Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 55) (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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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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REPORT

I CANNOT BELIEVE MIRANDA SAYS U CAN READ ON IT AND THE DOCTORS TELL U IS BULLS***, I GOT PUT ON IT IN ABOUT 1997 MYSELF AND IT WAS NEW THE DOCTORS SAID IT WASN'T BAD ONLY A FEW SIDE EFFECTS LIKE DRY LIPS DRY SKIN SIMPLE THINGS , I HAVE HAD THE WORST STOMACH PROBLEMS WHERE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO WALK I WAD ABOUT 17 NOW I'M 32 AND STILL HAVE PROBLEMS AND YES IT PUTS POISEN IN U AND MAKES U SO DEPRESSED THRU YOUR HOLE LIFE NOT JUST WHILE YOUR ON THEM , I ADMIT IT WAS WORSE WHILE ON THEM BUT NOW IT'S STILL THERE, I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THAT CRAPPY TO ANY ONE, I JUST HOPE WE ALL ARE FINE BECAUSE LIKE A LOT OF U WHEN U GO TO THE DOCTORS OH THEY CAN'T EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM , THANKS ACCUTANE FOR SCREWING UP A LOT OF LIVES

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Hi to all would also like to make an update started taking 5-HTP after vlads comments but was also addviced to take magnesium citrate along with it WHAT A DIFFERANCE !just look up all the benifits for yourselves im sure for those suffering with depression and muscle aches it would help not only for all the other benifits .I just hope someone could get the same relief from there pain.

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Nancy,
Please look up Candida Diet and also Three-Lac or Five Lac. Also 5-HTP helps some.

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Hi Nancy,

Thanks for your reply. It is called the Candida diet.Bee's website is probably the best and she doesn't sell anything (healingnaturallybybee).

I followed this to the T and it worked well. I have been off of it, due to the difficulty of the diet but will be going back to it. Your son may not have to follow it exactly but big things to do include:

Avoid Alcohol (Not a problem for him!)
Drink plenty of lemon water
Avoid all grains
Avoid starchy vegetables (Corn, potatoes, squash)
No milk, eggs, cheese
No caffeine
No Sugar (this is a biggie and the hardest part as almost all processed food has sugar)

Some supplements to take include Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar, Uncooked cloves of garlic, Grapefruit seed extract, SF722 (can be found on Amazon), Coconut Oil. I switched these weekly to prevent my body from being used to any one supplement. Also eventually lots of probiotics will be needed.

If your son tries it, please let us know how he does. Some exercise may help as well. If he is naturally thin with a high metabolism like myself, he should wait before exercising. Eventually Brown rice is allowed and that would help him keep weight on.

One last thing...the first two weeks were HELL. It gets worse before it gets better. His body will be cleaning out plenty of junk and it will make it's way out ;)

Best of luck to your son and any others that try it. I have heard great things about 5HTP as well.

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Hi Mick,
Thanks for getting back to me, appreciate the time you took in writing out the info. I will be looking into this for my son & will be sure to let you know how it works for him. Really is nice knowing that people out there like you & others on this Board can HELP each other during Difficult times. Glad you are doing better, may you continue with Good Health. Thanks again take Care, Nancy

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My 21 year old daughter just finished her 20mg pack of accutane and got immediate results but because she didn't suffer any serious side effects except chapped lips and slight itching her dermatologist has skipped the 40mg dose series and put her on the 60mg instead for the duration of her treatment, im very scared, shes in nursing school and works as a c.n.a. part time and is already complaining of chest pain in her muscles and feeling exhausted, she already had stomach issues before this, she got the aloe vera juice like i urged her to but does anyone know of anything to counter the horrific side effects that could happen? does the chondroiton really help or that osteo bioflex or whatever it is that claims to help protect joints? I feel so helpless knowing she has made up her mind and will not go off of it unless something serious happens but then what about the quality of life that could be shot after this is over? any suggestions are greatly appreciated...

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Uhm...I am not sure how much she weighs etc... But maybe 60mg is too much for her...Why if she was doing fine on 20mg would they bump her up 40mgs....

Honestly we don't support this drug, I have long lasting health issues and side effects that will never go away.

She should listen to her body, read all the 200 side effects and know that joint pain, gut, eye issues etc.. may or may not go away after tx.

