Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 8)
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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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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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Honestly I've tried everything as well. I went to the doctor and am on citalopram hydrobromide which is either an anti depressant or anti anxiety but after a few weeks I feel great mentally because I think this drug has caused copius amounts of anxiety so hopefully over time helps other things my joint pain is gone. Also taking VSL #3 it's a medical grade pribiotic for stomach issues. We'll see how it goes! After 8 years I am hopeful

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We need to take legal action for the other illnesses accutane caused or Roche is just waiting us out.

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So am I, all over my face. Very depressing.

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I also took Accutane (2 courses about a year apart). I now have scalp psoriasis which is awful.

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I completely understand the lack of reproduced cells and the terrible effects it has on the body... I have a lack of Dopamine production due to, what I believe, caused by accutane... I am now 37 and have a disease that has altered not only my body, but the future of my whole family...

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Viki, I also suffer from many problems that are linked to accutane. I have had a kidney transplant 14 years ago. My kidneys scared over 12 years until they were gone. I also have degenerative arthritis through out and unexplainable pain and weakness. I dont know if it is from all of my medical problems, but I forget where I am or what I am doing out of the blue, which causes people to get very frustrated at me. I found a company called Young Living that sells natural essential oils, I am not trying to sell this, it has been some help to me. They dont claim to cure problems just help in wellness. I dont think it is a fast help but more like a continued help.

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I just turned 40 and took it in the 90s and am dealing with similar symptoms. Degenerative disc disease, interstitial cystitis, knees and shoulders, terrible soreness whichever side I sleep on.

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I am searching for answers... I am a mother of 5 daughters and age 37 diagnosed with early onset Parkinsons disease... I believe that it's due to having taken accutane approximately 5 months, and 7years ago. I have accidentally came upon information about the correlation between accutane and neurological degenerative diseases. I have a serious problem with my future and trying to find more people who are having problems related to these degenerative diseases. I was going to be a nurse some day... No longer... I am on disability since 4 years ago... Due to symptoms and sever fatigue in my upper extremities and muscle and nerve damage. I also suffer from some memory issues. If anyone has any similar issues please contact me at {edited for privacy}

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I took Accutane twice, once in 1992 and once in 2006, I am now 39 years old. In October of 2013 I started feeling muscle and joint pain, bloody stool, and generally fatigued all the time. In December 2013 I had a colonoscopy and confirmed Ulcerative colitis, I was prescribed Prednisolone and Asacol, the Ulceratve colitis is now under control. The main problem I suffer from now is arthritis in my hands, feet, wrists,shoulders, and neck to name the main constant areas along with Reynauds Syndrome and unexplained weight loss. I have a rheumatologist and have confirmed a high ANA which is autoimmune disease (Ulcerative Colitis is also auto Immune). I have been through so many blood tests over the last year and a half and am seeing a rheumatology specialist at the University of central florida, and no one can find the root cause of my problems. I have brought up the fact that I took Accutane several times with my doctors and they have so far blown it off. Until mid 2013 I was very active and healthy, now I am always exhausted and simple tasks like opening a bottled water makes my hands hurt. I am hoping to find others that are in a similar condition and maybe there is a way to collaborate to find some sort of relief in order to get back to a normal life. I would really like to know if there are others suffering the way I am, so far it has not been able to be explained medically and this isn't something that runs in my family.

Regards, Brian

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Angela, when did you take it? I don't suffer from back problems, but I had a large bike removed out of the blue, inflamed bowel, ulcerative colitis. This was 3 years ago now, took the drug when I was 16-18, im now 34. I can't find anyone to take my legal case on even though in the US they have dedicated lawyers fighting the company Roche. If anyone knows of anyone who might take this on in the UK I would be in your debt for the rest of my life

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Going in for second back surgery! Took Accutane many times with constant pain everywhere and would love to get in on a legal case for back issues bones etc. How can we find enough people? The more we get the bigger the case. I'll find a lawyer when we get enough people with similar symptoms.

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Jay just think, your happy about taking a chemotherapy drug. A chemotherapy drug that stops fast reproducing cells from continuing. Accutane clears acne by stoping the sebatious glands under your skin from producing their natural oil. So that said have you noticed that almost all the people are complaining of spinal disc problems and shoulder muscle problems long term at an early age. when a person ages the matrix supporting the muscle and bone tissue starts to decrease as the cells get to the end of thier reproductive life. A chemotherapy drug like accutane shortens these same cells reproductive life almost like premature aging, because there was not a cancer disease to attack, just a healthy body with acne.Now as time goes on, because of no cancer you live longer and then a body is subjected to the long term side effects of cells ending their life ealy ( mainly muscle and joint problems). good luck hope all is o.k.

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I have just completed 8 months on accutane and yes my lips and eyes are dry, I've had some pain in my heels but this is what you get warned about. My skin has cleared up fabulously and you are only likely to suffer anxiety/depression if you have a history of it. I've had no problems on it and it was worth trying it to rule anything else out. Whether it worked or not I could stop trying all sorts of skin potions because this is the daddy of all acne treatment. Luckily for me it has worked and my spots might come back yet for some people they do for some they don't. It has the same dangers as any medication that you put in your body. Just be sensible and aware and you'll be fine. You can always stop and talk to your doctor if you're really unhappy at any part of your treatment

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My son took Accutane in the late 90s for acne. Now he is having trouble with high blood sugars and high triglycerides..I am so devastated because I just know it's from the accutane...my heart breaks

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Which one? Great Lakes Gelatin? Green one? How long have you taken it?

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And ... I want to say thank you for your kind words and encouragement, it is appreciated!!

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My son's case is a bit different... he has precocious puberty- puberty started in when he was 17 months old. He had hormone suppression therapy to hold it off as long as possible, and stopped treatment when he was ten. He's now in full blown puberty with a bone age of about 16-17. That's probably why they thought it'd be okay for him. Definitely not your average case.

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I'm healing after 7 years of the terrible side effects of this drug. It took a long time for me to find something that helps and I know it will take time to heal but I've been making bone broth and taking beef collagen powder from Amazon the collagen/gelatin helps joint and muscle pain and helps seal the gut to help with digestion. Nothing else has helped and I've tried everything. Hope this helps

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This breaks my heart to hear that an 11 y.o. would even be started on Accutane... WHAT kind of dermatologist would even recommend doing so at that age?!

I hope your son's condition (both acne and post-accutane pain/issues) improve soon... and that you will not carry the guilt that you feel. I felt the same when my son was on it at age 17 for one week.

My son continued on antibiotics for a few weeks following accutane but decided he wanted to be drug free and stopped. He takes nothing now but has been using tea tree oil to wash with and epiduo cream. He still has a lot of acne, but not nearly as bad as before the tea tree oil or when his face literally erupted the one week on accutane (took two months for it to clear up somewhat after that one week).

Again, don't be too hard on yourself but steer clear of this poison. Acne is awful, but as my son said, the side effects and what we have read sound far worse. There are things people deal with far worse than acne, but we do know how devastating it can be to someone with cystic acne. Hang in there and best wishes!

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My 11 year old son was taking 60 mg daily for about 7 weeks to treat very severe cystic acne. He stopped in part because the dermatologist wanted him to have a 2 week course of antibiotics. That said we have made the decision to stop the med because he has been having joint pain, muscle weakness, and all around discomfort. Our formerly active guy now hobbles around like an old man. Derm ordered a CK test for him today. I don't know that it matters. I am terrified I've screwed up my son for life. I am hoping since he didn't take it for long, his symptoms will eventually go away but seeing people's stories here, I am VERY scared. He has been off the med for 7 days with absolutely no improvement in his pain so far.

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