Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 91)

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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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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I'm so sorry to hear what your niece and family have gone through. It's really terrible. I hope she and the family can find peace if there is no justice for her, but I think justice will come eventually.

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Hello!! My name is Michael and I've gone through seven years of absolute hell after taking accutane. From bleeding gums, terrible IBS, joint pain, not sleeping but being exhausted at all times. Recently my doctor suggested a low dose anti depressant and I blew it off. Yes I was extremely depressed because of it but I needed help with everything else. Finally I did research like I always do and found out you need a chemical for your mind that makes digestion of nutrients available and I thinks its seratonin but I think it was blocked. Anyways I went back asked for the pills and my mind and body are finally slowly healing. I was afraid I would go crazy on them but they have been a godsend. I started low then after a month went to 20 mg. one weird but awesome thing was after I started feeling better my libido went way up. Probably to where it should have been for a 30 year old but I was so sad and in pain I wasn't feeling it. I tried every natural therapy and supplement and did chiropractic all the way to growth hormone therapy. Now if you try it my way don't drink coffee it wasn't helping my body and mind heal I may reintroduce it later no time soon though. The medication I take is citalopram but may look into others too. Look it up for ibs. Seriously. I also take trazadones for sleep I sleep great and it's supposed to help the medication work better. Best of all to you. {edited for privacy}

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I have all the same symptoms and worse ,going on my second back surgery , ny life is ruined . 36f I can't prove it or i would sue

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I feel really bad for people who have bad side effects from accutane. I have been having some issues since being off but I've only been off 2 months. However I don't believe they should remove it. Well they removed accutane brand but the other brands are still out. There are so many people it helps and even saves because a lot of people commit suicide or have depression from acne. And some people have acne so severe that I can't believe people would think they shouldn't take a chemo drug. Yet even moderate forms can be painful. I couldn't sleep because of oil that was like sweat and from painful sores all over my face chest and back. There are a lot of happy smiles off accutane. The doctor just needs to make sure to inform them somehow. I took accutane because I was ready to die really. It was a risk I understood and I decided on my own. Others should be able to decide on their own too. Taking this drug off would be like telling cancerous patients or flue patients or whatever that you are taking their drug off because some people get bad side effects or consider them not worth it. And I have a friend who died from cancer this past year who had body image issues and she said that her body image issues were all she focus on over her cancer even. And that the depression she had from them was worse than the cancer and tumor she had going through her skin. So yes people need to be able to make the decision on their own. We shouldn't take it off. But I really do feel really bad for people who get the side effects. I hope your son can find ways to enjoy life.

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Please put your son on 6 grams of taurine per day. 3x 2 grams each. Everyone with long standing symptoms from joint pain, to digestive problems. We are working on a theory.

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I'm so sorry I feel the same way.. Please read my response about about going on a low dose of a good antidepressant I think it helps with the psychological effect and helps the body slowly heal. I think the accutane shuts off a chemical the brain sends to the rest of the body so that's where trouble starts and gets worse and worse

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Yes Haley,
After taking a third round of Accutane I also developed vulvodynia and a increase in my IBS symptoms. I have no doubt Accutane caused the vulvodynia and my dermatologist agrees. There is very little information on this.

Mary

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My son was put on generic Accutane at age 14. At age 16 he was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia. One day after his 18th birthday he went into the hospital for a bone marrow transplant. Two years later he died in my arms at the hospital. I know in my heart that the generic accutane was what made his own minutes system kill off his platelets and red blood cells. I wish I could take it all back and never allowed the doctor put him on this!!!! I remember having to sign paperwork that we wouldn't hold the doctor responsible for anything. The week after the funeral I received a generic letter from a lawyer in Texas, far away from where we live that they somehow showed that my son had taken this med and wanted us to join the lawsuit that was going on. I so wish I kept the letter and followed up but I was told by one of his doctors that we wouldn't be able to prove that is why he died. I think he sent it down from heaven to tell me that this was the cause of him getting sick. So if there was a lawsuit back then I don't know if another suit can be done. I live with severe depression, PTSD, and cry every day.

