Using Prescription Drugs for Acne? You Need to Read This Article
by CJ
Consumer advocates continue to push for greater awareness measures in the effort to inform doctors and patients about the potential risks associated with Accutane (isotretinoin), a popular drug used to treat acne. Since its introduction to the market in 1982, the medication has been linked to a number of serious health risks including an increased risk of suicide, birth defects, ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease. While the brand name drug was pulled off the U.S. market in June of last year, the medication is still available in generic versions such as Amnesteem, Sortret and Claravis. Consumer advocates and a number of experts in the medical field claim that despite these risks, the medication has been prescribed quite liberally, often without appropriate consideration of the drug's potential benefits and dangers. In a congressional hearing in December of 2000, a number of parents whose children committed suicide after taking Accutane testified that they received little to no warning of the potential link between the drug and depression before their children began treatment. The mother of Daniel Bauman, a teenager who began taking Accutane in June of 1999 and committed suicide in December of that same year, testified that she and her son received two informational brochures about Accutane before he began taking the drug, neither of which contained any mention of depression. Despite the fact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had issued a safety warning about Accutane and suicide in February of 2008, Daniel's dermatologist had distributed out-dated brochures written in 1996 and 1997. In addition to the propagation of this type of misinformation, Accutane has often been prescribed for mild or moderate cases of acne that may have been better suited for alternative treatment options. While isotretinoin is only approved by the FDA to treat severe acne that has not responded to other therapies, a number of individuals have testified before Congress that Accutane was prescribed to them or their children as a first-line treatment option. Charles Stone, whose son Clay committed suicide after taking Accutane for four months, testified that Clay was put on Accutane for only "mild acne." Another individual testified the medication was given as a first-line treatment option, without discussion of other agents. Suicide is not the only side effect of Accutane that advocates claim has been ignored or underplayed. Recently, a great deal of attention has been drawn to the potential link between Accutane and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which can take the form of the often-debilitating illnesses known as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. For the large majority of Accutane's time on the market, the drug contained no warning of a potentially increased risk of IBD. As prescription drug use continues to become more ubiquitous, consumer advocates are taking action to help make both doctors and patients aware of the potential hazards of medications such as Accutane. Congress has sent letters requesting physicians issue only updated promotional drug information, and consumer action groups such as Public Citizen have helped push for stronger FDA drug warning labels. And while many advocates are seeing some positive changes as a result of their efforts, many believe there is still a long way to go in the fight to make prescription drug use safer. See link to the Accutane Lawsuit page for additional information. Additional information about drugs and drug side effects may be found on
|
