. It seems that the side effects are related to dosage and the accumulative effects of the drug. It has a half pretty long half life of around 20 hours, maybe more since I'm finding conflicting information. So I guess that is why the side effects sometime seem to get worse, like my intensifying fatigue. I can deal with joint and muscle pain, but the fatigue is now quite intense. And I've only take 20 mgs a day now for 6 months, which is an extremely low dose for my weight. So I just hope the remission persist.

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Not many people mention how much they are taking daily. I think that makes a difference.

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My son was started on 20- then upped to 30 mg daily. And ended the course after 8 wks of a 12 wk course on 2010.

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I was prescribed accutane 10years ago for adult acne I am now 51,I have had problems ever since with tierdness,aching joints ,burnt skin,red face etc etc. i have developed sleep apnia and more recently have lost my job , and been off work since January 2012 with severe deppression and anxiety.
My familly have struggled to understand how someone like me who has always been so layer back and cheerfully can change to wanting to kill myself.
I was never told of the side effects of this drug by the specialist at st Thomas hospital if I had known I would never have taken this drug.
I to would like to be in contact with others with regard to legal action here in the Uk.

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1983 my son also took Isotretinoin which has drastically changed his life from being a 16yr old lad who did voluntary work outddors at weekend. Had a social life and had trained since 14 yrs of age without drugs. He had an aspiration to be Worlds Strongest Man and was at College. It will be 2 yrs in Feb 2013 since he quit college due to Joint,Bone Pains. No concentration Sleep problems, Migraines, Stomach Issues.Strange feelings in his hands, egs ,head of water being dropped onto his skin. and Depression due to his total change in his life. His current Doctor says his pain is due to Depression but he started with the pains before any depression started. People dont understand that the problems still happen after stopping the drug as it is there to kill the Cells( being originally a Cancer Drug). We are in the West Yorkshire UK

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I have taken the Accutane drug 3 times over a 20 year period while serving in the army. My story mirrors yours.. I had to retire because of the problems you have listed hurtful gas and stomach issues everyday and Arthritis throughout my whole body. I went from the picture of health to taking Nexium and all sorts of swelling reducers to take the selling out of the arthritis in my neck. I hate waking up in the morning and if not for some serious pain medication I not sure what I would do. This past year has been very difficult and painful for me. I have developed unexplained masses in my right leg and now my neck it is very depressing for me. I am 43 years old now and to the point where I just want to give up because of all my medical problems.

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I took this Acutane in 1990 I was in the U.S. Army and knew nothing of the side effects. I was put on it 2 other times and did not know what it was doing. I developed serious gas and intestinal problems and now have Arthritis in every joint and the most painful is me neck.
I have unexplained neuropathy in my hands and feet.
I now have been getting unexplained masses because my immune system is haywire. I went from trying for the Special Forces to so much pain and depression I have no life anymore. The list of medications I take for these issues is crazy. I have to take Zofran and Nexium daily just for the gas and stomach issues.
The problem with my nervous system and Arthritis make me take 9 different types of drugs including the depression issues. I Cannot even keep my arms up in the air let alone ever run or weight train again. I would like to see whoever made this drug pay for ruining peoples health and their lives.

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I am a Nutritionist but before this my son took the drug Accutane. I was aware of the side effects so I played with the dosages. First off we stopped the moment his lips became uncomfortably dry and chapped, that was our gage. My theory back then was that Accutane dries out the mucal membrane tissues of the body while it dries out the sebaceous glands and that THAT is what causes the destruction of mylein sheath of the brain and the cartilage between joints. I supplemented my sons diet with ALOE VERA JUICE back then and he continues to take that. His acne dissapeared and he remains well. I suggest you begin taking ALOE VERA immediately, it may help even at this late date. Phosphytydle Serine may help with the brain function. Only supplementation can help- NOT I repeat NOT MORE DRUGS. Everyday doctors prescribe powerful drugs with dangerous side effects. DO NOT TAKE ANY DRUGS WITHOUT RESEARCHING THE SIDE EFFECTS AS WELL AS FORUMS FIRST.

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Aloe vera could be of benefit in certain instances of gastric mucosal healing.

In a mouse study, administration of 20% acetic acid induced gastric inflammation, increased leukocyte adherence in postcapillary venules and TNF-alpha levels and reduced IL-10 level. Treatment reduced leukocyte adherence and TNF-alpha levels, elevated IL-10 level and promoted gastric ulcer healing.

Next you need to add Phosphatydl serine the clinical trials by Thorne Institute show the following:
Depression
Maggioni et al studied the effects of oral Phosphatydle Serine or PS (300 mg/day) on depressed geriatric patients not ex-hibiting dementia and noted significant improvement in depressive symptoms after 30 days. Memory and behavioral symptoms were also improved compared to
placebo.

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Miranda Moore,
In 2001 when our son was on Accutane the internet was not the place to go for medical information. It was not that well formed or worldly as it is today. We trusted well recommended doctors back then to tell us the truth. We trusted what was printed off of medical brochures from Roche Pharmaceutical. Long term effects were not mentioned for a good reason. The drug company knew they could not sell their "miracle drug" and make their blood money. As good parents we so regret the snowball effect it took on our son, our good son. To any parent considering this awful drug, weigh the options of dealing with the acne or dealing with what accutane destroys. Our children are our most prized procession. Their health, even before our own, is #1. Hug them. Sit and listen to their rants. We breathe so they can breathe. Accutane left us breathless and grief stricken. Learn from this personal internet health forum 2012. Raise your healthy children with no regrets.

