Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 92) (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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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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Hazem (# 1916) --

Actually I took accutane for 7 month and Then I was diagnosed with Wegener granulomatosis ( rare autoimmune disease )

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If it helps anyone.....Even though this is an old old post, please look into Demodex Mites, if you have “severe acne” doctors will blow you off, most affiliate it with Methamphetamine users, some will say it’s in your head.... Please, especially look into it if any of you are taking any ADHD medications and have cycles of bad acne. It’s worth looking into. I really believe it’s the cause of a great amount of acne, but....if people knew how easily and affordable it could be done—-(with much attention to detail) I just feel so many more people suffering from Rosacea, pustular acne, acne that produces small white “cyst” like sacks.....the list goes on!!! I really feel these people could get their acne under control with some light on diet, medications and foods you ingest, and keeping these mites in check, as they should be. Due to them always being on our skin.......it’s just finding what “sets” yours into overdrive. Anywhooooo, hope this helps. I can also elaborate further if anyone is interested.

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Re: Haley (# 1124)

I have just discovered the name vulvodynia. I don’t know if you’ll see this, as it was written in 2013. But I’ve dealt with this for going on 17 years. I also took 2 rounds of accutane when I was a teenager. Have you had any luck with anything that helps??? I finally started researching nerve ending pain (itch) and found the name vulvodynia. Any help would be so helpful! I’m desperate for help and every Obgyn I’ve seen (I’ve lost count) never fully listens and never sees any problem.

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Re: J (# 1866)

Yes, I had a very similar experience. I recommend finding a urologist that specializes in interstitial cystitis. It is an inflammatory condition of the bladder & can be misdiagnosed as a urinary tract infection.

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Hola lamento mucho lo que le paso señora io también tomé ese medicamento por 4 meses y me salio sangre.. Usted consiguió alguna forma de parar las secuelas d ese medicamento? Este es mi correo. {edited for privacy}

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Re: NCC (# 202)

Can accutane cause a rise in IOP or glaucoma? I took accutane (Isotretinoin) for almost one and a half year. I am told that I have OHT.

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I would go back to the doctor that prescribed it to your son with all the information that you have gathered and show him so that he can wake the hell up to the dangers this drug presents . It should never have received FDA approval

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No more comments in 2019?

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Re: Dennis (# 2)

The motrin is probably causing the stomach problemsz

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If his immune system is attacking itself then he has autoimmune. Especially with all the pain in joints and all. Rheumologist ASAP!

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Re: Joy (# 758)

Dead thread I know... But only the Brand Name Accutane was taken off the market (due to lawsuits), but Isotretinoin and other generics are still on the market.

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Re: Adele (# 760)

Very common. They claim it is "coincidental". I am SO sorry. It is pure posion.

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I like to know when are they going to stop handing out the Chemotherapy drug for brain cancer for acne. When is the pain and suffering caused by this poison going to end.....When is Roche and generics and the FDA going to be held responsible for thier actions???? Just so people know they are in Phase III stronger form of Accutane.....
To the mother I want to let you know to please look at Bart Stupak.gov He is a congressman whoose son commited sucide while on accutane. You will find a lot of information on there and I urge you to email him also. I also urge you to go to the link or webadress that Nathan has posted on here and it will explain the hx and info on accutane also.
My prayers are with you and your family.....

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Aidan, You really do need to stop if you in that much pain. Please, have you tried light therapy or diet..Your young and hormones play a role, and well having oily skin isn't such a bad thing. Many young kids and young adults have suffered bone, joint and muscle damage. Some have been disable at a very young age from this. I did post above in another post the information that Roche has printed.
If you mother won't listen, then take charge and say you don't want to take it anylonger.
Good Luck

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Jim,

Thank you for leaving a post of your experience taking Accutane. I am glad to hear you had no long term side effects from this drug and hopefully your hair loss and your brothers bone and joint pain years later after taking Accutane isn’t from the drugs at all. You bring up a very interesting point when you had no long term side effects from this medication because you only took them for less than 5 weeks because you developed joint pain. I would bet that if most people were not prescribe this medication at 60 mg at day for 5-6 months there would be less people having trouble with the medication today. Not only is it one of the most dangerous drugs on the FDA list but also our well trained medical doctors are overdosing our children or ourselves everyday on these drugs. We were not all lucky enough just to stop the medication on our own without the doctors knowledge. I am happy for you that it all worked out for you. Personally I wouldn’t be able to tell anyone to take this medication. I would never want anyone to suffer from a medication that has known side effects which among many other medical issues, can cause Crohns or Colitis Disease.

