Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 77)
(Newest replies 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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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?

REPLY

REPORT

ALL drugs have side effects. I was on Accutane 40mg daily for two years, then continued with 40mg weekly for another 3 years. I think the extended amount of time of my treatment was not normal - usually a full dosing is 6 months or so...but my skin had a positive response with as little as 40mg weekly for years. I have not had negative side effects from this drug...I know folks who have and reading these posts, sorry to hear what some of you are experiencing. Is it possible to isolate all other health issues and blame one drug? Not sure, but note the risk in taking any pharmaceutical...it is your choice to take it.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

@Hunter,

That's pretty much how it turned out for me. I had the chapped lips like no other! Talk about chap-stick absorbing lips. Anyhow I've only been off of it since 2006, but have not experienced any internal/external problems afterwards. I only took it for about 6-7 months though; I don't know how you were able to manage it for as long as you did, but it's good to hear that you came out on the good end of it too.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was on it for several years. At first it was only supposed to be prescribed for one year, because it was a very new drug, and not fully tested at the time. But by the end of my first year ('89), they said it was okay to take it for another year, as long as it wasn't hurting my liver (I took monthly blood tests to test my liver). I ended up taking it for 4 years in a row when my cystic acne didn't stop. I had all the temporary side effects like the chapped lips, dried orifices, etc., but it ended up really helping me, and now, after all these years, I've had none of the side effects that I'm reading about on here. I've got to admit, I'm kind of freaking out right now reading about all these bad experiences that people have had. I'm 40 now, and other than many acne scars from my college years, I have no more acne and I'm a happy and confident man.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Brandy,
I read your post and although I ususally just read through others to see if they have symptoms that are similar to mine, I thought I would respond to yours. I took a course of accutane at age 16 (1994) and again in 2007. A year after that last course in 2008, I began having sever stomach cramps and pain, especially after eating certain foods. Most of the culprits would be fruits, dairy and anything remotely spicy. I lived off of Gaviscon antacid; I would take 2 immediatly after I felt like my stomach was headed south. I finally went to a gastro Dr. and had an ultrasound done, which showed some "sludge" in my gallbladder. That seemed to be the culprit, so I ended up having it taken out. It has helped tremendously, although I do wake up many mornings from a stomach ache; which seems to happen if I haven't eaten for quite a while or have had quite a bit of sugar the day before (sweets). The stomach ache actually goes away if I eat a piece of toast or something to absorb the acid? Either way, I would have some testing done. Who knows if its due to accutane or not, but I understand trying to live with stomach pain like that is unbearable and highly recommend looking into it! Good luck and best wishes!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

@brandon- As someone who came off the drug 2 months ago thought i'd send you a reply. I like you came off it as soon as I read this message board- The typical side effects stopped for me gradually over about 3 weeks.....I was on it for 3 months. I think the only difference about me now is I'm more dehydrated than I ever remember being. I think everything else is the same as before. Although it has cleared my skin considerably and my acne hasn't yet returned, so I guess it did all it was going to- (I find this really sad as I regret going on the drug, even with such results.....).When i first discovered all these messages I felt like such an idiot as I had always tried to steer clear of the drug (but my drs always pushed for it) and I was really upset for weeks afterwards. I guess I just wanted to say not to worry-that whatever happens you will start to feel yourself again i'm sure. I was even experiencing 'temper' issues and crying quite a bit- but now i'd consider myself to be back to normal. Yes its quite frightening- I was even aware of the changes at the time, i just saw it as 'if i can get thru this drug i'll be ok'. what a stupid thing to think! we trust doctors far to readily. I'm glad to have at least learned that- they're not always the answer, especially for things that arent life-threatening.

I wish you all the best, Melissa x x x

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

To Ronny:

I did not take accutane when I was pregnant. I had my first pregnancy ten years after the last time I took accutane.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Actually, when I took accutane, we didn't have all the resources we have today. I couldn't just "look it up" online. Try not being so judgmental, it will improve the quality of your life.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

@Mary if you email me I can put you in touch with the lady that can send you information on the subject. I can give you want I know and it's Young Living Oils one of the ones is Helichrysum, but there might be a certain combo that would work best depending on your girls needs. So email me and I can give you Julie's email and you can ask her to send you directly the information for the ears. She has me on her mailing list. She knows Dr. Gary Young and has work along side him many times.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

@Shelly - Can you please post some details about the oil compound which you are reporting has helped people get their hearing back?

