Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 86)

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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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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Momofcrackle- Unfortunately, until a large number of Accutane victims and their families beging making a scene, absolutely nothing can be done about this abomination of a drug. The law is not on our side right now.

Some reasons why it is such a losing battle and there is not much that can legally be done:

-Your son probably took a generic. In the US at least, generic manufacturers are not held liable for adverse effects that were not listed by the original patent holder. This causes a problem with legal cases involving side-effects like ED that were not included in the information on Accutane.

-If a side effect is listed, then it's more or less viewed as a situation of "hey, we told you so," and no legal action can be taken. Catch-22; although, the fact that patients are not warned side effects may be permanent could possibly be grounds to challenge this. Some post-Accutane patients even go as far as blaming themselves since many of their PERMANENT side effects are listed. They were led to believe and originally assumed side effects would stop when they quit taking the drug.

-Doctors are not obligated to discuss side effects with patients. Many patients are NOT properly warned, or their concerns are dismissed in such a way as: "Well, lots of people develop health problems, that doesn't mean it was Accutane, and it probably would have happened to them anyway." Perhaps pursuing litigation against prescribing dermatologists is a possibility, if potential side-effects were not discussed?

-Much of the statistical analysis used to argue Accutane is safe is garbage. Comparing the rate of side effect reports from a relatively healthy age group consisting largely of 15-30 year-olds to rate of side effects reports in drugs taken mostly by people 65+ doesn't make sense. ...The correlations are still alarming despite not being adjusted for age group.

-Doctors and dermatologists are not obligated to report side effects and can refuse to file an adverse-event report to the FDA. They may also just plain not feel like filling out the paperwork.

Basically, there is zero legal accountability for manufacturers of generic Accutane/Isotretinoin.

I think the only "legal" hope is that side effects are permanent for many of us and I'm not sure if there is a warning that side effects may persist after one quits taking the drug.

Start looking for an attorney now. There's nothing to lose if they aren't asking for large fees up-front.

Don't ever blame yourself for what happened to your son. The fault lies with the FDA, Roche pharmaceuticals, and other companies making millions from the drug.

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I don't want to be pesimistic but my experience taught me that 6 days is not time enough to claim that a medicine is healing you. I have been trying all kind of therapies and I always feel better when I start a new one. I already took Vitamin D3 + Calcium in the past but perhaps not enough, so please keep us informed about your helth improvements. I wish you the best of luck.

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No, no one warned me before i took accutane that i might develope a life long cronic illness, or two.. which is the case for me.. that would basically make me disabled. Because had any one showed us that as a possible side effect when i was 15!! We would have left the doctors office and never come back. I suffer every single day. I cannot eat normal food anymore i an restricted to about 20 things that i can eat or else i must be hospitalized due to the diseases. They do not run in my family and were officially diagnosed 2 yrs after taking accutane. It did not help my acne and it has entirely ruined my life. So no.the drug company did not accurately warn me of that.

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yes friend ,i had same effects to ,the bigest problem is blood preasure you must boost thyroid with iodide to normal,very bad effect is high cortisol levels and that screw the testosterone levels ,you need boost the liver by milkthistle phicrorizza ,schizandra to digest hard meals and carbs ,avoid any supplemnt where boost adrenals cafeine,adrenaline etc.. good luck

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Bill, I agree 100% with you.

The only way someone will hear us is to go to mass media. We are a small group, we must be united.

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everywhere you can see this info:

drugwatch.com/accutane.php

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When I said no pain since past 6 six days, I did not really meant to say that the vitamin and calcium has started working. NO. vitamin and calcium will take sometime to work. I just wanted to share my no pain experience. However, I am also taking Omega-3 supplements. I am trying to do more walking and be physically active to keep my bones healthy. I have completely stopped drinking coffee and sodas like pepsi and coke. My intake of sugar is also very less. I meditate to boost my mental health, because I think if my emotions or electronic circuitry in my brain remains healthy, I can recuperate faster.

