Accutane Inflammatory Bowel Disease & Ulcerative Colitis

Isotretinoin, Accutane Use Again Linked To Development Of Ulcerative Colitis, Study Finds

-DrugWatch

04/26/2010 - In a study published on March 30, 2010 by The American Journal of Gastroenterology, the use of isotretinoin, a medication previously sold under the brand name Accutane, was once again linked to the development of ulcerative colitis, a serious digestive disorder.

The study included 8,189 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and 21,832 controls. Of the patients with IBD, a gastrointestinal disorder that refers to both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, 3,664 had Crohn's disease, 4,428 had ulcerative colitis and 97 had an unspecified IBD condition. Sixty study participants were exposed to isotretinoin.

Results from the study showed than an increased dose of isotretinoin, a medication prescribed in the treatment of severe acne, "was associated with an elevated risk" of ulcerative colitis. When compared with patients not using isotretinoin, the study found that the risk of ulcerative colitis was highest in patients who used the medication for more than two months.

In addition to increasing the risk of ulcerative colitis, isotretinoin is linked to the development of several serious side effects including IBD, Crohn's disease, suicidal tendencies and liver damage.

In a study published in July 2006 by the American Journal of Gastroenterology, isotretinoin use was noted as a possible "trigger" for IBD. The study examined the strength of causality between isotretinoin and IBD, and all cases in the study fell within the "highly probable," "probable," or "possible" range, with no cases falling in the "doubtful" range.