Thanks!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I am currently on accutane I have been for 2 months and I am extremly happy I found this post, as of right now I'm not taking the drug anymore so thank you for all who shared there story rest easy knowing you saved at least one person. I have the same side effects as most others taking the drug, dry lips and face and I noticed a small rash about a week ago. Does anyone know if these side effects will go away since I have not been on it long? If not I'm going to loose it and rip my doctor a new one because I to was under the impression that they were temporary.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

@Mary...That was the first thing I was diagnosed with too is the IBS, now they connect that to gluten problems in our foods. Mary this is a guess on my part, but I am thinking that this awful medicine "Accutane and it's other names it's under" causes problems in the gut too and makes us sensitive to glutens. What I noticed taking it the second time in 93/94 was that I became allergic to poison oak. I never had a problem with it before I could rubbed it all over me and not be sensitive to it and then after taking the Accutane. I can't be anywhere near it. I I believe the Accutane changed my body in many ways. But not realizing how important it was not to eat the glutens has caused the worst damage to me, I have problems with every organ in my body and my brain too. I still feel the Accutane planted the seed for other problems to happen.

Mary if you like to write me I can send you some information on an oil that has helped people get their hearing back. My husband has hearing loss due to a childhood ear infection, but his isn't fixable he's got missing ear parts due to the infection. To what degree are your daughters?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

To Mary B:

This was taken directly from this website:
http://www.drugs.com/pro/accutane.html

" Accutane must not be used by female patients who are or may become pregnant. There is an extremely high risk that severe birth defects will result if pregnancy occurs while taking Accutane in any amount, even for short periods of time. Potentially any fetus exposed during pregnancy can be affected. There are no accurate means of determining whether an exposed fetus has been affected.

Birth defects which have been documented following Accutane exposure include abnormalities of the face, eyes, ears, skull, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and thymus and parathyroid glands. Cases of IQ scores less than 85 with or without other abnormalities have been reported. There is an increased risk of spontaneous abortion, and premature births have been reported.

Documented external abnormalities include: skull abnormality; ear abnormalities (including anotia, micropinna, small or absent external auditory canals); eye abnormalities (including microphthalmia); facial dysmorphia; cleft palate. Documented internal abnormalities include: CNS abnormalities (including cerebral abnormalities, cerebellar malformation, hydrocephalus, microcephaly, cranial nerve deficit); cardiovascular abnormalities; thymus gland abnormality; parathyroid hormone deficiency. In some cases death has occurred with certain of the abnormalities previously noted.

If pregnancy does occur during treatment of a female patient who is taking Accutane, Accutane must be discontinued immediately and she should be referred to an Obstetrician-Gynecologist experienced in reproductive toxicity for further evaluation and counseling. "

Sorry to hear about your misfortune.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I didn't have any side effects and I took it at 14 and again in my 20s. I am now 45 and after reading all of these posts, I wonder about a couple of things, like IBS, which I have not been diagnosed, but have some symptoms.

On the other hand, my twin daughters were born with a hearing impairment that was discovered when they were 5 yrs. old. This is what scares me and makes me sick to my stomach. Ugh.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Shelly, thank you for your comments. You know, I did take the girls to an allergist when they were 6 and the one did show a wheat allergy. Hmmmmm.... I couldn't find any symptoms, but maybe this is it.

Thanks again!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

@ Mary it's have caused birth defects and many years later. But don't beat yourself up over it, you didn't do it knowing this. Mary our foods today are so toxic since I went on a strict gluten free diet following Dr. Osborne on line recommendations it's helped my skin and no more migraines and headaches are rare. Usually the skin is a reflection on what is going on in the body and many thing play a part in it and one is diet. She might just be allergic to something. Talk to your doctor about this. More and more people are finding out around the area I live they have gluten sensitivity. Most people buy process foods and even thinking we aren't we still are with the GMO's foods and all. The organic meats I was buying I am allergic to and found out they weren't just grass fed like I thought. Some of these animals are being fed grains and soybean. OMG are we kidding and they call this organic and gluten free, in no way is this gluten free another mistake people make they aren't eaten a TRUE gluten free diet!