Thanks

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kelsthae,

Thanks for the post. So sorry to hear what you have been through. There are a lot of people on here that I bet would be happy to be here for you anytime. It is so unfortunately that their are so many that are suffering due to total ignorance and no regret for a healthy human life. All the FDA and drug companies see is $$$$$$$$$.. Stay strong !
Scott

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I took roaccutane when I was 16, at the age of 32, within the space of 3 weeks I had to have 3 operations to remove my colon due to ulcerative colitiso, saved myou life.I think that this drug has had something to do with this, but no lawyer will take the case on as it's so high risk. And what's more annoying is they are now supposedly warning you of new side affects, when 16 years ago these were not highlighted. The drug has been taken off the shelf in the US, how much more proof do you need to show that this drug is horrific. It's turned my life upside down. And I really feel I'm owed something from roche. Plus I want t of raise awareness of this drug.

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hi ,my daughter is a neuroblastoma cancer survivor and she took amnesteen the generic accutane for 6 months ,she is now 7 years old and is suffering with alot of belly pain ultrasound is normal . soon i will be seeing a gi doctor ive tried zantac , gas drops and the pain just recurs.I definitely think there is a corelation with the amnesteen and the belly pain.

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lita Ortega,
Best wishes to you and your daughter. You are the first that I know of that talks about Amnesteem being used for a Chemo drug on this post. Best wishes and Prayers sent your way.
Scott

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Adam,
If you have had your colon removed due to Accutane, then you should be compensated for it by a lawyer. Google Accutane lawyers and you should find someone to listen to your case. In the USA, losing part or all of your colon is the cases lawyers are taking. Good Luck!
Scott

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Scott thanks for responding, but I live in the UK can't seem to find anyone to take this case on over here. If anyone knows of lawyer who would, please message me on here. Don't know the best way to go about it. But i'll keep trying till I get what I think i deserve.

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Its been 10 years since I took accutane. The immediate effects following that were dry skin, dried lips, hair loss, reddened skin, then shortly IBS and chronic fatigue. 2 years ago I started having unexplainable back pains that continue today. So 8 years after, I'm not so sure it's related, but these comments are starting to scare me. Could this drug possibly be the culprit? What else is going to happen down the line.

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Yes, probably the drug caused theses symptoms. You should visit a reumathologist to check if you have spondyloarthritis. If so, remove the starch from your diet. Try 2 the London diet at least 2 months to see if it helps. Good luck!

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Hi I took accutane 6 years ago is it possible to have side effects now?

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Iv been taking roaccutine for 4-5 months now, I found it working well, had dry lips but that was it, since they put me upto 40mg I'm struggling with my eyes there all red a puffy, won't stop watering. They just flare up all the time. Iv lowers myself back to 20mg and now noticed my skin getting bad again and my eyes are not clearing up there constantly red and watery.. What shall I do? :-(

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Janine please stop accutane now! I have pain in my joints for ten years because of accutane! you dont want to have problems for the rest of youtr life, imagine problem with your etes for the rest of life? Dont worth, it is a advice from a victm

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Hi its Rachel again. I am having these symtoms: coughing, naseau and pain in my shoulders, neck was severe at some point now just still. Had some excrutiating pain in my thighs and now I have heavy legs trouble walking and extreme fatigue. I do have stomach pains sometimes but I have normal you know. All this happened within the last three months. All I can do is sleep on a heating pad and just pray I get better. I saw a neurologist who feels I have fibromyalgia now I have an upcoming appt with a rheumotologist. My life if ruined, I can hardly to anything. I used to be a runner. My question is I took accutane 6 years ago. Could this just come up like this now? Rachel

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Yes, I took accutane 21 years ago and I'm still realizing how many of my health issues are from accutane. It's like a giant vitamin A overdose and poisoned my body systemically. I have no family history or rheumatoid arthritis. The longer it's been since I took accutane the more my body feels the arthritic damage - these pains in my joints and bones have got progressively worse over the last 21 years. I'm 39. My spine surgeon said accutane probably caused my deteriorating vertebrae in my back. My knees and shoulders are worn out and I have pain which ever side I sleep on, it's not normal. I never used to feel like this before taking accutane and now it's every night, all night. I used to think it was part of getting older, now I know better.

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