Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 6)

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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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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Nick,
Your reply reminds me so much of my son's situation. I can share your pain. Unfortunately sometimes we have to regroup and come up with a different plan. I would suggest seeing a Arthritic and Auto-Immunity Specialist for starters. They can check you for many things like full body bone scans, order blood work to check for lyme diease and other auto immunity dieases. There is a lot of information on on here that may be able to help you out. Good luck !

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ACCUTANE11 hello i am 30 year old male i took accutane when i was 16-17 for about a year and a half !!! since then i have had a really bad bloating feeling and uncomfortable pain in my right side !! but i have never had it checked ! i really felt depression back then now that i think on it im mean severly!! my mom never really followed up on things to much back then!! but i have had my liver and few other things checked since i have taken them !!! i really need help with this i know its been a looong time ago but im really jus thinking back and hearing about all the problems and long term problems of accutane use! someone tell me who i can talk to please !!! or who can i get in touch with about this sincerly eddie r.

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Dear Eddie,
If I were you, I would make a appointment to see your family doctor asap or even go to the emergency room in the hospital if you aren’t feeling well. Feeling depressed is said to be a side effect from Accutane and its generic brands but depression can be caused by many other things. Please don’t hesitate even to go to the ER right now if you feel the need to. Hospitals have people that go to the ER all the time if they are feeling depressed. There is medication that can help you. In a short period of time, you could feel well again. I don’t have all the answers to all the side effects from Accutane, but I can relate to your stomach pain etc because my son is going through the same thing. You are not alone my friend. If your having stomach problems, a gastroenterologist will be able to run test to see what’s going on. My son had a colonoscopy last August and it was negative to any serious matters, but he still deals with some of the same things you are talking about. My son has Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and it can be treated with medication. You can email me anytime and I will try to get back to you asap just to talk. Sometimes just talking to others that are going through some of the same issues we are having helps us all out a lot. Years ago when you took this medication, we did not have the internet to be able to communicate with others at the drop of a dime and also look up medication side effects. Chances are the doctors would have known a lot less about the drug then and if you Mom would have pursued any side effects you may have had at that time, she would have got nowhere. The important thing going on is what’s happening right now and seeing a medical doctor to tell him about your symptoms so they can help. Hang in there my friend, everything is going to be OK, just go see a doctor for advice and he will be able to help you out. Email me anytime and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Good Luck !
Let us know how you make out...

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Yeah, you know I posted a reply 3/19. I would definitly recommend talking to your doctor if any serious side effects occur. I myself when i took accutane quit after about 5 weeks as did my brother because our bodies were telling us to stop, by then most my acne was cured. I did get one baseball size cyst on my back while finishing the medicine but otherwise everythign was okay. Now, seriously my brother has been to the Mayo Clinic for a joint and bone/mustle pain disorder for years, he told me he had his insurance cover upwords 100k in medical expenses do to this. My brother who took accutane had complained of joint and mustle pain ever since taking accutane so perhaps they are connected even though it has not been proven. 3 years after I took accutane my back gave out unexpectedly when I was 28 and I've had on and off back pain ever since, I can't attribute this to that drug either, but who knows. Really if you take the drug long enough to get rid of the bad part of your acne I think its more worth than being permenantly scared really bad rest of your life. I would never take any medicine that the side effects out weigh the benefits of the drug, but for me it was choice i don't regret because I was a mess acne wise before i took this drug. And yes I'm glad i quit before I finished the full course.

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not worth the risk!!!!

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please everyone, this is not worth it..it is only a matter of time before the fda yanks this....i will have days where i can function but 40% of the the time i cannot...but could before accuatnce. the frustrating thing is that there is no way to rpove it...i think i need to go to an aoutimmune dr...my family dr hAS BEEN GREAT...LOOKING BACK NOW I REALIZE THAT i should have just drank wayyyyy more water and eliminated wheat/gluten (just eat corn & rice) and no dairy or eggs...the human body was never meant to consume these...get some sun...aka vitamin d and i knownyour skin will clear...also my teenage girls have really benefitted from taking the pill for thei skin since it is all about hormones. so...what have all ofn you found out from autoimmune docs? good luck and try the natural path..WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! alos i am always so exhausted now i could sleep 12 hours each night crazy!!!

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Lisa,
I have taken my son to three arthritis and auto-immunity doctors. The ones I have seen have been non profit centers that receive most of their funds from pharmaceutical companies. To this point, these doctors have denied any wrong doings from the drug Accutane and it’s generic brands but one of these doctors did order a full body bone scan and a colonoscopy for my son which was very helpful. If you haven’t already, I would suggest seeing a Arthritic and Auto-Immunity Specialist. Also if you are having any stomach problems, I would suggest seeing a Gastroenterologist. I truly share your concerns.

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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 took 2 rounds of accutane when I was around 21 years old. I had the chapped lips etc but really thought it was no big deal, as a few negative short term side effects were the price you had to pay to get clear skin for the rest of your life. I had always been an honor student, in high school and college. I was athletic as well, playing basketball, volleyball, track, competetive swimming. I loved life and had tons of friends, loved going to parties etc. I did have some aching in my legs, dry face, sensitive eyes, bouts of diarrhea, but ignored it. Looking back, I started withdrawing from others, more and more. I felt flat. I was bone tired and wanted to sleep.

