Accutane Side Effects: Side Effects of the The Risky Miracle Drug
Posted: Thursday, December 09, 2010
by Francine Cook
Menopause Answers
Accutane (isotretinoin) is a derivative of Vitamin A that is prescribed by dermatologists to treat extreme cases of acne. It should only e prescribed as a last resort, after antibiotic and topical treatments have been exhausted. The majority of patients who take isotretinoin suffer from severe cystic or nodular acne. This is characterized by large, painful, acne spots that can last for months and become infected if squeezed. Nodular acne consist of firm bumps under the skin, that can be recurrent in the same spot and cause severe scarring. Cystic acne spots are large puss filled lumps that often last for months. For many patients suffering from these types of acne, this line of treatment is seen as a viable option.
The downside to Accutane is that it tends to cause debilitating side effects. Pregnant women and people suffering from any sort of long term illness should not take this drug. You are advised to consult your doctor about all the potential side effects before starting treatment. Your doctor should be able to give you a statistical summary of the risk factors based on your physical condition. Users most commonly report intense headaches, depression, hearing loss, and visual impairment. It has also been found to cause life threatening birth defects, liver damage, hepatitis, and high cholesterol. A number of recent surveys show that temporary hearing loss occurs in a significant number of cases. Many people regain full hearing ability after ceasing usage, but some report permanent hearing damage and deafness.
Hearing loss after using Accutane is an increasingly popular topic on medical discussion boards. People are sharing their personal stories, seeking advise and questioning the safety of this drug. A lot of patients who are seeing results are hesitant to quit treatment, so they must weigh their options with their doctor and assess the risks. Most people who experiencing hearing loss are advised to cease treatment immediately but the results are not uniform. In some cases dosage adjustments are made instead of ceasing treatment, this way patients may still get the desired results while decreasing their exposure to.
One Accutane patient questioned her doctor about slight hearing impairment and was told that it would only be temporary and was advised not to stop treatment. Unfortunately, two years later her hearing ability has degraded further. She is one of many patients who filed lawsuits against F. Hoffmann - La Roche Ltd., the producers of the prescription drug. There are entire legal websites devoted to assisting injured patients in filing lawsuits against the drug maker.
Francine Cook is a retired ex-nurse with two teenage granddaughters who now writes articles on acne-related issues. Francine is the chief editor of acne-treatment-help.info, a site where you can learn more about how Accutane works such as more information on over the counter acne treatment .
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Yes. It is a wonderful article.
Those side effects are terrifying. How did a drug like this make it into the market? Thanks for writing about it.
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