Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 89)
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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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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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Oli Girl-Wow, that is so strange, as I took it in the 80's and then went to medical school. I started med school in 1987. I also got my MPH during the same time period and didn't hear about any lasting side effects, but that would have been too early. I am doing research now, to see why some people have long term side effects, while others don't. I haven't found any articles in the Journals writing about conclusive direct connection between Accutane and these side effects years after using the medication. As I said earlier, when it first came out, the physicians were very careful about prescribing it. You had to meet EXTREME acne criteria (Cystic Acne, prolonged over a certain number of years, after trying every other therapeutic methods available). Today, Dermatologists simply prescribe the medication when it isn't really necessary (risks vs benefits). Thanks, I'll keep researching!

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To Josh : Don't ever, ever feel like a dumb ass. You have endured and you are smart to share your information. Be open with the people who love you. Thank God you are alive. Thank you for your compassion.

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Douglas- Acutally Patti Lodes who posted on the 1st page of this thread took accutane back 25 yrs ago and was highly damaged. I don't think there is a diffrence between then and now. There are also archived posts from 1990's of people complaining of problems.

I am glad to hear though that you have no damaging effects and accutane worked for you. You obviously had the acne it is was designed for, however, many derms are in denial and prescribe accutane like candy.

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@ Dc, Fort Worth :

Your story almost hits me dead on. Effexor was one of the drugs I was on with a few others. I had changed so so severely that my parents realized this. Trust me not sure how I am still alive today. In standardize testing I had the highest Math scores in the whole school pre accutane. Post accutane I would be lucky to remember anything. It is so frustrating because you feel like a dumb ass because you completely blank in front of people. I was not always like this.

I am sorry for your loss.

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To Kjac220 : Our son at 20 was still in college. He was on Effexor and seemed he was doing well. He held down jobs, finished in four years and had a great resume going for him. He wasn't open with us. We were a close family, but what was going on inside (long term depression starting at 17) must have scared the living daylights out of him. He told us in his letter, I was able to get by, but I had terrible memory problems. Therapists now say he didn't want to burden us. Kids get to a certain age and want to be adults and if they tell their parents how they are truly feeling, they feel they are regressing and are becoming dependent again. If I had to do this all over again, first I highly recommend one on one therapy especially if you are on or were taking Accutane. It must go hand in hand. Second, never let their bad decisions get in-between you and him. Hug him and kiss him every single day. Sit down and make him talk to you. If he just has one word answers, question those one word answers. It must be so confusing for him. Never give up even if he is down. Always tell him you are here for him. Honesty and to be totally open will only make your relationship stronger and it will give him the strength to endure.
Class action law suit...it won't bring our son back, but I love to see a change in the way the FDA, drug companies and doctors operate. Something is not right.

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Hello All,

I can't make any promises for all that have suffered from the terrible long term side effects of Accutane and its generic brands, but I would like to pass this site on to anyone that may be looking for legal advise. It's www.GacovinoLake.com

Best Wishes,
Scott
Creator of this forum

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Ronny: I actually am in the medical field and receive tons of information on Drugs, epidemiology, health care, health trends, etc. I just happened to notice an article about long-term side effects of Accutane, so I was curious. I did some research and found this site. Before now, I had never heard of side effects AFTER stopping the medication. It is true, while taking Accutane is hell, but in my case, I would do it 100 times again! Now that I know people are suffering from these effects, I will continue to track it and see what new information is published. These drug companies make us the guinea pigs, as they release medication without knowledge of the long-term effect. Probably the most controversial issue with regards to FDA approval. Actually, it is a catch 22, when we have AIDS victims dying and we rush medicine through to spare lives. One could easily make an argument for both sides. Now it makes me wonder if Accutane was different 30 years ago. One more thing to research!!

