Accutane Long Term Side Effects (Page 89)

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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 After I have researched this drug extensively, I can't believe that the FDA allows this drug originally made for cancer patients to be marketed for teenagers with acne.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?

1933 Replies (97 Pages)

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1761

I was given this drug while in the Army 1984 to 1986 at 40 mg twice a day. I went through hell during basic training. I did not know what this drug was and neither did the military doctors,I think. I went through fits of rage like a mad man. My kidney function deteriorated starting 1986. No docs understood why until 2012,when they discovered that the Accutane started a glumerlonephritis. My kidneys scared to the point that they could not be found on an ultrasound in 2000 and I went on dialysis and then a kidney transplant. The reason it took until 2012 to discover Accutane did this to me, is that I had to do the research and find a doctor that would put the pieces of the puzzle together. Most docs will not talk about Accutane due to lack of knowlege of it or they are receiving grants from the Hoffman Roche company and dont want to step on any toes. My anti-rejection meds are from the Roche company kind of ironic. I now suffer from neck, shoulder and back arthritis along with a very irritable bowel and permanent dry eyes. I believe the inhibiting of cell proliferation that Accutane is to do to cells in a cancer patient is to blame for my physical and mental problems. I never had cancer, only acne and Accutane was developed as a chemotherapy drug.

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1762

I have the same symptoms as you. Everyday has been excruciating for me. The doctors can't find anything. I took 3 regimens of Accutane during my 20's.q

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1763

Somehow all of us have to band together and help one another. I recently had an appointment at Bellin neuro clinic for pain help. I tried explaining my history about the Accutane and my problems since with no family history of these problems. These professionals did the same as other docs, and said I should consult my primary. My primary refered me to this clinic for my problems. Rock and a hard spot. I hope you find someone who will listen and help. I can not understand why cancer docs can not help us because it is a chemotherapy drug, and they should know the side effects?

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1764

I want to put my daughter who is 15 years old to this drug..., I am scared help... I don't know what to do she is suffering from acne for 7 years

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1765

I would not recommend putting my child on Accutane at all... ever... period. READ all you can on this drug. READ what others have posted. I put my son, 17, on Accutane without knowing all the facts, side effects. Make sure your daughter has a good eye exam before going on Accutane if you decide to do it. We found out my son has cataracts and Accutane exacerbated them. The accutane stint was brief, but the damage has lasted for months. Terrible scarring as a result of going on Accutane. My son has said he'd rather live with acne than take this drug. The side effects and long term effects (known and unknown, it seems) just aren't worth it. I feel for your daughter and the acne, but this drug option just isn't worth the potential risks. It is poison. Period. My son went back to taking anti-biotics after Accutane and has now even stopped taking those. He is using tea tree oil and his face has been in the best shape it's been now, although the purple scarring from the initial Accutane outbreak is horrific. We hope to treat that with laser treatments in a year. Every dermatologist we've contacted push push pushes Accutane... it makes me sick. I chew myself out every time I think about agreeing to allow my son to take that drug. My advice: Don't allow your daughter to take it. It may clear her skin up, but the long term effects aren't worth it. We place far too much emphasis on looks as it is. Her health and continued health in the future is what should be a priority. Just my two bits. This drug should NOT be allowed.

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1766

There are many other helpful products on the market for acne. Please do not start your daughter on accutane. If she has an aggressive cancer of some type maybe the doctors would think about using the chemotherapy drug, accutane. Sounds terrible but it is true. There are natural helping things, like natural oils, foods to eat and to avoid keep googling and trying different things. I was given accutane when I was 18 years old in the Army. I could do anything before accutane with acne but things changed after accutane. My acne sores took longer to heal and I still have scares that are problems today and I am 49 now.

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1767

PLEASE........Those of you debating about taking Accutane or allowing your children to take it.............DON'T TAKE THIS POISON!! I am a 55 year old male who took Accutane 36 years ago when I was 24. I took this poison for 3 months on the advice of my Dermatologist. Was supposed to take it for 6 months but the side effects were just too much for me to deal with. So glad I didn't continue for the full 6 month treatment. The last 36 years have been an up and down roller coaster with my health issues. Immediately after getting off Accutane I began having gastrointestinal issues. I developed ulcers in my esophagus and IBS( Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Brain fog also began and has been an ongoing problem ever since. Within a few years I started to have bone issues. I have been diagnosed with arthritis in my neck and spine, i.e. degenerative disc disease which is progressively getting worse. My joints "pop" constantly. Everyday life has been a struggle. Other issues have been food intolerance and food allergies. I have to watch what I eat very closely. Can't tolerate sodas. Spicy foods, which I ate in abundance prior to Accutane are now a no no. If I eat them I am miserable for days. The latest problem is Gluten Intolerance. Gluten, i.e. grains such as wheat, oats, rye now cause me severe stomach issues, bloating, diarrhea, reflux. I could go on. My skin now stays very dry, especially during the winter months cold. It will crack and bleed at times. All this because of Accutane. I didn't have any of these problems prior to taking this drug. I recently learned about Accutane being a chemo drug for cancer patients. If I had known that fact, I would have never considered taking this drug/ poison! So if you don't want your kids to go through a life of misery don't give them Accutane. I would gladly take back my Acne problem to have my health back to normal. Oh, and by the way, I still get Acne at times.

