Accutane Information
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An extremely powerful acne medication, Accutane was intended to
treat only the most severe instances of nodulocystic acne. Recently released Accutane information states that due to the side effects associated to the drug, Accutane
is supposed to be reserved only as a last resort treatment for severe
acne. Acknowledged as the most effective treatment for the severe,
scarring form of acne, it is no wonder that Accutane has become
Hoffmann-La Roche’s top-selling product, used by an estimated
5 million Americans alone. Accutane’s popularity has been
argued as both positive and negative.
Accutane works by reducing sebum production by reducing the size
of the actual sebaceous gland. This reduced level of sebum production
that Accutane creates is not a permanent effect in most instances
but will vary depending on the Accutane patient, in addition to
the dosage and length of Accutane treatment received. Bacteria normally
lives in sebum, so as a natural result of the decreased level of
sebum the bacteria level is also reduced.
Accutane clears the pathway for sebum to travel to the skin so
that it does not get stuck in the follicle by preventing the abnormal
shedding and sticking of cells inside the sebaceous follicle. Most
Accutane patients will be happy to find this aspect of Accutane
therapy remains even after the treatment is complete. Some severe
acne cases can have very uncomfortable inflammatory effects that
Accutane can help relieve as well.
The dangers with Accutane are not just the severe and deadly Accutane
side effects associated to the medication, but the misuse of the
medication as well. Accutane was developed as a last resort treatment
for only the most serious instances of acne, however Hoffmann-La
Roche has been criticized for their promotional marketing pursuits
that seem to imply otherwise. At the December 11, 2002 U.S. House
Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee Oversight and Investigation
Subcommittee hearing on Accutane safety issues, Congressman Peter
Deutsch told Roche North American president and CEO, George Abercrombie
that, “what you just said is not a truthful statement”
after Abercrombie denied running advertising campaigns featuring
teenage models with little or no visible acne and showing the wrong
message.
Accutane has been controversial since its entrance to the U.S.
market due to the high level of serious Accutane
side effects associated to it. Accutane side effects include
psychiatric disorders, including
suicides that are attributed to 240 deaths worldwide. In addition,
birth defects and fetal death is
a serious concern with women that are or become pregnant while using
Accutane and was responsible for a large number of birth defects
even though Roche knew Accutane has a great risk for causing birth
defects since 1971.
Now, reports of Accutane users developing inflammatory
bowel disease and lupus have been
occurring. Whether or not there is a definite connection has not
yet been established but as more Accutane information comes to light
due to the investigations and Accutane legal news, the controversy
over Accutane is certain to remain.
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