The Dangers of Accutane as an Acne Treatment

by Jason Layo

Accutane is a prescription drug used to treat only the most severe cases acne that is considered untreatable by other means. Most health professionals would only recommend this line of treatments in cases where acne vulgaris is at its most advance and disfiguring stages. Only when all other options have been exhausted including antibiotics, hormone treatment and all topical treatments should accutane be considered. Accutane must be prescribed by a dermatologist or medical Doctor and during the course of treatment requires check ups. Before commencing on a course of this medication you will also be required to sign a waiver indicating that you have read and understand all the possible side effects of the drug before it will be administered. In most circumstances doctors will not prescribe accutane if there is history of mental problems in your family.Side Affects and the dangerous legacy of AccutaneSince arriving on shelves in the USA in 1982 Accutane has been linked to 240 suicides worldwide. As a result of these statistics its physical and psychological side effects have been a source of ongoing controversy and lawsuits. Physical side affects that have been reported include:• Birth defects • Alopecia (hair loss) • Depression • Liver Disease • Vision problemsThe American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) whose job is to regulate the pharmaceutical industries have detailed information on their site about the risks of accutane. Some quotes from their site include:Birth Defects 'Accutane can cause severe birth defects in babies of women who take it while they are pregnant, even if they take Accutane for only a short time. There is an extremely high risk that your baby will be deformed or will die if you are pregnant while taking Accutane. Taking Accutane also increases the chance of miscarriage and premature births.'Depression and Suicide"Some patients, while taking Accutane or soon after stopping Accutane, have become depressed or developed other serious mental problems. Symptoms of these problems include sad, "anxious" or empty mood, irritability, anger, loss of pleasure or interest in social or sports activities, sleeping too much or too little, changes in weight or appetite, school or work performance going down, or trouble concentrating."Central Nervous System‘Accutane can increase the pressure in your brain. This can lead to permanent loss of sight, or in rare cases, death. Stop taking Accutane and call your prescriber right away if you get any of these signs of increased pressure: bad headache, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting’Liver Damage"Symptoms [of Accutane usage] may mean that your internal organs are being damaged. These organs include the liver, pancreas, bowel (intestines), and esophagus (connection between mouth and stomach). If your organs are damaged, they may not get better even after you stop taking Accutane."Hearing/Vision Problems"Hearing problems: Some people taking Accutane have developed hearing problems. It is possible that hearing loss can be permanent. Stop using Accutane and call your prescriber if your hearing gets worse or if you have ringing in your ears.Vision problems: While taking Accutane you may develop a sudden inability to see in the dark so driving at night can be dangerous. This condition usually clears up after you stop taking Accutane but it may be permanent. Other serious eye effects can occur. Stop taking Accutane and call your prescriber right away if you have any problems with your vision or dryness of the eyes that is painful or constant." Accutane Pancreatic Damage "Symptoms may mean that your internal organs are being damaged. These organs include the liver, pancreas, bowel (intestines), and esophagus (connection between mouth and stomach). If your organs are damaged, they may not get better even after you stop taking Accutane." As stated above one of the major risks caused by accutane is liver damage, and anyone using accutane will have to undergo blood tests on a monthly basis to check if the drug is hurting your liver. It’s also mandatory for women to have a pregnancy test before starting a course of this treatment and they must use two form of contraceptive during pregnancy (the pill and a sheath method). Pregnancy can result in still born or babies born with serious birth defects. Another major risk when taking Accutane is the possibility of developing mental health problems. Some patients have been known to develop depression, including thoughts of suicide, during treatment or soon after completing treatment. Other side affects have been identified as dry skin, severely chapped lips, dry eye syndrome, dry nasal passageways, hair loss, extreme fatigue, and headaches. While most of these side effects will subside once treatment is completed, others may not, such as hair loss.If you do decide to embark on a course of accutane there are a number of factors that have to be taken as absolute:You cannot become pregnant.You cannot breast feed a child for more than 6 months after completing a course.You cannot use vitamin A supplements. You cannot donate bloodIf you would like to know about alternative natural teartments that can help you to combat acne please visit our website link below.

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