Accutane is a medicine used to treat acne. Long-term use of accutane is believed to cause certain side effects. Here is a list of symptoms to watch out for.
Accutane is one of the popular brands of Isotretinoin. It is used for the treatment of nodular acne. It is a prescription medication and a form of vitamin A. It helps in controlling the amount of oil released from the oil glands found in the skin, which helps in the treatment of acne.
Although this medication can be obtained only with a prescription, people try to buy it through the Internet, without consulting doctors or health care providers. It should be noted that there are potential side effects associated with accutane, and hence, it should not be taken without prescription.
Side Effects of Accutane
There are several minor as well as long-term side effects associated with accutane. Minor effects include stomach disorders, diarrhea, nausea, dry skin, dandruff, joint or muscle pain, hair loss, vision disturbances, and mood swings. However, there have been cases of developing severe accutane side effects years later. A majority of people using accutane have complained of suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, and variations of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, etc. Long-term side effects also include damage to the liver, liver failure, live damage, jaundice, etc.
Miscarriage, birth defects, etc., are some of the complications that can develop while taking accutane during pregnancy. Retardation of growth, mental retardation, etc., are also some of the possible complications observed in babies if the mother takes accutane during pregnancy. In most of the cases, young women are asked to give it in writing that they are responsible for the usage of the drug, before they are prescribed accutane. On the other hand, accutane side effects in men include erectile dysfunction, inflammation in joints, etc.
Apart from the above mentioned ones, here is a list of a few more potential side effects that may show up years later.
- Decrease in bone density
- Hair loss
- Decreased night vision
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Arthritis
- Depression, bordering on suicidal thoughts
- Dry skin
- Nasal/rectal bleeding
Although being one of the best acne treatments available today, accutane has numerous side effects, with having suicidal thoughts being the most dangerous one. It should be noted that not all side effects are observed in all cases. In order to avoid them, it is advisable to have this medication only on prescription, in prescribed doses, for the stipulated period.
One should keep the doctor updated if any of the above mentioned side effects are observed. Any medication or drug is to be taken only on consulting the doctor. Take care!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.
