What Price Beauty? (Accutane hit piece alert)

The Boston Globe Magazine ^ | 4/27/2003 | By Ellen Rafshoon

[Paleo Conservative]

Although Accutane causes birth defects, many acne sufferers love the way the miracle complexion pill makes them look, and so do their doctors. That's why it has become the most widely prescribed birth-defect-causing medicine in the United States.

Many women might be reluctant to reveal their vanities, but Brenda McCoy boldly admits that she's always been concerned about her looks. "I take really good care of myself," says the svelte Orange County mother of four and part-time nurse who's finishing work toward her bachelor's degree at California State University. Despite her hectic schedule, the 40-year-old maintains her figure by running, biking, and power walking.

[riri]

Accutane is a wonder drug for those who need it. They give extensive warnings to women about getting pregnant

Absolutely, the literature they give you willfrighten the bejeezus out of you.

I took accutane when I was 23. I never had acne until I went to florida to finish college and the climate and my hormones made my skin go crazy. I didn't have horrible acne but it was enough that it bothered me. My dermatologist recommended accutane and it worked wonders.

That was ten years ago. I, now, have two healthy children. It didn't make me kill anyone.

It comes down to personal responsibilty regarding the pregnancy thing. It isn't a drug you take long term.

[FITZ]

I guess as long as they fully understand the way it works and that it causes chromosomal damage and they understand the risks of doing that ---and that the chromosomal damage won't be only to any babies they want to abort later but also to their own cells ---then let them take it. How many malignancies are due to chromosome damage? I think all.

[Hildy]

Show me where the research shows any damage to one's own cells?

[lawgirl]

I took Accutane and you have to get a blood test each month before your doctor will refill your prescription. And I was a virgin practicing abstinence at the time and they still made me take it.

The problem with Accutane is that it causes depression.

[diotima]

I took a course of accutane a while ago. I had to sign legal papers, I had to sign a document saying I was using birth control and I had monthly blood tests.

There is no way one can take accutane and not know that if one becomes pregnant there will be horrible birth defects. There is a picture of a disfigured baby on the package of pills and each pill you take has to be punched through cardstock with a picture of a pregnant lady with a circle and a slash through it.

My dermatologist talked to me for a long time about the side effects: nose bleeds, severely dry skin, joint pain. If you agree to take the medicine after being apprised of the side effects, blame yourself not the makers of accutane.

I think it is a miracle drug and is used as a last resort by any reputable physician. If you can not live with the side effects (also listed on the drug insert) then don't take it.

[diotima]

Absolutely, the literature they give you willfrighten the bejeezus out of you.

Damn straight. It scared the hell out of me but I did some research and decided to take it anyway.

[FITZ]

I never had acne ---as soon as one of my kids shows signs of breaking out, I get on them about eating too much junk food and how they have to eat natural foods ---and they clear right up. That might not be true of all cases I realize ---but I wonder how much acne cases are allergic reactions to some foods? I worked with a girl that had to stay far away from everything with coconut oil ---and that's not easy with processed foods----everytime she ingested coconut oil, she got acne --otherwise her skin was clear.

[FITZ]

How can it get through your system, cross the placental barrier, cause defects only to the baby but leave your own cells alone?

[Paleo Conservative]

I took Accutane and you have to get a blood test each month before your doctor will refill your prescription. And I was a virgin practicing abstinence at the time and they still made me take it.

I'm a male, and I had to take monthly blood tests while I was on accutane. Pregnancy is not the only thing your doctor was worried about. Accutane can also cause liver damage among other things.

[Hildy]

I don't know...but like I said, there are people willing to take that chance.

[Hildy]

What bothers me is the title of this article, What Price Beauty (How original). As if this is about beauty, equating it to a breast augmentation or liposuction. This is about a chance to live a normal life.

[krb]

Even though she had a total hysterectomy, they required her to take periodic pregnancy tests.

Damn, that's some serious CYA.

[krb]

Accutane is a wonder drug for those who need it.
I absolutely agree.

I do too. I knew a couple of people in high school who had to use it...very good results.

[jocon307]

"I've never heard of "face cancer!"

One can get cancer in any part of the body, I beleive. Cancer just means abnormally reproducing cells; this is part of why it isn't cured, it's not really a disease, it's more of an umbrella term for similar ailments, I think, I could be wrong about this.

I remember distinctly, years ago, reading an article in the Sunday NY Times magazine written by a woman who had had cancer in of the nose. She recovered, more or less, as I recall. I always remember one piece of advice she gave her readers (I paraphrase from old memory): if you have a serious, dire, disease make sure you get a good looking doctor. For one thing it's encouraging; for another, you're going to be seeing a lot of him.

[Hildy]

I know you can have skin cancer, cancer of the mouth, etc. I just thought "face cancer" sounded wierd.

[Diddle E. Squat]

My retirement and college funds were funded from a law suite against Hoffmann LaRoche

Then you should be profoundly ashamed of your vulturistic opportunism.

The problem is not the drug, but users who refuse to act responsibly. There are very clear and specific warnings. How dare you raise the costs for all the many, many other beneficiaries of this excellent treatment, or attempt to get it banned.

I was treated using accutane almost 2 decades ago, was given plenty of warnings and instructions before and during, and suffered no lingering after effects. It is a life-changing drug for some people, and for me it removed a very large distraction. It absolutely made life easier for me and many others. In fact off the top of my head I can think of more than a dozen friends from college and work who used Accutane, none have had lingering side effects, and most now have healthy children, no birth defects in that group.

But there is always a lawyer who find the 1 exception in a million, or someone who didn't heed warnings, ignores the 999,999 other responsible and satisfied users, resulting in the denial of a good and needed option to many, many future sufferers. Selfish opportunism self-promoted as looking out for victims. Maybe your client truly was an innocent exception, but that is no excuse for ignoring the hundreds of thousands(millions?) who have benefited from this treatment, and attempting to deny millions more the same opportunity.

Perhaps you can find a victim of the polio shot side effects and sue the vaccine maker to pay for a yacht or two.

[Paleo Conservative]

Obviously Mercat doesn't know Diddle E. Squat!

[diotima]

The drug isn't supposed to be used long term. If I recall correctly, you have to wait a certain amount of time to take another course.

Some people have adverse side effects to drugs, it is up to your physician to monitor and control those. However, if you have an unethical, negligent doctor than the issue is with the doctor. If the drug is monitored and prescribed properly, if the patient is apprised of the possible side effects and consequences, there is no issue.

If you don't follow the directions, that isn't the drug company's problem.