Dangerous Side Effects of Accutane
Isotretinoin is a prescription medication available under several brand names, including Accutane, approved for treating severe disfiguring nodular acne. Increasingly, physicians are prescribing it for moderate and even mild acne as well, although the drug has many side effects, some dangerous and some which may be permanent. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires a black box warning on this product, its most serious action outside of a recall. This label states that isotretinoin carries a significant risk of serious negative effects.
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Birth Defects
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Accutane should not be used by pregnant women or women who may become pregnant, because isotretinoin causes severe birth defects, miscarriages, premature birth and infant death. Everyone who uses this acne medication must participate in an FDA-mandated program called iPLEDGE, which has several requirements. Women must have two negative pregnancy test results before the drug is prescribed, and must have a pregnancy test each month while taking Accutane. They must also use two effective and different forms of birth control while taking Accutane. Men using Accutane also must sign the iPLEDGE and follow the birth control requirements.
IBD
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Accutane is associated with two permanent types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In both, the digestive tract lining becomes inflamed, causing abdominal pain and severe diarrhea, which can be life-threatening. These incidences are relatively rare, but people have filed lawsuits because of these side effects.
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Eye Disorders
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Another rare side effect associated with Accutane is a decrease in night vision, which may last for months after stopping the drug, and occasionally is a permanent side effect. Some patients also have reported developing cataracts while taking Accutane, and some experience temporary changes in color perception. A more common side effect is dry eyes resulting from inadequate tear production.
BIH
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Some people taking Accutane experience a condition called benign intracranial hypertension (BIH), which involves an increase in pressure of the fluid around the brain. This is also a rare side effect. Symptoms include headaches, vision changes, nausea and vomiting. Pressure on the brain may be lowered by draining excess fluid with spinal taps or shunts. The patient's physician may prescribe steroids to reduce swelling of brain tissue.
Psychological Factors
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Mental health disorders, including depression, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, have been reported in patients taking Accutane. Researchers have been unable to make a definitive link between Accutane and depression, because depression is not uncommon in the typical age group taking Accutane, especially when factoring in the severe acne problems.
Liver and Kidney Concerns
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Accutane can cause permanent liver damage, so physicians require regular blood tests to check for elevated enzymes. People can develop hepatitis, or have symptoms of jaundice or dark urine. Additionally, some patients have reported developing kidney disease while taking Accutane. Rare reports also have been made of rhabdomyolysis, a disorder that involves muscle breakdown with residue entering the bloodstream that can cause kidney damage. Research is being conducted to confirm this link.
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