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1768

My Goodness. I'm 3 month after a very short 6 weeks treatment. I didn't have acne! My dermatologist (I went privately in Poland) diagnosed me with dermatitis seborreica and suggested a short accutane course. I now have spots, mainly around my mouth, nose/cheeks and, worst of all, my gums are receding more and more every day. I wish I was warned about this by the dermatologist. Only now, after the damage is done, I keep finding forums and other people with long lasting and dire side effects. How can people campaign to ban this poison, or at least make it compulsory for the doctors to explain in great detail the dangers of accutane?

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1769

I would like to thank all of you guys for preventing me from taking this medicine.

you might have just saved my life.

Now i need to figure out a way how to cure my acne without taking accutane.. :/

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1770

I am happy you decided not to start accutane. I know the acne problem is hard to deal with. There are many treatment options on the market to reduce acne. Keep googling and trying different options, do research, there are many topical products including natural oils. Use soaps that don't dry out your skin or add oil. I have used Neutrogena face soap with no scent for many years with good results, everyone is different try things. We who have taken accutane can not stop it's effects, but if we can stop someone else from taking a chemotherapy drug for acne, we have won.

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1771

Matt, thanks for posting. My son, 19 now, has similar symptoms and is trying desperately to find answers. I'm wondering how your doing now and if you have been able to find relief.

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1772

Im 24 years old and i been on accutane for 6 months now ive been off accutane for 1 month and my skin has been really super itchy and i get little bumps im glad my acne hasn't flared up but im really super itchy all over and when i say all over i really do mean "all" over...also my mid to lower back feels really sore and tired like im over worked im not 100% sure if its cause of the accutane or because i have a new job and im standing up all day then i come home and sit at my computer and play video games im trying to maintain a positive attitude and try to stay strong mentally and im just really glad my acne is pretty much gone the only thing is i have alot of scarring chest back shoulders and face .also my face gets red very easily and my dermatologist gave me tretinoin cream and that dries up my skin but i should be ok. LASTLY i wanted to ask if your sons acne is gone or has it come back?

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1773

Ray,
I don't know if you were referring to my son or the above post. My son's acne has not come back, but if I could do it again I would definitely not have let him do it. He has too many mysterious ailments. If I were you, I would look into laser treatments or other alternatives. He has also developed gluten sensitivities, which also are related to Accutane (Claravis). Please don't take it. I have taken my son 3 times to the emergency room for various things like shortness of breath, migraine headaches and pain in his stomach. In the long run, it will cost you $$$$$ and your health.

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1774

My 11 year old son was taking 60 mg daily for about 7 weeks to treat very severe cystic acne. He stopped in part because the dermatologist wanted him to have a 2 week course of antibiotics. That said we have made the decision to stop the med because he has been having joint pain, muscle weakness, and all around discomfort. Our formerly active guy now hobbles around like an old man. Derm ordered a CK test for him today. I don't know that it matters. I am terrified I've screwed up my son for life. I am hoping since he didn't take it for long, his symptoms will eventually go away but seeing people's stories here, I am VERY scared. He has been off the med for 7 days with absolutely no improvement in his pain so far.

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1775

This breaks my heart to hear that an 11 y.o. would even be started on Accutane... WHAT kind of dermatologist would even recommend doing so at that age?!

I hope your son's condition (both acne and post-accutane pain/issues) improve soon... and that you will not carry the guilt that you feel. I felt the same when my son was on it at age 17 for one week.

My son continued on antibiotics for a few weeks following accutane but decided he wanted to be drug free and stopped. He takes nothing now but has been using tea tree oil to wash with and epiduo cream. He still has a lot of acne, but not nearly as bad as before the tea tree oil or when his face literally erupted the one week on accutane (took two months for it to clear up somewhat after that one week).

Again, don't be too hard on yourself but steer clear of this poison. Acne is awful, but as my son said, the side effects and what we have read sound far worse. There are things people deal with far worse than acne, but we do know how devastating it can be to someone with cystic acne. Hang in there and best wishes!

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1776

I'm healing after 7 years of the terrible side effects of this drug. It took a long time for me to find something that helps and I know it will take time to heal but I've been making bone broth and taking beef collagen powder from Amazon the collagen/gelatin helps joint and muscle pain and helps seal the gut to help with digestion. Nothing else has helped and I've tried everything. Hope this helps

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1777

My son's case is a bit different... he has precocious puberty- puberty started in when he was 17 months old. He had hormone suppression therapy to hold it off as long as possible, and stopped treatment when he was ten. He's now in full blown puberty with a bone age of about 16-17. That's probably why they thought it'd be okay for him. Definitely not your average case.

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1778

And ... I want to say thank you for your kind words and encouragement, it is appreciated!!

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1779

Which one? Great Lakes Gelatin? Green one? How long have you taken it?

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1780

My son took Accutane in the late 90s for acne. Now he is having trouble with high blood sugars and high triglycerides..I am so devastated because I just know it's from the accutane...my heart breaks

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