Warning Issued For Acne Medication Accuttane By Health Canada
OTTAWA By The Canadian Press – Health Canada is advising consumers that rare but potentially deadly skin reactions have been reported with the use of Accuttane for the treatment of severe acne.
In an advisory Tuesday, the federal department said there have been “very rare” reports of severe skin reactions linked to Accuttane that can result in hospitalization, disability or even death.
Accuttane (isotretinoin), made by Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., is prescribed for serious acne that cannot be cleared up by other treatments, including antibiotics. The skin condition, which mainly affects adolescents, causes pimples, cysts and nodules that most often appear on the face, chest and back.
Health Canada said anyone currently taking or recently on Accuttane should stop the drug and see their doctor immediately if any of following symptoms develop:
-Rash, especially if associated with fever and-or malaise or conjunctivitis (red or inflamed eyes, like pink eye).
-Blisters on legs, arms or face, and-or sores in mouth, throat, nose or eyes.
-Peeling skin.
Severe skin reactions can start with mild, non-specific symptoms such as fever, malaise, chills, aching muscles, headache, sore throat or stinging eyes, said Health Canada, noting that it can take up to three days for the skin lesions to develop.
Accuttane has been prescribed over the last 25 years to about 16 million people. There have been 66 cases of severe skin reactions reported in both adults and children worldwide. While other factors were involved in the majority of these cases, an association with Accuttane cannot be ruled out, the advisory states.
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My son has/had been on Acutane ’09/Oct to ’09/Dec, on a mild dosage. The only allelrgic reaction he had was an increase, over abundance, over production of cysts, sores and indescribable acne. This was his reaction to the drug. He ended up with his face being unable to heal itself and went on prednisone to reduce the severe reaction. Now because he went on other medication, his white blood count dropped and his iron level became quite low. We then had to see a blood specialist who said there was still no reason for him to not be on the Acutane. Once again with that approval we proceded. After one month on a dosage of 20mg his reaction re-surfaced with a vengence. Back to prednisone to reduce the reaction. Other than over producting the oil/sebum, creating larger nodules, massive cysts, and a face hardly reconizable, Acutane has a reaction just like any other drug. I have two other sons who both went through Acutane, which benefited them greatly. My youngest is just having a hard time and at this point Acutane is not for him. This blog did not help me because of the heading “severe skin reaction”, and what I found was just reactions of fever and malaise, bliaters and peeling skin. These to me seemed like mild reactions except for the fever. When you have a reaction that more that TRIPLES your original symptoms, you whould worry. We are currently trying Blue Light, but after one treatment and no other medication he is currently exploding. How far do I need to go and do when nothing is working.
May have ramplbe on but I think for the most Acutane is a wonderful drug especially for anyone with SEVERE ACNE and I do mean severe. Live the life, feel how people stare and give you the look. These insecurities are not from the drug, but from the general publics reaction to your acne.
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