Accutane Symptons Increasing With Time

I took Accutane as a teen, over a decade ago. I've never been the type to automatically attribute changes in my health or body to any specific cause before, but the health issues that have finally became lifestyle altering have piled up and everything points to the long term use of Accutane as being the culprit. My stomach feels like its trying to commit suicide daily, I've finally completely lost my love for food, it no longer appeals to me and is now a chore to eat. My once active lifestyle, is now just a collection of memories. It took 10 years after using this poison to get to this point, and if it gets worse in the future, I dont know how I will cope. I have no hope and feel worthless that I can no longer do my part in life. Depression has set in permanently.I believe this drug could also have a direct affect on mental health, on top of the indirect affect it has by taking away my right to be healthy and productive. Lotion and chapstick are vital in winter months, one side affect that happened immediately after I started taking Accutane, and an issue that is still present to this day. The joint pain alone makes life miserable. I have forgotten what its like to be comfortable. Pain and discomfort are just my life now.
I am living off my parents because you cant find employment when you have to take pain and bathroom breaks throughout the day. Everything in my life has came to a hault. This isnt me, it never was me. I'm tired of being called a hypochondriac because of my well founded view that prescription drugs are known prior to FDA approval, if not intentionally designed, to destroy the health of vast numbers of their users. I finally have an appointment with a GI specialist for my stomach issues, after being ignored by general practitioners for years. I hope they listen to me and aren't just another Roche sponsored entity trained to keep lawsuits at bay.

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I am very sorry about what you are going through and you aren't the first person to post that they are suffering long-term health issues that they attribute to having taken Accutane.

Learn more Accutane details here.

The major issue that everyone has, of course, is actually being able to prove it, since the worst symptoms have arisen years after the fact.

On your stomach, I suggest you make sure they check you for all possible issues, including gastritis.


Learn more Gastritis details here.

I had it and it creates problems just like what you mentioned.

Does anyone else have any advice or ideas to add?

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Hi,
My story is VERY similar. I took Accutane in 1982, 1984 and 1986. My acne was disfiguring and painful; but I was never told anything about the side effects. I was just told Don't Get Pregnant.
The side effects manifested almost immediately; yet no-one made the connection the the Accutane was the culprit. My stomach became raw and inflamed. My joints became achy and sore. Horrible depression. Dizzy spells. Exercise brought on itchiness. COnstant diahhrea and colon spasms. Constant flatulance. Constant headaches and neck pain.
Even Doctors who truly cared and wanted to help, had no clue that Accutane could cause all of this. They either told me that it was stress, or I was a psycho-somatic hypochondriac or that they simply couldn't figure it out since all of my test results were normal.
Well, within the last 2 years i have developed Hypothyroidism and have found an excellent Endocrinologist. I discovered through blood testing that I am 100% vitamin D depleted. He fully acknowledges that Accutane could Easily have caused all of my problems.
I no longer drink milk. Any products containing SOY tear up my stomach. I avoid sugar and high fructose cron syrup. also avoid processed foods as much as possible. With properly watching my diet and taking my thyroid meds and Vitamin D (10,000/day) I do better. But, as you say the symptoms don't go away and over time they do get worse. But the most frustrating thing is being told that nothing is really wrong and that it is all in your head.
I highly recommend having your Vit D checked. Also, read labels and avoid anything that sets you off if you can determine a pattern. I purposely avoided having children because I truly was scared by the things I was experiencing. I am now 51 and still suffering from the effects of Accutane.

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

I know this is a forum for accutane, which I’ve never been on, but was prescribed 0.1% Tretinoin and have been on it for over a year. I increased my use over time until I was using it every night. About a month ago I also started taking a cod liver oil supplement, which is high in Vitamin A. I had very mild anxiety previous to going on Tretinoin, but now that I think about it, it only started to get worse during the past year as I increased my use. I was never diagnosed with any mental disorders or on medications before using it. While on Tretinoin, my anxiety got worse, ocd symptoms, and then when I started taking cod liver oil, I started having suicidal ideation/depression. Stopped taking both immediately. I’m wondering if anyone is able to provide me with more knowledge on this. I’m really struggling right now and wonder if Tretinoin could be causing this and if it is, how long will it take to get rid of these symptoms?

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