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shes only 125 lbs and 5' 2 so i'm not sure what that was about, I didn't go to the dr. with her but her and I both agree he is very aggressive when it comes to prescribing because when she initially went in he took one look at her and made a comment about how she shouldn't have waited so long to come in, shed only been having the cystic outbreak for 5 months prior , so he immediately put her on a high dose of prednisone. She keeps stressing that she has to reach a certain level in her blood for it to really be effective, or it could possibly come back, shes so stubborn its frustrating, im trying to compose this e-mail to her making all these suggestions like reflexology at least, because she says her dr. frowns on her or anyone for that matter taking anything along with the accutane, I believe they just want to see results no matter what the cost, hes some high end dermatologist that does alot of cosmetic surgery and maby in his mind its not good business for him to have someone in his office with such severe acne, im so worried this will effect her the rest of her life, I try to stay positive I know stressing her further could exacerbate everything, but yeah, Im highly upset that he went straight to the 40s but she says she'll be on it a month less....I was telling her father I wish she could only be on the 40s and forget the high dose 60s, I had a feeling that something could go wrong on the 60s and she took her 1st dose last night, and already feeling not well, sorry for such a long post I just had to vent, im new to all this,,,hope the best for everyone....

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I understand that people don't support this drug, I don't either, i was online looking up how to overcome the horrific effects of this drug and came across this site, i just left her house today and felt a foreboding when getting back home, it's hard when their adults, she was constantly on acne.org before this...and yeah there was a typo, he put her straight on 60 mg skipping the 40s all together, sounds unethical. I'm going to read through the posts here and try to sort this out,anyways, peace and light to you and yours......

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My goodness Patti. With all the posts on here of the everlasting side effects of that devastating Accutane and your daughter still wants to take it?! I pray ever day for relief for my son for the after affects he suffers and the injectable medicine he now must take to even function. Dreadful, debilitating drug - Accutane. The effects started within 2 months of taking it and the doctor promised his "muscle aches" would go away when he stopped accutane. Now he is forever changed and can't even move without a new injectable medicine. Thanks Accutane.

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Patty.. My son took 20-30mg and started with pain on his 6th week on the drug. Within 10 wks had to quit college. His life is ruined from joint pain, stomach pain, muscle pain, chest ,and head pain so severe they gave him a lumber puncture for Intercraniel Pressure which he did'nt have.. Lost 21lb in 8 months. Could not eat and was sick amongst now Depression /Anxiety and a whole load of other things going on! He has just had his 18th B'Day. Has been off the drug since jan 2011 and did not complete the course. I recently met a guy who did a drug test trial for Accutane. He was also given Evening Primrose as well as Accutane . He did get pain on his 8th wk but his pain went after the course finished. He was also given a course of Antibiotics afterwards.
I would definately Not let recommend this drug to anyone !

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Patty,
Thanks for coming on here and telling us about your daughters experience. I understand that your daughter has to make up her own mind and most doctors these days sometimes don't like to involve other family members along during appointments. But PLEASE, try to convince your daughter for you to go along with her and ask her doctor all the questions you need to. Don't be shy, ask the hard questions. My son was put on 60 mg of Amnesteen ( generic Accutane ) for a month because pharmacy was out of the 40 mg. These is a huge mistake. It is very possible that these medications could be describe at a very very low dose and not have all the side effects. Although she may not be having all the side effects on the outside, there is a very strong possibility that long term side effects are happening inside her body. Maybe ask your daughter to come on heer and talk to another women about this. I am sure Oli Girl would be a good place to start asking about what happens 6 months, 1 year or 10 years down the road. Her doctor prescribing even more Accutane is a concern. You can only do so much and now is the time to do so. This drug doesn't give many second chances. Her cholesterol is probably through the roof, her AST and ALT liver functions are probably very high and may not return to normal. Keep an eye on her hair because it may start to thin. Watch for back pain, its a good sign that something may be going wrong. And especially watch her mood swings or unusual depression.

This drug is POISON. And as you may known, its was first marketed as a Chemo Therapy drug for certain kinds of cancer. There are many people on here that their major concern is to input personal stories of their own life or love ones only hoping we can just inform one person the liability's of taking these drugs.
Be firm with your doctor, maybe get a second opinion.
Wishing you the best. If you daughter has any questions, I will always be here to help answer any questions.
From the Heart,
Scott

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She could continue 60mg and end up with the acne coming back and major side effects that won't go away. I hate how doctors talk about being aggressive and prescribing such a high dose! I was 121 pds.

Personally I would say for your daughter to STOP Accutane and try Light Therapy.

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Hello Patty, please tell your daughter that the side effects comes years after taking this drug. My younger brother took it and thought he was invincible until he had schizophrenia 7 years later. He also has a bubble in his lungs due to taking this poison. Please let her understand that the side effects takes years to take effect. it destroys our body slowly and lets the pharma companies make a s***load of money. so by the time you actually realize that the poison you are taking is bad for you, well there is no way you can battle the side effects anymore. understand that your life will definitely be a downward spiral. she will be mad at the world forever after taking this drug. I hope you can take it from her and just let her be mad at you instead of letting her continue with the damage she is doing to her body because the consequences after are harder to deal with. Trust me. Its not worth it.

