Parents Sue Acne Drug Company In Son's Suicide; Son Stepped In Front Of Train

KNBC-TV/DT Los Angeles ^ | 10.9.03

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Yep, go after the doctor. Accutane and depression appear to be old news.

Accutane®, although highly effective for its indication, severe nodular cystic acne, is a known human teratogen causing a range of birth defects. This risk, along with concerns about psychiatric adverse events, including depression and suicide, was brought before the Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee on September 18 and 19, 2000

[smith288]

Did the parents say the Dr didnt tell them to read literature or something?

[The Dude Abides]

Good post. In my faith, one must seek forgiveness from God for the sins one has committed. If you have taken your own life, you are unable to ask for forgiveness. I won't advocate my faith here, I just mention this to clarify my earlier statement.

[Migraine]

Phoenix -- The parents of a teenage Arizona coyote who threw himself in front of a train are suing the makers of the Acme drug they blame for his suicide.

Yes, but this Acme drug was supposed to increase Mr. Coyote's stomach gas, thus adding to the boost on his Acme rocket backpack, which was supposed to allow him to catch the Roadrunner. Wile E. Coyote was in hot pursuit of the bird. He never saw the train. Not suicide. Sad, though. But, being a 'Toon, he will have new life in the next episode.

Not so with young humans. That, too, is sad.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

From your link:

Mental problems and suicide

Some patients have become depressed or developed other serious mental problems while they were taking Accutane or shortly after stopping Accutane. Some patients taking Accutane have had thoughts of ending their own lives (suicidal thoughts). Some people have tried to end their own lives (attempted suicide) and some people have ended their own lives (committed suicide). There have been reports of patients on Accutane becoming aggressive or violent. No one knows if Accutane caused these problems or behaviors or if they would have happened even if the person did not take Accutane.

Stop taking Accutane and call your prescriber right away if you:

• Start to feel sad or have crying spells.

• Lose interest in activities you once enjoyed.

• Sleep too much or have trouble sleeping.

• Become more irritable, angry, or aggressive than usual (for example, temper outbursts, thoughts of violence)

• Have a change in your appetite or body weight.

• Have trouble concentrating.

• Withdraw from your friends or family.

• Feel like you have no energy.

• Have feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt.

• Start having thoughts about hurting yourself or taking your own life (suicidal thoughts).

Tell your prescriber if you or someone in your family has ever had a mental illness or if you take any medicines for a mental illness (for example, depression).

Hard to say if it's a side effect or a coincidence. Hmmm. The birth defect warning was totally amazing though. It sounded exactly like Thalidomide.

[smith288]

I used to feel that way but found that God is merciful to those who praise and fear him. Since we are human and full of imperfections, it is of my opinion that God doesnt need seeked out for forgiveness, he seeks you to forgive since he already knows of your actions.

God Bless! †

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I thought that Doctors were required to give the information out, either written or verbally. Maybe someone dropped the ball. But the makers of accutane aren't responsible if the side effects are documented, right?

[Devil_Anse]

If reading the literature is all it takes for the consumer to know all about a prescription drug, including risks from side effects, why have it be restricted to prescription-only? Who needs the doctor? The store just can sell the drug, accompanied by the "literature", directly to the consumer. Cut out the middle man.

[cwb]

I think you hit the nail on the head: Accutane is a powerful drug for treating severe acne. When you're a teen and have a face full of zits, the tendancy to become depressed...and even suicidal is much greater to begin with. I remember when I was in school and this poor boy was teased endlessly about his "pits" and "pizza pie" face. I beieve there's more here than just the drug.

[mel]

I wish people who kill themselves would do something besides stepping in front of trains, it is quite traumatic for the train engineers

[smith288]

The literature is for the patient to look over when a Dr uses his expertise to recommend any prescription that would otherwise not be easily available.

A Dr did his part if literature was given when the prescription was made. Literature and the dr handing it out goes hand in hand. Patient doesnt read it, then its the patients fault.

[Devil_Anse]

I read the "literature" on Accutane. Except for those chemical formulas and some of the many extremely large words. I don't have a degree in chemistry, so that was kind of hard for me to understand.

I found a warning concerning the possibility of suicide. It concerned me. I asked the dermatologist about that. She assured me that it was essentially not proven, at this time, that the drug increases the risks of suicide in normal teenagers. She gave me some percentages, which sounded like there was only a small risk.

I decided not to buy the drug for my son. I asked the dermatologist to prescribe some other therapy, whatever else was available that was acceptable.

I will never know if I saved my son from experiencing a life-threatening side effect, or not.

But I do know that "reading the literature" is not enough to educate a layperson like me about a drug. I am not a chemist.

However, I am the daughter of a doctor.

[Jaded]

Authorities said young Werthheimer was last prescribed a two-week supply of the drug five months before his suicide.

Acutane is time released? For 5 months. They just want the money to purge their own guilt.

[smith288]

Well, after your son started, did you look out for any changes in your sons mental stability?

[Devil_Anse]

Did you read my post at all? I said I didn't get the drug for him.

[ladylib]

You know the parents personally? If that's the case, why don't you just phone them and tell them they sucked rather than doing it here?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Acutane is time released? For 5 months. They just want the money to purge their own guilt

I find their accusations far-fetched, too. But you know what? They'll win.

[mewzilla]

No offense to the parents, but a patient/parent shouldn't need a doctor to tell me to read the lit. Plus, you can get scrip info from any pharmacist. I won't take anything without first checking to see what the heck it is I'm ingesting.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I think it also makes the price of tickets go up, too.

Why aren't the parents suing Amtrak? It makes as much sense.

[smith288]

I read it, but missed the "did not" portion.

Sounds to me like you were concerned based on the risks. So you did your duty as a patient/parent. Thats your job. Kudos.