Put warning in front of Accutane in the search engines and you wont believe what comes up! It's scary!

Best wishes with your girls. Like I saw there is a lot of natural things to help heal acne. Some it's zinc, some it's coconut, and...on and on...

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

any body taken[PROSPERIOUfarmer or Liver flow orAngeleica?they ha ve given me the MOST awful runs wot can i do?Any ideas

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was one of the first patients to take accutane when it became available. I was 14 years old and suffered from severe acne. Sure, there were side effects. Dry lips, skin, hair...., but my acne cleared up and I couldn't have been happier. I took it again in my early 20's with the same side effects.

When I was 32 I gave birth to twin girls. When they were 5 it was discovered that they have a hearing impairment. They are now 13 and one of them has bad acne and so far any topical treatments we have tried, haven't worked. I talked to our pediatrician about putting her on Accutane. She strongly advised against it because of all the side effects. When I told her that I took it two different times, the look on her face said it all. What if that is the cause of my daughters' hearing impairment? The thought sickens me. I have alot of research to do......

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I took Accutane back in the early 80's I really don't remember the exact year. I took it again in 1993/1994 fill term this time and was getting really sick with this health problem and that health problems so from the first time using it to the second time things were slowly happening and it got really bad with the second dose. Until all the awareness came out on this drug did I put the puzzle together and was able to trace it back to the first time I ever took it. So may you wont show signs at first or maybe you wont know that your health problems ever so small is actually caused from this drug like in my case. If it wasn't for taking it the second time I don't think I would be as nearly bad at this point. From head to toe inside and out I have problems!

@Joy I have Chronic Joint Pain too it's not good! Sorry to hear this!

And there are natural ways to treat acne that we are aware of today thanks to the internet and if that scares a person go to a Nature Path for help there is no reason to take this type of drug!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Wow, I am really freaked out now! I took Accutane in my early teens, around when I was 13 or 14 and now I am 25. I haven't had any negative long-term side-effects but I'm now afraid I will. Is it possible to manage to take Accutane and escape the effects? I'd like to believe that I'm just lucky and avoided them, but hopefully they're not just waiting in the wings. Is there anyone else out there who hasn't had problems since taking it?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I took accutane at 17. I later married and had my first child at 26. I did not have any problems with becoming pregnant and my children seem to be fine. I'm now 37 and just started my third round. I have chronic joint pain but I considered that the result of hard physical exercise. I have started to worry about this round.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I had Harvoni treatment last spring. I am not the same. My nervous system is a wreck. My anxiety problems have increased...

263 REPLIES

What are the long term effects of the brain and mood changes in people taking 30mg of oxycodone for years? Do they act w...

6 REPLIES

My wife has been using Nexito Plus for the past 4 years. She is doing good, but she feels sleepy in the morning time and...

3 REPLIES

my boyfriends complaining after taking large dosages prescribed by doctors for sleep that he feels loss of sight, blurre...

3 REPLIES

My doctor just prescribed me Tramadol for a chronic back pain issue. If I take this med every night, will there be any l...

2 REPLIES

I have been taking clopidogrel 75mg + atorvastatin 10mg + metoprolol 10mg + telmisartan 40mg for the past 3 years since ...

1 REPLY

I am 41 yrs male.For the past one month occasionally one or two of my fingers move sideways without my control and then ...

1 REPLY

My father has been prescribed ecosprin 75 along with Dytor plus 10mg, prolomat XL and cardace 2.5 by a cardiologist. He ...

1 REPLY

I was just prescribed this medication by my doctor, because of irregular periods. For the past 2 years I have had my per...

1 REPLY

Folks, like everyone else who has started MULTAQ, I am having second thoughts about it's effectiveness. When I first...

1 REPLY