I am now 46. My bones hurt all the time. One disk in my hip is totally dessicated. Three other disks have spurring and arthritis. My vitamin D levels are so low I have to take 4000 units a day. My skin is so dry, so itchy, as well as my eyes, and sinuses. I have headaches all the time, so I had a MRI of the brain. There is some sort of strange diffuse damage on both sides, but no one knows what. My hair is so thin and scraggly, my scalp is always itchy.
I'm now told I have low thyroid. My stomach is always feeling sick. I take all kinds of medicines - for thyroid, anti-depressants for the pain, narcotics for the pain. Even with all that, I still hurt all the time. No one knows why. I don't feel too great, obviously, so I've pretty much lost all my friends. Not feeling well and being so tired, I also am more easily angered. I lost my job and have not worked in 2 years. All I want to do is sleep.
I can't say for sure whether all of this is from taking accutane, but I would be surprised if there was no connection. Why would I have a dessicated disk in my hip otherwise? Everybody says I have changed. By the way, I still get pimples! For me, the best way to get clear skin is to take vitamins, such as zinc, selenium, all the B vitamins, vitamin C, a multivitamin without iodine, lay off the milk, mayo, carbs and sugar. I use proactive sometimes, but now I'm really loving the olay oil free products. I use retin-a every few days, a topical appication of milk of magnesia at times, a sulfur based mask.
My bones and joints hurt so much, particularly my neck, which causes nonstop headaches.
I have never posted any comment on the internet. After reading the stories here, I just felt I had to. Again, I don't know if accutane played a role in my demise. My heart tells me that it did.
I am begging all of you not to take it. Please try going to an endocrinologist first - see if your homone levels need adjusting. Please try changing your diet first.
I will pray for you all.
Please pray for me too. Please pray that all who suffer will be given relief. God bless you all

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Dear Anna,
Thanks for your recent reply on a post I started last summer. As a father of a son that has similar health issues, I can relate to your post from the bottom of my heart. You are now in my daily thoughts and prayers.

Unfortunately, I understand what you are saying when talking about how the doctors of our time simply can't explain or don't want to explain what these drugs have done to some people months and even many years after taking them. Please check back to this site when you can, although we seem to not be able to get the medical treatment and answers we deserve from our medical doctors, we all must believe that soon, all of our questions about the Causation of Accutane and its generic brands will be answered. And these drugs will be pulled from the market forever.

I have taken by son to many so called specialist that claim to be the best in the world including the Cleveland Clinic, and still I search for a doctor that puts his integrity of helping patients above the down sides of admitting these drugs if anything, should have been taken for chemotherapy for cancer and nothing else PERIOD. I don't believe I have mentioned this on any of my post, recently I called John Hopkins Hospital in Maryland in regards to my sons health concerns and although they could make no promises on placing any medical problems on any past medications, they have a doctor that does not except insurance money to see him. You pay around $500 for the initial visit and if any test are needed there after, medical insurance can be used. From my past experiences with our so called specialist of our time, some of them are non-profit operations which just happen to except a money from anybody to stay afloat. This seems to be were Pharmaceutical Companies have and keep a upper hand on pushing new drugs and keeping many drugs flowing through many patients to create more of a profit to make them some of the most wealthiest corporate companies in the world.

I now believe that one must find a specialist in the causation of Accutane that is not connected in anyway to Insurance and Pharmaceutical Companies to find the truth not on only how these drugs have effected some of us but most of all to find out what medical test, drugs and vitamins etc what can help us continue living the best life we can.

Anna, I am not qualified to give any medical advise, but please try to connect to your friends you mention in your post. I would bet they are waiting to hear from you and care very much about you. E-mail me anytime if you would like to talk. There are also other people on this page that I am sure would share there personal stories taking this medication and how they are coping to get by. I would be more than happy to pass your name on to them.

Best Wishes,
From the Heart,
Scott

If there is a medical doctor out there reading this please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are all waiting to from YOU !

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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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I FEEL AS IF I CAN HELP ALL OF YOU!! my mom is an absolute health food nut.. normally i don't agree with everything she brings home but this stuff is awesome!! it's called ISAGENIX it is all natural and it's a cleanse.. everything everyone on here is saying all points to one thing toxins ACCUTANE IS TOXIC. isagenix not only cleanses your body of toxins which can help all of this chronic pain and ridiculous long lasting effects of accutane but it makes your body healthy. so do some research on this stuff and check out the testimonies it is absolutely amazing!!

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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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Hi all.
Back when I was 16 i took accutane and none of this knowledge was available.Mine was given to me by a Air Force medical doctor and i went thru the pain in the stomache..large cracks in my skin from smiling lips bleeding and whatnot.When i tried it the drug was still experimental and now both my parents and I hate the sound of the name of this drug.Yes i have clear skin but then i have a ton of aches and pains that the doctors can't explain either.While i was in the military in 88-92 i hurt myself pretty good in the back area and they put me thru some things that allowed me to ignore the pain in my back and learned how to deal with pain on the whole.I would NOT suggest this to anyone as this has caused me some problems.
Thank you for all your posts and time

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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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