Accutane Long Term Side Effects
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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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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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Re: Adele (# 760)

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

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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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To anyone still reading this... I am a male who has undergone isotretinoin treatment 4 times throughout the ages 15-23. I spent 20 months on the drug in total. My dose never exceeded 40mg/day (roughly 60kg bodyweight). Despite 4 courses of isotretinoin, I still get acne around my jawline, common of hormonal acne. After digging around, I found this study: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9740865, which links unsuccessful treatment to hyperandrogenism. Which makes sense, because I was able to gain 10kg of lean muscle undeterred by isotretinoin. Point being, if you think the cause of your acne is hormonal, I would not risk the chance of life-altering side effects for clear skin that likely won't last.

To dive further, it has been about a year since I last took my last pill of isotretinoin. I was lucky enough to not sustain any long-lasting physical side effects mentioned. I have no dry eyes, mouth, or joint pain. Although I do look much older than my age. This is all conjecture, but I am positive that a strong hormonal profile buffers against the physical side effects of this drug, as suggested by the study above. Although, it will not buffer against the mental side effects.

To preface this, I have a family history of schizophrenia. My uncle is a severe schizophrenic incapable of communication or caring for himself. After more digging, I found this study: nature.com/articles/s41380-018-0305-0, which links disruption of retinoic acid signaling to the neuropathology of schizophrenia. Now this is going to sound crazy, but read this with an open mind. I have reasons to believe that isotretinoin indirectly causes symptoms of schizophrenia to manifest in those who are susceptible. And that the people who experience depression, anxiety, psychosis, and/or suicidal thoughts while on this drug are actually suffering from a form of schizophrenia. My reasoning is this: it is well established that isotretinoin can trigger suicidal thoughts, major depression, and psychosis in otherwise healthy people. As hypothesized in the study above, genes involved in retinoid signaling/biogenesis are thought to be implicated in schizophrenia and psychotic-like symptoms. Next, we have this study: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25721216, which shows that isotretinoin affects the hormonal output of the pituitary gland at any supra-physiological dose.

It is also worth noting the case study of the Inuits, who consume polar bear liver to survive in the frigid arctic. Polar bear liver is thought to contain something like 1000 times more vitamin A than domesticated ruminant animal livers. Upon consumption, the Inuits suffered psychotic-like symptoms as described in this study:

journals.lww.com/americantherapeutics/Abstract/2004/11000/Polar_Hysteria__An_Expression_of_Hypervitaminosis.15.aspx.

Here comes the crazy part. For those who have never heard about the 'pheromone theory of schizophrenia', it was one of the first theories attempting to explain schizophrenia from the 20th century. Basically, it's the idea that individuals afflicted with schizophrenia begin to smell unpleasant. And the people around you pick up on the smell and distance themselves from you. So you begin to think something is wrong with you, because everyone is avoidant of you. Which turns into a downward spiral, further accentuating isolation until you become a full blown schizophrenic. There is evidence to back this up: https:/­/­www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/­pubmed/­17156856.

Putting it all together, isotretinoin disrupts your endocrine system via the output of the hormones from the pituitary gland. With repeated chronic exposure, your endocrine system eventually becomes so damaged that your hormonal/pheromonal production is perturbed. Other humans can sense this perturbation innately, and you are cast out of the tribe.

The sad part is, no one knows if it is possible to recover completely from the harm isotretinoin causes. This study: researchgate.net/publication/26271506_Epigenetic_side-effects_of_common_pharmaceuticals_A_potential_new_field_in_medicine_and_pharmacology, suggests that the changes are epigenetic and become permanent with repeated exposure.

Upon researching how to heal the body from isotretinoin, I have come to the conclusion that drastic times call for drastic measures. Individuals who have suffered any long term side effects need to transition to a raw carnivore diet EXCLUDING as many grains and vegetables as possible. You must avoid gluten at all cost. Cucumbers and fruits are fine though. The reason behind this is that isotretinoin alone has likely compromised your intestinal health to the point where you don't want gluten and anti-nutrients from vegetables punching more holes in your gut. This study explains the gluten issue succinctly: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4809873.

