The Controversy Over Accutane
Up until Charles Bishop, an Accutane user, committed suicide by stealing a plane and crashing it into a building, the 15-year-old exhibited no signs of depression or violence. Charles's mother believes her son's disturbing behavior resulted from taking Accutane.
Developed and manufactured by Roche Pharmaceuticals, Accutane is a medication designed to treat severe forms of cystic acne. Accutane is a synthetic version of vitamin A and is typically prescribed as a last resort to treat acne when no other treatment suffices.
Controversy
Accutane has been a popular and controversial drug since it inception in 1982. The viewpoints on the drug are polarized. Some hail Accutane as a great and effective medication, while others condemn it for its serious and possible deadly side effects. In fact, the medication has been continuously cited as having among the highest numbers of FDA reported adverse side effects. Major concerns about Accutane include:
- Links to depression and other psychiatric disorders: Accutane has been blamed for a high number of suicide deaths. In 1998, the FDA warned of a correlation between Accutane and depression. After two highly publicized suicides by teenaged Accutane users, the manufacturer has proceeded to add warnings regarding depression and other psychiatric disorders as possible side effects of Accutane. Although the FDA estimates that Accutane users are 1.5 times more likely to experience depression and other psychiatric disorders, the results of a large controlled study (Jick et al, Arch Dermatol 2000; 136: 1231-36) finds no evidence that Accutane leads to increased risk for such problems. Another study shows that taking Accutane actually improves mental health. Many others have challenged the alleged causal relationship between Accutane and depression, asserting the possibility of a third variable linked to Accutane users and depression. The association between Accutane and depression remains much debated today.
- Pregnant women: Accutane must not be taken by women of childbearing age who might become pregnant. Its harmful effects on the fetus and pregnant women are virtually uncontested. Accutane can cause severe birth defects, including mental retardation, physical malformation, miscarriage, or even death. Women of childbearing age are required to sign a detailed consent form before a doctor can prescribe the medication and must also test negative on the pregnancy test twice prior to taking the medication. Further, they must start using birth control one month before taking Accutane and one month after you stop the treatment.
- Other Side Effects: Almost all prescription drugs have side effects. While concerns about Accutane usually regard its link to severe depression and its effects on pregnant women, minor side effects are worth mentioning here. Common side effects of Accutane include pink eye, dry skin, chapped lips, joint pain, dry nose, nosebleed, joint pain, and poor vision under dim light.
By Annie Pan
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