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Douglas,

I am glad to hear Accutane changed your life for the good. It sounds like you did have a severe case of acne, and Accutane was your last option. I was one of the people you referred to who probably didn't really need the medication, but my doctor said it would work with absolutely no mention of possible long term side effects. This is where my anger comes from. Anyway, just curious, why are you still researching the long term side effects of Accutane 30 years after you took if it worked so well for you? Just curious.

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I should have given you specific time frames of taking Accutane. I took one course of it almost thirty (30) years ago. I'm not sure if I am one of the first people in this forum who had started it, but I thought it should be clarified. Again, I was prescribed the medication the year it was approved by the FDA. Up until now, after thirty years, I have had no negative effects from the medication. If anybody else id on this forum who has taken it longer than thirty years ago, I'd like to know their experience. I'm great, no problems and very, very happy I decided to take it. And no, I am not from the manufacturer!

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I have to add to this forum that Accutane saved my life. After begging and begging my doctor to put me on it when I was 16 years old, he reluctantly did. This was right when the medication came out. It was brand new and no track record. Before Accutane, my life was miserable. I had severe acne and visited my dermatologist twice a week. They tried everything to get it under control. If you didn't grow up with Cystic acne, then you have no idea what it is like. People think you are dirty and don't take care of yourself. I was on the brink of committing suicide. Then, I started Accutane and had terrible side effects; nose bleeds, dry skin, dry eyes, you name it, I had it. Then, after only one course, I had almost perfect skin. The difference was truly a miracle. In my opinion, I think physicians are prescribing Accutane when it is not necessary. A 16 year old girl, with a few pimples asks for a prescription should not get it, as it is a very powerful medication. The six month course was hell! I would be in the middle of a final exam, look up and then look at my paper with blood all over it, from my nose. I had lab work done twice a month and my physician followed me very closely. To this day, I thank my physician for prescribing Accutane and making my life normal. I became a completely different person. All of a sudden, I had friends, I had a social life and ADULTS were not commenting on how dirty I was, when I washed my face three to four times a day! I am sorry if Accutane has caused some of you long-lasting side effects, but for me, it is truly a miracle drug! My life would have been so different if I never used Accutane, It gave me confidence and made me self assured. Luckily I do not have any lasting effects from taking Accutane. As soon as I stopped, the side effects went away. Now I break out every once in a while, but nothing like I did before using this medication.

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Josh,

It most certainly wouldn't surprise me if most, if not all, your problems were from Accutane. Depression and stomach issues are two big issues with this medication. I too have suffered from this medicine, though not nearly as bad as you have. It sounds like you might have a real chance at a successful lawsuit. I would get in contact with a lawyer if I were you. Here is a website I found a long time ago to maybe help get you started (http://accutane.poweradvocates.com/index.html). Good luck with your future, it sounds like you need it.

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Kathy,
I was on different antidepressants and counseling from November of 1997 to about 2000. Once I started on the antidepressant medication my grades went from Ds and Fs to As and Bs so that did help.

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Josh, can you tell me how long it was until the depression lifted and did you do anything to help it like anti-depressants? Is your mental health stable today?

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I took Accutane at age 15 in 1995. Back then we were told it makes your skin chapped and caused birth defects. Since I am a male the second did not effect me. Well a year later I went to the doctor for unknown stomach problems with no solution. From 1997-1999 I threw up everyday. In 1998 I started having really bad back pains. Planned to play college soccer but could not run because of the pain. From 1998 till now my back has gotten much worse and needed surgery. Doctor said my back was equal to a 63 year old at age 26. All my joints hurt for no reason and will not heal. Hurt so bad that some days I can barely walk and lose feeling in my hands and feet. I take about 6 Advil just to make it to work. Back to my stomach. My stomach has gotten so bad over the years that if I travel more than 30 mins from the house I have to not eat for 2 or 3 days. I got number 2 on average 4 times a day and go number 1 about twice an hour. I have been to doctors with no luck of a solution. Makes it suck because I am miserable if I go on vacation because I can not eat out and have to not eat to travel. Also have to work close to home because in my 5 min trip to work I have to stop to go to the bathroom. Can not go out to eat since I can not digest anything with grease, oils, or fried. Almost missed the birth of my twins because I was in the bathroom. All my friends and family think its funny but the stomach pains and constant discomfort is horrible.