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I want to express my sympathy to all of you who have suffered from taking Accutane. In 1984, when the medication first came on the market, I took it for the six months perscribed time frame. Back then the dose was very strong, no pregnancy testing was done, just a few warnings, a monthly blood test and a short brochure was handed out. I remember having a constant and unquenchable thirst, severe dry lips, a red face, and toward the end really bad joint pain. However I was in my mid twenties and had suffered from acne since the age of 13 with severe cystic acne. I had my first real job and my face was a mess. I wanted to retain my job, keep my boyfriend and just look like a normal person. The accutane gave me my life back. In fact four years later when it reared its ugly head again I once more took Accutane, only this time for three months.

I need to say that I don't know of any long term effects on my body, however that doesn't say that there aren't any. Just that there are none I'm accutely aware of.

I am a mother to a now 13 year old son and was ready to put him on Accutane, based on my experience. However I am having big time second thoughts about starting him on this drug at such a young age. Thank you all for sharing your very real and painful experiences with the community, you have given me some real food for thought.

Instead of Accutane what would any of you recommend I try for my sons acne? I am open to most anything.

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I don't know Mimzy, cell food with dissolved oxygen sounds like it has more benefits. Have you heard of it? I had a nutritionist tell me about it years ago. What ya think?

cellfood.com

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Spironolactone is a terrific medication for acne! It just doesn't have permanent results as Accutane supposedly does.

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More information and reviews on Spironolactone (Aldactone) can be found in the links below:

everythingacne.com/spironolactone.htm

webmd.com/drugs/drugreview-6671-Aldactone+Oral.aspx?drugid=6671&drugname=Aldactone+Oral

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@concerned mom, how about giving him better food instead of more drugs. something more natural like more vegetables and fruit to moisturize the skin from inside instead of just topical products. I hope you decide to just have your child go thru life more normally like normal people instead of having him suffer the consequences of synthetic drugs. Taking a pill doesn't really fix the problem. taking a pill and being indoors and having to waste your time going to doctors and getting tests at the hospital and not to mention all the money you will throw in despite the bad economy coz of some stupid pill you took for pimples. i mean get real. less stress, fix your diet, do yoga, do calm stuff... but for the love of life please dont put him on accutane if you dont wanna ruin his life.

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I find what your son is going through exactly the same
As Myself. I give him the utmost sympathy
Recently I have developed huge masses in
My back and shoulder the doctor saw nothing
But after another ct scan they found a cracked
Rib I guess from the growth it was hiding under
Thick skin. This is from my immune system
Attacking itself. I hope he does not get this bad
But.please have checked to be safe.

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To Concerned Mom: Make sure to have his Vitamin D levels checked. I was put on Accutane, 3 different times back in the 1980's. I have had severe side effects that still affect me at the age of 51. I found out several years ago the importnace of Vit D and I was at "0".
Also, dietary considerations such as sensitivity or allergy to foods such as wheat. gluten, soy and dairy; can affect your skin health. I found out I have severe soy, lactose and gluten sensitivity. B vitamins also play into this; especially B12 and Biotin.
DO NOT PUT YOUR SON ON ACCUTANE>>>>READ MY EARLIER POSTS. Bless you....

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If it was only that easy to treat bro. Acne has to do with hormones and genetics more than your diet. There are safe medications out there, but often times they are used for other purposes and not so widely known for acne. Natures cure acne tablets are effective. They are relatively cheap and they are gender formulated. There is one for males and one for females.

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It really helps me to read everyones post. I am a sufferer of accutane's side effects. I believe i've had every side effect... not just one like many people believe will happen. I can relate to many of you and your children. My life was destroyed from this drug. I am now 30, but have nothing to show. I can't even remember the last few years of my life. Not many people know this, but accutane does severe brain damage as well as anything you can think of. It disrupts cellular mitosis of bacteria and every cell in your body. My Dr. told me it only affected the bacteria associated with acne. Now that I know the truth I feel lied to and stolen out of the best time of my life which is being young and free. I have virtually no friends, because of my difficulty communicating with people. I am very nervous all the time. Even if I get money for my suffering it won't be worth it... all I want is the time I've lost and my friends back. Noone understands what it does and everyone pretends like oh I have stomach pains. It's more than the colon pains not stomach pains... it's the starvation, the arthritis, the brain fog, the loss of memory, the inflamation, and neurological damage. My natural doctor has promised me remission through detoxification. He has told me it would take 5 years to complete restore the body to normal. I have 8 months and I get so frustrated, because i took this drug once at 16 and then again at 21. The doctors kept telling me it was safe, but what the don't tell you is that it shuts down your sensory functions. You don't know it's doing damage, because the neurotransmitters in your brain are being shut down. Anyways, I am an expert on this disease now, but the time it takes to get into full remission(a turn the fda makes you use instead of cure) is very long and frustrating. I can feel everything going away day by day. God Bless my doctor for giving me the chance and promising me that he would not use prednisone, sulfur drugs, or chemotherapy drugs. Most people don't know this, but immunosupressors are the same drugs that cause IBD. So they treat you with drugs similiar to accutane. Look up lialda and you will see it's a sulphur drug designed to fight gram negative and gram positive bacteria. Big Pharma doctors told me it was autoimmune... I said no it's bacteria. They said no, but they use bacteria drugs.. So they know it's bacteria and they know accutane was used against acne which is caused by bacteria. So they say it's autoimmune to help their buddys at roche not get sued. Anyways, thanks guys. If anyone wants to contact me just post. I want to help people, because I do have the knowledge. I just have a lot of frustration to work through before full remission.

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