Warning on acne drug
-TaranakiDailyNews
01/09/2009- A Taranaki woman says a powerful acne drug made her sick, depressed and suicidal, and she is calling for stronger warnings about the horrific side-effects.
Nicola Blue (24) was prescribed a course of Roaccutane tablets by a New Plymouth dermatologist.
The side-effects were crying, inability to sleep, nosebleeds, depression and suicidal feelings.
The specialist had prescribed two tablets a day for six months, but she says she only lasted about three months.
She was rescued by a flatmate who got her to another doctor. That doctor prescribed an ointment which was effective. Ms Blue now has no acne and is on no medication. She contacted the Taranaki Daily News at the urging of workmates who said she needed to go public with her concerns.
She says the dermatologist did warn her about side-effects and she was given an information sheet but she concedes she did not take these warnings seriously enough.
"I was so desperate to get rid of my acne that I was prepared to take the risks. I'm not blaming the dermatologist; I take responsibility for my own actions but I don't want anyone else to experience what happened to me.
"There should be stronger warnings about the possible side-effects of Roaccutane."
She says patients should have a pre-use blood test to assess iron levels and liver function and also complete a form with tick boxes showing they have read and fully understood what can happen.
She is the daughter of Duncan and Sandra Blue of Strathmore, Stratford east.
Although now living a normal life in Hamilton as a bank officer, she was in Taranaki while taking the drug, from about October 2007 through to early 2008. Her parents were very worried about the deterioration in her mental state and daily functioning.
Roaccutane (also sold as Isotane and Oratane) is one of the licensed brand names for a drug containing isotretinoin. The dangerous side-effects of isotretinoin are well documented. The Ministry of Health agency MedSafe publishes on its website a British paper which is recommended reading for health professionals. It states:
Isotretinoin can be highly effective in moderate to severe acne when other treatments have failed.
It has many unwanted effects including disturbance of foetal growth and development, nosebleeds, affects on liver function, and scattered reports of mood change, depression and suicide.
Clinicians should be alert to the high prevalence of depression among people with acne and discuss these issues before and during treatment. If serious psychiatric problems occur, the patient should be referred to a psychiatrist immediately.
In New Zealand, coroners inquiring into the deaths of two teenagers in 2003 called for tougher controls on and warnings about the use of acne drugs containing isotretinoin.
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