Referring to the issue with vegetables, most of them on grocery store shelves are genetically modified and otherwise would not be edible in nature. Thus, they are not part of a natural human diet. Here is a great example: sciencealert.com/fruits-vegetables-before-domestication-photos-genetically-modified-food-natural. If you were put these in your mouth, your senses would quickly tell you to spit them out. There is nothing in plants that you can't get from meat. If you're thinking, "but wait, what about anti-oxidants!?", you've been successfully brainwashed. This article puts it nicely: pesticidefacts.org/perspectives/dietary-pesticides-99-99-percent-natural. The anti-oxidants found in plants are NOT there to make you healthy, they are there to defend the plant from predators who would dare eat them. Biochemical defense because the plant cannot get up on two feet and run away from predators like you can. The only true anti-oxidants are taurine, carnitine, carnosine, creatine, coenzyme Q10, vitamin B12, and conjugated linoleic acids, all of which are missing in the vegan diet.

You need to source meat and dairy from a trusted local farm, as grocery store meat is contaminated with antiobiotic resistant super bugs (beckershospitalreview.com/quality/most-grocery-store-meat-contains-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-4-things-to-know.html).

To summarize, stay far away from isotretinoin if you truly value your longevity and well-being. Isotretinoin treatment resembles controlled hypervitaminosis A, which is the anti-thesis to proper mental health. As such, isotretinoin treatment must only be considered as an extreme last resort.

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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: Dennis (# 2)

The motrin is probably causing the stomach problemsz

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No more comments in 2019?

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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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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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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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I took accutane in my 30’s because I had very oily skin and acne. How I wish I hadn’t, sure it cured my acne, but I’m now 70 and suffer all day every day from dry skin, my wife calls me itch and scratchy. I moisturize, I drink flax oil, but I’m plagued by dry skin, sometimes it’s so itchy that I scratch in my sleep until it bleeds. I wish that I had never taken this stuff. I would gladly suffer acne to have normal skin so to anyone thinking of going on this drug be very very wary of its side effects. They are horrible and permanent.

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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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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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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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Hazem (# 1916) --

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

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Aija (# 1901) --

Please tell me - I am 10 years after and no answers. Dry everywhere and more issues.

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Hola Soy de Bogota. Yo tome isotetrinoina por mes y emedio y cai en una depresion aguda, luego de 7 años con la misma he decidio entrar en tratamiento, quiero preguntar sie esposible slair de esto y como puedo solucionarlo, ya que llevo bastante tiempo asi.

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Re: Colleen (# 1121)

I believe Accutane permanently ruined my vagina - painful intercourse is a fact of life for me now. See web search results for “Accutane and vulvodynia” - it is a widespread problem.

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Hi guys. I feel like I needed to make this post to help others because I know I’m not the only 1 who has suffered after taking Accutane. I suffered beyond belief after being on it for 6 months. I felt like my life was over. My hair had fallen out, I was clinically depressed, suicidal, I was sobbing & breaking down every day, could no longer eat certain foods, back pain, low libido. It was absolutely crazy & I knew something was NOT RIGHT. I went on like this for a year because none of my doctors could help me... They were just puzzled. So I did my own research. (Btw I now feel amazing) 1st of all Accutane DESTROYS your digestive system & obviously your mood & well-being & health all begin in your gut. So 1st things 1st you NEED to repair your gut & the way your body digests food. If you don’t your body isn’t absorbing certain vitamins that you NEED for health & getting better! After Accutane any time I ate anything with fat: Example... olive oil, coconut milk, nuts, etc. my stomach KILLED. Accutane leaves ur body without the ability to metabolize fat & therefore it’s just getting passed right into ur stool. You need to take a digestive enzyme to HELP your body metabolize the fat so your body can ABSORB it. So I’m gonna list what you MUST consider doing in order to feel better:

1. Digestive Enzymes (it can be found in any health store... get a potent one)
2. Strong Probiotics (helps heal ur gut immensely!!! I use Vibrant Flora Probiotics 100 Billion)
3. Taking gluten, sugar, & dairy out of your diet (which was SO hard to do for me but those 3 things are so taxing on ur digestive system as it is you literally cannot consume those things in order to heal your gut)
4. Milk Thistle (for your liver because Accutane is also so hard on ur liver & in order to rid yourself of toxins you need to give ur liver some love)

That’s it peeps! This is what worked 4 me & made me feel back to my old self & healthy again. Thank you for taking the time 2 read. Your health is everything!

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Re: Dennis (# 2)

Can you be more specific about what happened to your back- what was the surgery for? Its been 2 years since i have finished taking drug consisting isotretinoin. I'm experiencing lower back pains and been diagnosed with intervertebral disc degeneration.. does it get better?

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Re: Mandie (# 5)

Please don’t take accutane. I took it for 6 months in 2017 and now I’m suffering from very rare autoimmune disease which made my life so miserable. This medication is very toxic and can cause very serious long term side effects.

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