New study may deal final blow to acne drug Accutane

[steven johnson]

People who had filled four or more prescriptions of Accutane had over twice the risk of inflammatory bowel disease and the odds of developing ulcerative colitis were four times higher. The actual risk of IBD is quite low but the risk of lawsuits is apparently driving Roche to withdraw the drug from the market.

The study bolstered evidence of a link between the drug, pulled from the market in June, and inflammatory bowel disease. No medication is as effective in treating severe cases of acne.

Swiss-based Roche Holding quietly pulled its blockbuster drug Accutane off the market in June amid early signs that the drug may be linked to inflammatory bowel disease. And last week, a study was released that quantified those risks, finding that users of the medication have almost twice the odds of developing a serious bowel disorder as nonusers.

When approved in 1982, the drug was known to cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy and was labeled with warnings to that effect. In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration implemented the stringent iPledge program, requiring patients, doctors and pharmacists to join a risk-management registry to try to ensure that women didn't become pregnant while on the drug.

Isotretinoin can cause other side effects, including increased sensitivity to the sun, joint and muscle pain, headaches, thinning hair, elevated cholesterol and liver toxicity.

New study may deal final blow to acne drug Accutane

[lizerdbits]

1. I took accutane in the mid-90's and it worked wonders

Not since taking it have I woken up with a small red bump on my face and have to go to the doctor in the afternoon for a huge cyst after it became quite large just during the day. Plus you get to hear 50 people ask you what the hell that thing on your face is. For me it wasn't permanently disfiguring with scarring, it was having to go on antibiotics every couple weeks because no OTC products were effective in prevention. As a microbiology student at the time, I wasn't all that thrilled with using antibiotics that often and at some point they might no longer be effective. I wanted a long term solution.

I think it would be a shame if it wasn't available. If there really is an increase in GI problems, maybe a warning label would be better and individuals can decide if they want to take that risk. I have a coworker who was considering taking it but decided against it because of potential joint problems. She is very active in sports and didn't want to have to possibly take time off or have to stop certain activities.

[Liberal Veteran]

2. But Accutane is a derivative of Vitamin A, it must be healthy and safe!

[Warpy]

3. It's a nasty drug, no doubt about it

but I've seen it work wonders on people with severe acne, the type that scars, who had it into their 30s.

I hope the company reconsiders. Patients need to be warned of the risk, but it's the best we have to treat severe, long standing acne.