What is accutane?
Accutane is a drug that is used to treat acne. It is also known as
Roaccutane or Isotretinion. Dicovered in 1979, Accutane is given to
those patients who do not respond to other acne treatments. Those with
the worst cases of acne often find permanent and dramatic clearing of
acne when treated with this drug.
Accutane, a derivative of Vitamin A, is given in oral (pill) form for
3.5 or 4.5 months. Accutane is considered the big-gun of acne
medication. It is a very serious medicine and can lead to side effects
that are ruinous.
Link to IBS
Accutane has been linked with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS.) IBS is a
disorder of the colon or your large intestine. When an individual has
IBS, the muscle contractions or motility of the colon are effected.
Sometimes IBS is referred to as spastic bowl.
IBS is not the same as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis because it
does not result in intestinal inflammation; however, it can be an
extremely uncomfortable and disruptive condition to have. When an
individual suffers from this condition, it can cause her a lot of
misery. Some IBS manifests itself as diarrhea while some people suffer
from IBS-related constipation. IBS can produce both diarrhea and
constipation. It also results in gas, cramping and a distended belly.
It does appear that Accutane is linked to IBS but what the cause and
effect is has yet to be proven. Accutane has been known to cause rectal
bleeding, extreme diarrhea, and black-, bloody- or tarry stools.
Another outcome may be intense pain in your upper stomach, which
spreads to your back. Nausea and vomiting may occur, as can a fast
heart rate.
Other accutane side-effects
There is a long list of side effects that are associated with Accutane,
which you should be aware of before taking this drug. In addition to
contributing to IBS, Accutane should never be taken while pregnant. If
you get pregnant while taking this drug it is known to cause birth
defects. It is vitally important that a woman who is taking Accutane
take birth control or refrain from sex.
If you miss your menstrual period while on Accutane, immediately stop
taking the drug and consult with your physician. Do not breast-feed
while taking Accutane. The drug must be out of your system for at least
a month before you can nurse a baby. Do not take birth control that
does NOT contain estrogen because the birth control may be rendered
ineffective by Accutane.
You can not give blood while taking Accutane nor for 30 days after
completion of treatment. This is necessary so that you aren't passing
Accutane through your blood to a pregnant woman who has received the
blood donation. Accutane may cause depression and other mental
problems, including thoughts of suicide.
Cholesterol and triglyceride levels may increase, which is a definite
likelihood if you drink alcohol while taking Accutane. The drug may
cause dry eyes, particularly if you are a contact lens wearer, and you
may discover that you develop poor night vision or other changes in
your vision.
Because Accutane contains Vitamin A this will make your skin extremely
sensitive to the sun. Avoid any cosmetic procedures, such as
dermabrasion, waxing or laser therapy, while taking Accutane and for
six months after completing treatment because scarring of your skin may
occur.
your page states there is a link between IBS and accutane but I can't find any medical articles commenting on this. Can you provide me with medical references? Thanks
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