“Accutane Ruined My Health”

Seattle, WA“Accutane ruined my perfect health and this acne medication is solely to blame for a diseased state with ulcerative colitis,” says Jody.

Jody (not her real name) was diagnosed with Accutane ulcerative colitis after taking just one course of Accutane to treat her acne. “At the time, I had no idea of the link between inflammatory bowel disease and Accutane, so I continued with a second course,” she says, regretfully. “I have been living with this disease for years all in the sake of clear skin, which is still flawed to this day. The pain of the disease, doctor visits and ER trips in the past were not worth it. This drug may help some people but at a hefty price. I would recommend its removal from the pharmacy shelves.”

There are so many Accutane users who are suffering like Jody, all for the sake of wanting to clear up their skin when they were teenagers. Robert was prescribed the drug when he was 12 years old and took it until he was 14. “I finally stopped taking it when my parents figured out that Accutane was giving me stomach problems,” he says. Last year I saw a specialist and I had a colonoscopy. The verdict: I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The doctor asked me if any members of my family have similar problems. Nope. Living with ulcerative colitis is such a drag. I would have preferred to wear a button on my face when I was younger then have colitis for the rest of my life.”

Accutane also leads to psychological problems, including depression and even Accutane suicide, a nightmare that Anthony knows only too well. His son took the drug for six months - he suffered from bowel problems and ulcers shortly thereafter. “My son has suffered depression and once he attempted suicide,” says Anthony. “We had no idea at the time about Accutane side effects but recently we have become aware of how dangerous this drug is. My son is now 27 with no coverage. And his doctor never connected the dots with Accutane and these symptoms.”

Despite the fact that so many people have suffered severe Accutane side effects, the drug is still being prescribed. A recent article in The Globe and Mail (Canada’s national newspaper) advised people with severe acne to take Accutane:

“More severe acne, especially acne that might potentially lead to scarring, should be managed by a dermatologist. Isotretinoin (commonly known as Accutane) is a potent but very effective treatment that is used when all else fails, but requires close supervision by an experienced physician.”

What happens after Accutane when your bowels fail? Accutane sufferers, such as Jody, Robert and Anthony’s son, would definitely disagree with Dr. Dickinson, the author.