Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 74) (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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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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Yes Mitchguk, I very much do have the sore red eyes you speak of. I also have the tinnitus and joint pains.

You know, if you have certain underlying conditions it can possibly come to the surface when you take Accutane due to it's immunosuppressant properties. For example, there are probably MANY people walking around with Lyme and don't know. Either they are being treated for another condition or their symptoms are vague and may not be apparent because their immune system is keeping it in check. From my own personal experience combined with extensive research, an immunosuppressant such as Accutane can easily cause an early Lyme infection to progress into the chronic form, which is more symptomatic and difficult to treat. Not only is Lyme difficult to diagnose but it's difficult to find a Dr knowledgeable about Lyme and possible co infections.

ilads.org/lyme_disease/Primary_care_brochure_08_08.pdf

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My 27 year old daughter went on Accutane and also went into paranoid delusions. I was in FL for the month and she had started it two weeks earlier. When I got home I had to take her to Psyche U for 15 days where they put her on Olanazapine for bipolar/schizoprenia which absolutely did not work. It took about a month for her to return to her ADD self. I believe this drug caused paranoid delusions in her and would never recommend it.

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My daughter finally went on acetone after having bad acne for years. She begin about age 16-17years. Her skin cleared up nicely, however at the age of 18 her first year at college she began ton have severe pain in her knee area and had trouble walking around campus. I had her diagnosed and her first diagnosis was that it was some type of sport injury. Since she continued to complain of pain getting worse I brought her in for a second dianosis. She had and MRI done and was then correctly diagnosed with osteosarcoma a cancer of the bones. Acetone has been very controversial in terms of the belief that it can cause cancer. I feel there is a real correlation between my daughter getting cancer and her taking acetone and I am agreement with those people who say it should not be given to anyone. Had I had this information first I would have let her live with her skin until she grew out of it.

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I took accutane when I was 15.. I was an above average athlete freshman year playing football and soccer but I had cystic acne. The breakouts werent major but I decided to go on it before it got out of a hand. I was in the middle of a growth spurt which my normal doctor told me and I was well growing. Growing was my main focus and conecern being an athlete, I also started growing a year after all the other guys started to in middle school, so I was catching up. My bone structure was still very small, hadnt change sinced middle school (small hands, feet, head,wrist, genitals) but while on it my knees faced severe pain to the point I couldnt even run and the doctor had to lower my dose to 20mg. Here I am 5 years later and i havent grown an inch or gained a pound. I still have a tiny bone structure being 5.7" 130 pounds. I still look like I am 15 and underdeveloped, not because of my height but because of my features. Nothing on me has changed or grown except the fact that I started getting a little facial hair last year. As an athlete this is devestating as I feel I was cut short of my full potential. I even told my doctor that I don't want to take it if it can stunt my growth, of course she said it's not going to do that. My confidence is very low and on top of this my joint pain is slowly getting worse. I've never been depressed in my life until post accutane.

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PN your story is similar to mine. I'm 30 and the same way. I started aging at an alarming rate when I got diagnosed with UC after accutane, but my bone structure is small. My brother is 6'3 and I'm 5'7. I don't worry about that physical stuff though. You can't go back and change that, but you can change the depression and joint point. I encourage you to seek a natural doctor. Most of them know what they are doing. It will require a healing diet along with treatment for bacteria in the body. There main method of treatment is bacteria switcharoo. Switch bad bacteria out remove metal toxins and let the brain/joints/liver/thyroid heal. Once your bodys organs heal then you will feel better. No need for butt, eye, nose, throat, feet, pinky, hair, and etc etc doctors. Too many doctors for symptoms. Take care of the problem. Try to get a lawsuit in before the 5 years is up. I encourage everybody to sue even though suing them is just a game to keep lawyers employed. Believe it or not drug lawsuits don't hurt drug companies. It's about employment of lawyers so in the end we've already lost

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That is horrible, those are some serious side effects, have you seen a doctor about this? Those were side effects I somewhat had on the drug but they went a way. Does he take medications for those symptoms?

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I know my side effects aren't serious like some and you probably think I'm exagerating about my growth but I still have osgood shlatter disease which happens to young teens going through growth spurts, my dentist told me my jaw bone never widened, and my hands are the same size theyve been since I was 11 i know this because i could and still can barely grip a soccer ball for a few seconds.. I know people suffer more from other side effects but it's sad that this would have to happen to something so unnatural

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I know my side effects aren't serious like some and you probably think I'm exagerating about my growth but I still have osgood shlatter disease which happens to young teens going through growth spurts, my dentist told me my jaw bone never widened, and my hands are the same size theyve been since I was 11 i know this because i could and still can barely grip a soccer ball for a few seconds.. I know people suffer more from other side effects but it's sad that this would have to happen to something so unnatural.

