Accutane Linked To Suicide In New Study
6 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // November 13th, 2007 // 10:11 am
The popular acne med may disrupt serotonin production in the brain, leading patients to feel depressed and prompting a risk of suicide, according to Sarah Bailey in the University of Bath’s department of pharmacy and pharmacology, The Scotsman reports.
“Serotonin is an important chemical that relays signals from nerve cells to other cells in the body,” she tells the paper. “In the brain, it is thought to play an important role in the regulation of a range of behaviours, such as aggression, anger and sleep. Low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression, as well as bipolar and anxiety disorders. Many medications aimed at treating depression seek to increase levels of serotonin to help overcome these problems. Our findings suggest that (Accutane) might disrupt the way serotonin is produced and made available to the cells. This could result in problems associated with low levels of serotonin, which might include depression. We are currently looking into this mechanism in more detail.”
The med, which is sold as Roaccutane in the UK, has been allegedly linked with more than 200 deaths in the US and at least 15 deaths in the UK, and bereaved parents have previously called for the drug to be taken out of use, the paper notes.
Bailey says her latest research was the first to show how the acne drug, which is similar in structure to vitamin A, could disrupt serotonin levels. Her previous research showed mice which were dosed with Accutane exhibited “depressive” behaviour - those given doses of the med “gave up” rather than try to escape when they were put in stressful situations. A few years ago, an Emory University researcher conducted brain scans that indicated the drug was linked to suicidal thoughts.
A spokesman for Roche, which first sold Accutane as a brand-name drug, tells the paper that more than 13 million patients around the world had been treated with Roaccutane and that it had “revolutionised the management of severe acne”. He adds that, “unfortunately, severe acne can cause some sufferers to become depressed and can also affect their mood and self esteem. This is why the information provided with Roaccutane carries a warning that some patients may experience mood changes, including an increase in depression.”
Janet
So Roche wants us to believe that the depression and mood swings when taking the drug are really a result of the severe acne and not the drug itself? And the 200+ deaths are really the result of depression because of severe acne?
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Brad Dalgleish
Janet, please.
Look at the amount of suicides every year, and including the fact that a very high percentage of “severe” acne suffers are depressed - bingo. I would like to see more proof to this serotonin theory, because apparently everybody has serotonin imbalances, yet another catchphrase from big pharma.
Janet
I worked with a dermatologist who did Accutane clinical trials. He was certainly convinced there were reasons to be concerned and that was many years ago.
nancy
A friend of mine attempted suicide last weekend. There was no advance warning and the attempt was impulsive, occurring at 1 a.m. after I had seen her at 8 pm when she seemed perfectly normal & fine. When she didn’t respond to my calls or texts the next day, I became concerned because it was unlike her. I drove to her apartment to make sure she was alright. Her car was home, but no answer at the door. I called police, who came, banged on the door and threatened to kick it in if she didn’t answer. She didn’t answer. They kicked in the door. My 29 year old friend was laying on the floor, nearly comatose from what we later learned was an overdose of a variety of prescription and over-the-counter medicaytions. Doctors say had she been left there another three hours, she would been dead. I had urged her for over a year to get of off this drug because it makes her fingers chafe and bleed. She would not listen. Only after her suicide attempt did I learn of this drugs horrrendous side effects, including being linked to suicide. I cannot believe this drug is legal. Drug companies’ greed is truly beyond belief. PLEASE stay away from this drug!!!!!
Luana
I would like to know, how many people are suffering depression, impulsive obsessive disorder after taking Isotretinoin, not knowing about the connections.
I also feel sorry, for the cancerpatients, who are threated with this chemotherapy-drug.
Nobody will think about it, that the side-effects are from Isotretinoin and not from the cancer.
I also didn’t realize, that my daughter was suffering side-effects, and not only changed her behavior because of puberty.
This drug changes the way neurotransmitters are used to work like the worsest drug you can take !!!
Luana