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I chose to take Accutane about 4 years ago during my Junior year of college. My doctor recommended it for me while I was in middle school due to my cystic acne along my jawline and just constant huge breakouts on my face and back. My dad did not let me take it then because of all the possible side effects. I tried all the gels and creams but nothing worked, so in college I decided to use it. It was amazing and completely cleared up my face and made my excessively oily skin normal. This was 4 years ago and have had no side effects what-so-ever, just still clear and normal skin. I pray that this continues and my prayers go out to those who are suffering with these effects.
As far as suggesting it, I always tell people how amazing it was/is for me, but that's the key for me. After hearing these stories, I do not know if I would newly take it now just to be on the safe side.

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I was on accutane for 5 months over 3 years ago, and am on it again for another 5. I have NEVER experienced symptoms worse than very dry lips. I was a college athlete and still compete at the semi-pro level of my sport after graduating. Don't scare some of these people away from accutane because of your experiences, it is different for everyone! And I can say after 3 years that I have no pain, no IBS, and my hair is down the length of my back. Good luck :)

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My son took Accutane for 7 months 3 years ago. Since that time is constantly complains of being tired, joint and muscle pain, trouble sleeping and most recently, treated for SVTs (rapid heart rate) and is now taking a low dose of blood pressure medicine. Has anyone else had similiar results? Is there anything to help it?

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I have written earlier about what a Godsend Accutane was for me. Without it, my life would have been very different, in a BAD WAY! As I mentioned before, there are always risks to any medication one takes. Prior to taking any medication, the patient (or guardian) needs to really consider the benefits versus the negative effects. Another very important fact to keep in mind; Physicians cannot know everything about every medication on the market. In fact, medical schools really do not teach physicians much about pharmacology while they are in school. With new drugs coming out every single day, we cannot expect our health care providers to be responsible for what a Pharmacist, or Drug Representative knows. We are the only ones in control of our own bodies. I am not minimizing the horrific effects that Accutane has caused on a certain percentage of people, but you will find the same thing with any other medication. When the FDA approves a new drug, they do not have the luxury of time. For instance, there are so many new medications available and being released for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Those people who have the virus do not have the luxury of time, as they would be dead. The medication that people take who are HIV positive are KNOWN to have very serious side effects, however, they are willing to accept them to stay alive. When do we as a society decide it is safe to approve any medication? Does it depend on the disease, or the information that is provided with the specific medicine? In the early 80's, I was in high school when I decided to take Accutane. Luckily, my physician was extremely knowledgeable and did so much research on Accutane before he would prescribe it. As I sit here, reading all of the long term effects that some people have, I still would have made the same decision to take Accutane. I was so close to committing suicide, just because of my acne! It is quite possible that Accutane saved my life. I was willing to take the risk in order to get the benefit. Now I am a very healthy, happy, educated individual, who has social skills, which would not be true if it hadn't been for me taking Accutane. I do believe that the drug companies should be responsible for the small percentage of people who have suffered tremendously from taking Accutane, however, this is a never-ending cycle among the pharmaceutical companies. We are all test-cases when a new drug is released to the market. I hope the FDA does the best job possible to determine what might happen in the future, but that is impossible. I do not want to sound like I cannot empathize with those people who have and are suffering from long-term side effects from Accutane, or any other drug, but as long as we have new medications, we will also have new problems. I will just end by repeating that a physician has very little knowledge about all of the medication on the market, so it is up to you, your pharmacist and weighing your own personal feelings about the risks prior to taking ANY medication. I do consider myself extremely fortunate that I have not suffered from any kinds of side effects caused by Accutane and only see it as saving my entire life. I do wish everybody well and hope that Roche and other pharmaceutical companies listen to you and take responsibility. God knows, they made enough money on Accutane to assist those in need.

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Hi there everyone, it's been about a week later, and I figured by myself that Accutane has caused me to get Reynaud's disease, because my hands, feet, knees, nose and ears are always feeling cold now - and I'm only 16; and this disease isn't supposed to be caught until I'm at old age. Accutane is a piece of s**t.

Is there any way to get rid of Reynaud's disease? I had a quick Google search, and nothing seems to help. Is there even a cure for Reynaud's disease? Because it's made me really cold, and I start shivering in pretty normal temperatures. :(

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