I wanted to share with you all what I learned about Accutane, and the changes made to how it is dispensed. It’s been 4 years since I was last on it, and at that time, it was pretty strictly regulated. You had to get blood work done monthly. No bloodwork? No refill. You had to be on 2 forms of birth control, because Accutane does cause birth defects. I had to sign a waiver saying I knew the risks and I wouldn’t hold my doctor or the drug maker liable if anything happened.
The US government thought that by doing all of that, they wouldn’t see any more birth defects due to Accutane. They were wrong. Unfortunately, women STILL got pregnant on the drug. I went to the March of Dimes website and learned that some of the birth defects are:
hydrocephaly (enlargement of the fluid-filled spaces in the brain)
microcephaly (small head and brain)
mental retardation; heart defects
ear and eye abnormalities
cleft lip and palate
and other facial abnormalities
The damage is done in the first few WEEKS of conception. I can’t even begin to say how serious this is….if you are on Accutane, you can’t just tell your doctor you’re using two forms of birth control…you MUST DO IT!
Due to the number of Accutane births, it is even harder to get the medication now, which is why my doctor wants me to try something else first this time around. If, after that, I choose to go on Accutane, I will be asked to register with iPledge before receiving treatment. I have to test negative to two pregnancy tests before going on the medication, and then I must have monthly tests while on the medication. I am willing to do all of it.
February 28th, 2007 at 11:39 pm
Right there with you … it’s worth it! I need to get back into my doctor too.