| I am about to start taking Accutane. I can't tell you how nervous I am. I have read so many terrible stories. None of them even matter to me as much as the two I heard relating to birth defects YEARS after the mother had taken ACCUTANE. I have read tons about NOT getting pregnant while on the medicine, that I understand. However having children is my soul purpose in life and I will absolutely not go on this drug if it will cause birth defects AFTER being off it. Please offer me some insight before I make a mistake....Thanks |
| Another poster asked, "My
boyfriend just started taking Accutane. He has had terrible
headaches, dizziness and mood swings after taking it. My question is
can his taking Accutane cause birth defects if I was to get
pregnant?" medhelp.org/posts/show/240350 This is enough signs to STOP Taking ACCUTANE immediately The symptoms you mention are what butyl will cause and there is a
butylated inert ingredient in Accutane That is what would happen to someone who is exposed to BUTYL or 2-butoxyethanol It is the CFIDS, CFS, FM, ME and 'gulf war syndrome' causing chemical. The MSDS says it causes reproductive harm and that it targets the testes, therefore the reproductive systems of men are at more risk than that of a woman. I know a young man who took this as a teen, and he has never been able to have children, whereas there was no problem for either his brother or his sister in having children I suspect it harms men's reproductive systems if too much butyl
medhelp.org/posts/show/565207?personal_page_id=190019&post_id=post_3773126 |
I don't agree with the other doctor: "Birth defects are only an issue for women who get pregnant while they are taking it, not after they stop, and not men ever."
"As to your boyfirend's mood swings, that may or may not be related to the Accutane. Please make sure he brings the matter up to his dermatologist."
Copyright © 2002 - 2009 Margaret Diann Hursh
except for any previously copyrighted material, if any
Isotretinoin (INN) ( Accutane) is a medication used for the treatment of severe acne. It is sometimes used as a chemotherapy medication for prevention and treatment of certain skin cancers.It is a retinoid, meaning it derives from vitamin A and is found in small quantities naturally in the body.
Isotretinoin is a teratogen and is highly likely to cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy. A few of the more common birth defects that this drug can cause are hearing and visual impairment, missing earlobes, facial dysmorphism, and mental retardation. Isotretinoin's use is contraindicated in pregnancy.
The manufacturer recommends that pregnancy be excluded in female patients two weeks prior to commencement of isotretinoin, and that they should use effective contraception (sometimes two simultaneous forms are recommended) at least one month prior to commencement, during, and for at least one month following isotretinoin therapy.
In the U.S. more than 2,000 women have become pregnant while taking the drug between 1982 and 2003, with most pregnancies ending in abortion or miscarriage. About 160 babies with birth defects were born. Consequently, the iPLEDGE program was introduced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on 12 August 2005 in an attempt to ensure that female patients receiving isotretinoin do not become pregnant – as of 1 March 2006, only prescribers registered and activated in iPLEDGE are able to prescribe isotretinoin, and only patients registered and qualified in iPLEDGE will be able to have isotretinoin dispensed.
It will not cause birt defects years after taking it. If the bove mentioned precautions are taken then it will have no effect on any subsequent pregnancies you might have.
ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acutane