Also I have no memory what so ever and do not sleep at night without sleeping pills.

Also shortly after taking it I went into sever depression and grades went down the tube and had to seek help for a few years.

Not sure if this is all from Accutane but after seeing the side effects and when mine started it starts to fall into place.

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My son took a six month regimen of Accutane at age 16. Within a year, his personality changed dramatically--a 4.0 student that suddenly suffered from severe depression. He is now 20 and continues to take lexapro (anti-depressant) along with abilify. He went from a bright future with scholarships and may opportunities to not being able to handle college. Any other similar stories and how you handled them? Any ideas would be appreciated. From what I'm reading, is class action suit in order?

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Oli Girl,

Thanks for sharing your links, you are ALWAYS invited leave any post here you like.

Thank you for being a huge inspiration for helping to start this forum. : )

From the Heart,
Scott

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My son took acutane for 6 months in 2005 when he was 16. He didn't have any major problems while he was taking it. But for the last 2 1/2 years he has been having gastrointestinal problems, he has had several different kinds of test done including a conlnoscopy. But they have never figured out what is wrong. It never occured to me it could be from taking acutane, until someone saw a commercial on tv about law suits. So I have decided to check into it to see if his problems could be related to taking acutane. I am trying to find the best information I can.

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Hope it's okay to post these links Scott.
To Dc,Fort Worth: My condolences are with you also.
There have been many in the fight to have Accutane taken off the market.
Here are some links and info for you.
Public Citizen
http:/­/­www.citizen.org/­pressroom/­pressroomredirect.cfm?ID=1654
Bart Stupak- Please be advise parents and others he is retiring in Jan of this coming up yr. I spoke to thier office and if his website goes down so does all the Accutane info. So I would print what you can if you want it.
http:/­/­www.house.gov/­stupak/­accutane.shtml
Dr. Douglas Bremener: Took on Roche
http:/­/­www.beforeyoutakethatpill.com/­index.php/­2009/­01/­28/­are-dermatologists-dipshits/­

I want add though Roche took thier Accutane off the market, Generics are still there and a new version of Accutane is coming out.

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Alison, I don't want to tell you what to do with your life, but I would definitely stop taking it. I'm not saying everybody gets long term side effects from Accutane, but the potential for that is very real. My doctor also told me there were no risks for long term side effects, but he was wrong. I started to feel the side effects about a year after I took the drug. Just because you don't get the side effects right away doesn't mean you can't potentially get them later. I bet your doctor also didn't tell you that Accutane wasn't originally developed as an acne drug. It was first developed as a powerful chemotherapy drug. Doctors saw that their chemo patients' acne cleared up while taking this drug, and then they started selling it as an acne medication to make more money. Anyway, I would gladly take back my acne times ten if it meant I never took this drug. It's just not worth the risk to me.

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Please STOP Allison. They will be doing blood work on you to see how much Accutane is in your body. That is why they take your blood. They are trying to make sure you are saturated in the drug before they take you off of it.

Trust me the long-term side effects are not worth it. A year ago I weighed 196 lbs. I got on the scale after a mild period of inflamation from Crohn's and was down to 168 lbs. I am 6 feet tall. I was going to the bathroom 6-10 times a day and passing undigested food. The only thing I could do to feel better was not to eat.

Went to the radiologist for an Upper GI/Small bowel follow through. I am missing 4-6 inches of intestinal wall. My body is attacking healthy cells and there is no cure for Crohn's.

I have a very large extended family and there is no another family member with any history of an IBD.

Please don't do it. I am sure you are beautiful even if you have Acne.

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