In June 2009, Hoffman LaRoche removed its prescription medication, Accutane®, from the marketplace. Accutane® had been prescribed since 1982 to treat severe acne conditions, but was found to cause Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease and other serious side effects in patients who had used Accutane®. Accutane® also has been prescribed to combat acne under various generic names including: Isotane, Amnesteem, Claravis, Clarus, Decutan, Isotret (Sotret), Izotek, Oratane, Roaccutane, and Isotretinoin.
Despite the fact that Hoffman LaRoche incurred a product liability lawsuit ($33 million) and various individual lawsuits were– and continue to be– filed, the medication is still being prescribed in its generic form. Surprised? So were we.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, there are other serious side effects to generic Accutane as prescribed for acne, which FDA’s Drug Watch points out.
They are:
- Birth Defects
- Liver Damage
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Suicidal Thoughts
In addition, the FDA requires a “Black Box” warning on all Isotretinoin (generic for Accutane®) products—to protect the unborn from birth defects, including mental retardation, visual or auditory impairment, and death. And there is a danger of a person taking an overdose of the generic form; if this occurs, the person must seek medical attention immediately. Drug Watch says those who take the generic forms of Accutane need to note that it interacts with other prescription medications and over-the-counter products including corticosteroids, seizure medications, tetracycline antibiotics, Vitamin A supplements, Phenytoin, and
Before taking this drug (and after consulting with your physician(s)), one needs to seriously consider whether the risks of taking generic Accutane for acne outweigh the benefits of having a clear complexion. Because much of the American public is focused on youth and beauty, the generic form of Accutane continues to be medically prescribed for acne. According to the Dermatologic Disease Database of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, “Nothing else in the world comes close to being this effective for acne."
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