ACCUTANE: Acne Cure Linked to Depression

June 28, 2011 - PRLog -- Top Reasons Why Accutane is Risky as an Acne Treatment Ingredient

In 1982, pharmaceutical firm Roche released an acne medication that became not just an instant fad but also a sought-after drug for treating acne. Accutane, the brand name for Isotretinoin, has inevitably and logically gained instant recognition as a medication for getting rid of the common skin problem. It was considered an instant success. However, as years went on, too many complaints from actual users emerged. Studies have been conducted to investigate the real cause of those setbacks. It was determined that Accutane brings about unwanted side effects.

One of the most pressing short-term side effects of taking the acne medication is possible onset of depression, which in some cases had been cited for resulting suicide. Accutane has even been linked to some other psychiatric disorders. No less than the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had revealed 394 reported and documented cases of depression, of which 37 cases led to suicide, related to intake of the acne drug from 1982 to 2000. The medication has been listed in the top 10 drugs that are associated with suicide attempts by the health watchdog’s Adverse Event Reporting System. In fact, Accutane is the only non-psychotropic treatment in the list.

Meanwhile, University of Bath (UK) researchers have established a simple explanation to the link between Accutane and psychiatric disorders. It was found that the medication could disrupt the production and utilization of serotonin (a hormone that regulates moods, constriction of blood vessels, learning, and sleeping patterns) in the body. Low serotonin levels usually lead to depression, aggression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.

An individual who takes Accutane to treat acne breakouts may manifest several symptoms of depression in the short to middle term after initial intake of the drug. Those include: changing of behavior, aggressiveness, trouble concentrating, hallucination, and suicidal thoughts. Worse, there are evidences that stopping intake of the drug may not immediately prevent onset of such symptoms. In the same figure released by the FDA, 13 cases of suicide happened three months after the patients had ceased to take Accutane.
Many other adverse side effects make Accutane unlikely as an acne treatment option. Those include decreasing and deterioration of bone mass, severe joint and muscle pain, thinning of scalp and hair, and vulnerability of the skin to many other skin problems. Thus, intake of Accutane could bring about immediate cure for acne but it could also welcome other more serious skin conditions, which anyone certainly would dislike. The drug is even riskier when administered to pregnant women who intend to get rid of their acne breakouts.

To be safe, it is advisable to avoid taking Accutane for acne treatment. Taking the natural approach to acne treatment is still considered the best option as it would not entail any untoward side effect. Not only is the natural approach safe; it is also effective and less costly. To learn more about natural remedies and cure for acne, visit http://www.yourzits.com. The Website contains insights and information about natural ways to eliminate the skin problem.

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If you would like to know more about the natural approach to acne treatment or get in touch with the experts, visit http://www.yourzits.com.