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In 1985 as a 33yr female going thru a divorce I can't know if it made me depressed. I can tell you that acne gone but I can't wear contact lenses. To this day I still go nuts 3 out of 4 weeks because my eyelids secrete too much oil. It gets trapped under my upperlids and is very hard to wash out. I try to wipe out but now I have more wrinkles on the right side due to the issue. I wish I could make this almost daily irratate go away!

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I just wanted to thanks everyone that had the courage to speak up and informed the effects of Accutane! If it wasn't for this website, I would of put my precious 14 years old daughter on Accutane. It like putting her in a "LION'S DEN", and watching her being shredded slowly for years to come. Can you imagine to live with that guilt? Because you want your daughter to look her best! But instead the look of death! This is something to think about for everyone who are thinking to use "POISON ACCUTANE"!!! I thank God for all the angels that was sent to help all of us from taking "THE POISON ACCUTANE"!!!

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This POISON DESTROYS YOU...As Soon as You take it..The effects..are IRREVERSIBLE!...
YES..it can Help with Acne...!..
Better to feel the sadness of ACNE..than to Lose Your Enjoyment of Life..and End up with a ruined BODY!...
Any questions?...
I can Show YOu just what it destroys..

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I also wanted to share a conversation between my daughter & I, that took place before I found this website. I had asked her to pray about decision on taking Accutane. And this was her answer, "YOU GOT TO READ THIS, IT GIVES ME THE CHILLS"!!! WHEN SHE PRAYED, SHE FELT THAT HER ACNE WOULD CLEAR, BUT SHE ALSO FELT THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING TO BE WRONG WITH HER INSIDE" !!! And this was my reaction, because I didn't really know anything about Accutane. This is what the doctor had said that she was a little bit young. She will need to do blood work every month to check her liver. By state law she needed to be on birth control pills, which I was so against! When she had told me about her prayer, of course at that time, the first thought that came to my mind she scared to get it done, because of needle (blood work). But then I realized that I had asked my daughter to pray to our Heavenly Father & our Lord Jesus Christ for guidance. So I started to research on Accutane, and that's where I found this website, that was confirmed to my daughter 's prayer!! "PLEASE FOR THOSE WHO ARE THINKING TO USE ACCUTANE, PLEASE READ MY DAUGHTER'S ANSWER TO HER PRAYER"!!! I truly believe that someone was led by Satan to promote Accutane "BECAUSE of MONEY & GREED". "AND TO DESTROY GOD'S CHILDREN"!!! Like I wrote yesterday, I almost put my precious 14 years daughter in a " LION'S DEN" by giving her "THE POISON ACCUTANE" & " WATCH HER SLOWLY BEING SHREDDED". YES WE ALL WANT OUR CHILDREN TO LOOK THEIR BEST, BUT INSTEAD WE SEE THEIR DEATH!! I also needed to correct the last sentence, that I wrote really late last night. I thank God to send all the angels, that gave all us warning to help us, so that we "DO NOT TAKE THE POISON ACCUTANE" or persuade anyone else to take it!!! My heart goes out to all the angels that was effected by Accutane!!!

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heyyy..i am 15 years old..i have acne 2 years now. i dont have pimples but i have red scars (the scars are actually holes). my doctor told me to take accutane but i read many sides like this one with people having so many effects..i dont know what to do..any advice??

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hello ionna.. please do not take this. It is very normal for a teenager to have pimples. I am in my mid 30s and i still get pimples. You just have to watch your diet and drink lots of water. Please for the love of God and life DO NOT TAKE ACCUTANE. IT IS A CHEMOTHERAPY Drug for people with cancer. you are healthy. you do not need this drug. It will destroy and ruin your life. Not just your physical body, but most especially your mental state. You will hate a lot of things and disagree with so many people regarding many issues and you will be narrow minded thinking people are wrong and you will go down a path of negativity. Please just get lots of sleep and wash your face regularly. do not ever take drugs for pimples. You do not want to regret this your whole life. My younger brother took this and after 7 years he suffered from schizophrenia. I dont think there is any way to reverse the harmful effects it will do to your body. The drug companies have made this drug to make billions of dollars from rich kids. they made it in such a way that when you get blood checks and things checked in your body, that they will not see anything wrong with you. that is why is is hard for them to make it illegal since there is no proof in the lab. but i am very sure that it will slowly destroy you. You can deal with your zits. trust me. its your whole life you need to live. not just your teens.

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