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I just cannot believe that so many years have gone by since my son Was given this drug to be reading the problems such a vast majority of people are still taking it. And still having such awful effects! I mean that's been 30 years this crap drug has been given to young people for severe acne. The cost is a lifetime of various maladies that is abundantly apparent.I continue to look and read post about accutane to see if anyone else had/has the same thing that my son was stricken. Seizure disorders. So far I have not seen anyone. Thank God that he got better, and outgrew, if that be the case, and has not had any more neurological problems. But we all paid dearly his last two yeas of high school! I pray for you all out there who have/having side effects from this terrible drug!

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@CAT- I maybe can remember what my dosage was. I weighed about 160 back then so they put me on a higher dosage. I think it was 80mg a few times a day? I think that sounds right. All I know is that it was so much for my body to handle.

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Thanks for that man, maybe a class act lawsuit could make a difference but like you said we already lost. I just don't understand why more research hasn't be made, and that they still prescribe it to teenagers at such a young age. The joint pain is starting to become severe again, I am worried how my joints are going to feel in years down the road. I truly had no idea what I was getting myself into. I know the growth is irreversible so I have no other option but to over come it. I just don't understand why dermatologist don't even consider this a possible side effect, I mean for christ sake I told my doctor I don't want to take it if it could stunt my growth. It almost seems common and it can be devastating for boys who are going through a crucial stage of physical and psychological development.

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Dee.. My son also had what seemed to be siezures. But i'm not sure if that was because the head pain was so bad, my son was holding his head & his body and legs were allover the place. The doctor stood and watched him and i felf so helpless. They thought he had pressure on the brain but a lumbar puncture was given , which they said was normal. Now my boy has migraine & ringing in his ears for past 6 months so still cannot go out. He has learnt to live with joint pains etc.. 19 yrs young & no life for nearly 2 1/2 years now ! Depression & anxiety has crept in & i am helpless . He wont take meds nor talk to anyone ....

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Hello Mitchguk.. I also watched my brother have seizures. i watched him shake for like 5 minutes on his bed and while he walks. it seemed that he did not know how to stop so he just let it be ... it is very sad.. after the few attacks i saw, I think that was when the schizophrenic episodes happened. He is now on olanzapine. I think he needs it now and praying everyday that he gets better. I hope you try to find help coz I sometimes think that the earlier we brought him to get help and have medication, his schizophrenic episodes might have been prevented.... and he wouldnt have had a relapse.... wish I could hear more stories of other accutane victims and their stories and what they did or are doing.. it will surely help others suffering from the situation.

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Weird how some people claim to do absolutely fine after Accutane, while others struggle with the ill effects well after the medication has been withdrawn. Your problems are not directly due to Accutane people! Accutane only weakens your immune system, allowing hidden pathogens to surface or other ones to enter. Notice that many of you don't have an explanation for your sudden issues. It's really sad, some are so young!

lymediseaseassociation.org/images/NewDirectory/Resources/DrB_SymptomList2005Pdf.pdf

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Yes! My daughter took this when she was 16 and is now 20 and has stomach and joint issues, along with hips and back. We were told that acutane dries up the fluid that is in the joints,but it would go back to normal when she was off the pills, well it's been 4yrs and the problems are getting worse, and she's tired and in pain and is now having to take all kinds of other pills trying to help, but nothing works and no one knows how to fix it.

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I was on accutane two separate times. I have joint pain but nothing severe. My question is any women have babies with birth defects? I have two beautiful daughters 9 and 3. Both were born with fused toes and thumbs that have no middle joint. We can find no family history. Just wondering if anyone else is having Same issue.

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I can help. Let me know how to get in touch with you. I'm in Texas.

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I used accutane about four years ago for roughly 6 months. I had outstanding results within a week or two, and I have had no serious side effects as of yet. (Knock on wood.) I personally consider this to be a miracle drug, but I am grateful that I had the opportunity to decide to take it on my own when I was about 22 rather than early on when I would have needed parental consent. This is a drug that individuals should be able to make clear decisions on independently. My cousin took accutane several years ago and he has since developed Chrone's disease. May be related, who knows. I hope the same does not happen to me.

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April,

I consider it the miracle poison or the goose that laid the golden egg. Until you get the disease life is peachy then the brown stuff hits the fan. Once it hits the miracle turns into a nightmare. Accutane kills acne doesn't. You can't make educated decisions on this drug, because the doctors cover up how bad the side effects are. If they told me the truth or even said hey this is chemotherapy and hurts good and bad cells i would have said heck no. If someone would have told me natural medicine could have helped me maybe I wouldn't be as bitter as I am. Now I know it's all a lie from accutane to prednisone to lialda

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Crohns is a side effect from accutane ... Plus over a hundred and fifty other problems .. My son has been suffering for 2 1/2 years now. He was just 16 . Now he has no life due to tinnitus & migraines for the last 6 months. To go with the joint pains and other issues he suffers with ...

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