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This sounds like the problems people were having from Retin-A in the 80s and 90s. I see that the generic has the word "retin" in it, so.... you guys really should get together and file a class action suit. SERIOUSLY

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About a year ago I went gluten free. I found that my asthma symptoms improved greatly being on this diet. I cut my steroid inhaler cold turkey. That was a huge mistake. Although my asthma was 60% better without steroids, stopping the medicine abruptly caused some side effects. Shortly after stopping symbicort I began to stutter, short term memory loss, manic type behaviors. Thank God for a caring wife, and my faith. My faith in God and belief that these symptoms would dissipate helped my attitude, and ultimately the symptoms did resolve them self. Moral of the story- and an unfortunate lesson learned consult your doctor before making medication changes.
Take good care,
Breathing easy

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Have you considered a natural home remedy such as aloe vera gel?

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Breathing easy, I think you may have posted on the wrong thread.

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I took accutane when i was 20-21. That would have been 1982-1983. I also underwent frequent blood tests to make sure my triglycerides stayed within normal limits. About a month into treatment, I developed a mystery illness that doctors never diagnosed. It involved very high fevers and red blotches all over my body, vomiting. My dermatologist discontinued accutane until i was well (but was sick for a couple weeks. I started my treatment. Over again. It did nearly 100% cure the cystic acne. A year later I had cosmetic surgery in San Francisco for residual scarring. I just turned 54 and i started developing elevated liver function tests about 5 years ago, tested for hepatitis A, B & C a few times. And have been neg. Last month my liver enzymes were highly elevated again. Also, starting about a year ago i have daily painful, throbbing and unsightly edema from knees to toes, finger clubbing, cyanosis of fingernails and toenails, and such severe mid back pain nearly every day that can bring me to tears. It feels bony not muscle pain. Though i get muscle spasms too. I have osteoarthritis in one shoulder and no history on injury to mid back or shoulder. A sudden septic bursitis under my elbow that required antibiotics and draining. As it healed, a tendonitis radiating from that elbow down forearn,and MRi confirmed that. But no injury preceeded it. My blood oxygen saturation has been low, and often wont register. I've never smoked. I also began losing a lot of hair in the past year as well. I dont have any answers for any of this. Can this be a post-accutane syndrome of some sort? Any info? {edited for privacy}

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Get tested for b12 immediately. You have a methionine deficiency in your liver. Get nature's made SAM-E and start taking 400mg, up to 1200mg. For your liver....also take B6, 2000 mg taurine.

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In response to advice given....I have been vegetarian for about 7 years and only drink bottled water and homemade iced tea made from green tea, black tea, hibiscus, water and 100% pure aloe vera. I buy it by the gallon. I take vitamin supplements but not b12 or SAM-E specifically. I tried dandelion root for liver cleanse without success. I live in a very healthy environment...very good air quality. Had my house tested for radon. Never let people smoke in the house. I use an air purifier. But my oxygen sat is too low (started just over a year ago.) Has there been any legal suits against maker of accutane?

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Vegetarians are notoriously low in methionine as well.

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Are there any medical tests that have shown a relationship of low blood oxygen to taking Accutane? I'm certain that this drug destroyed my sports career in the 80's. I was an all-around athlete and excelled especially in wrestling and track. Of course, my stamina was permanent gone after taking Accutane. I've been searching for answers for over 30 years now. Just starting to take SAM-e and Taurine as suggested by Notthis.

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According to a spine surgeon I went to see "Accutane causes degenerative disc disease", which I have now. I took very good care of my back my whole life.

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Accutane destroys mucous membranes throughout the body. The lungs have bronchial mucosa. As well as mucous membrane bladder lining, gut lining, mouth, nasal passages, rectum, joints. When the mucous membrane is comprised disease happens. We all got dried the F out.

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