Beware Accutane: Helpful Information From DrugWatch.Com
A medication used to treat severe cases of acne and skin ailments, Accutane remains a popular drug for thousands of people, especially those linked to permanent and disfiguring scarring such as acne vulgaris, acne conglobata and acne fulminans.
Since there are high risks for developing side effects, it is often not used as the first course of treatment. Deep facial cleansers, non-toxic skin care products and topical creams are usually the first round of treatments patients will receive.
Healthy Natural Tips
These alternative methods have become more popular due to the side effects one can develop from using drugs such as Accutane. Since acne is so common in adolescents and young adults, there are several natural ways to keep your skin healthy without the use of common pharmaceutical drugs.
Some healthy tips include:
1) Have a well-balanced diet that includes fruit and vegetables
2) Avoid chocolates, fried and greasy foods until breakout disappears
3) Reduce oily skin by washing with a non-toxic facial cleanser twice a day
4) Antioxidants Vitamin C and E can rejuvenate the skin
5) Vitamin E can prevent acne scarring on the skin
6) Zinc can have a positive impact with acne treatment. Studies show that taking a dose of 50 mg two to three times a day can make the breakout disappear more rapidly.
7) Drinking Aloe Vera juice can not only have several positive impacts on your health, but especially for acne and skin problems. Its qualities allow for an internal and external cleansing of your body.
Accutane History & Side Effects
Roche Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of the medication, pulled Accutane from the market in 2009, but patients continue to complain of adverse reactions to the medication years later. Accutane is linked to the development of severe side effects, including inflammatory bowel disease, depression, ulcerative colitis and birth defects, prompting many patients to file an Accutane lawsuit to seek compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering.
According to a 2010 study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology, Accutane may nearly quadruple a patient’s risk of developing Inflammatory Bowel Disease and ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that requires the surgical removal of the colon in 25 to 40 percent of all cases. The study also reported that the risk of developing ulcerative colitis was highest in patients who used Accutane for more than two months.
A number of patients who have suffered side effects such as depression and birth defects argue that Roche Pharmaceuticals did not adequately warn them about Accutane’s risks. Despite the fact that a possible association between Accutane and IBD was first discovered in the early 1980s, Accutane contained no warning of an increased risk of IBD for the majority of the time it was available on the market.
By providing FDA alerts, drug information and drug side effects about prescription and over the counter medications, we can ensure an environment where patients have the best knowledge on their medical treatment and health. Additional information may be found on DrugWatch.com.