We can realize and understand how bad, unpleasant, and embarrassing such skin condition as acne is by enumerating multiple treatment options to fight this disease. Millions of people suffering from acne struggle hard to get rid of it no matter what it takes. Fortunately, these days they have a great number of medications to improve the looks of their skin and thus raise self-esteem and self-appraisal.
Retinoid therapies are proved to be very effective in fighting acne. However, they promote better results if used alongside with antibacterial agents to kill Propionibactrerium acnes, which aggravates the condition. At the same time, there is one medication, which alone can overwhelm this disorder and significantly improve the state of the skin. This is Accutane a drug, which is well-known worldwide for its effectiveness, as well as for multiple side effects.
In the USA Accutane became available by prescription in 1982. Its active working ingredient is isotretinoin a synthetic oral retinoid, related to vitamin A. It is nowadays prescribed for the treatment of severe nodular acne, which is resistant for all the other therapies. Accutane is so attractive for acne sufferers, because it provides long-term remissions, which sometimes last for years. Moreover, statistics shows that one-forth of patients or even more will need no further therapy.
However, nowadays it is not that easy to get the prescription for Accutane. Many tests are necessary for the doctor to evaluate whether a patient is a good candidate for this therapy. This all is done in order to prepare a person for side effects, caused by this medication. The matter is that all the patients experience adverse reactions, many of which are life-threatening.
Common complaints include allergic reactions as dry skin, itching, burning, rash and so on; chapped lips; dry nose; mild nosebleed; headache; temporary hair thinning; joint and muscle pain; photosensitivity; voice, vision and hearing problems, and many others.
A great deal of side effects caused by this medication is very serious. In fact, Accutane is said to affect almost all body systems and organs. It may provoke tachycardia, stroke, inflammatory bowel disease, hepatitis, pancreatitis, alterations in blood sugar levels, insomnia, lethargy, nervousness, seizures, abnormal menses... The list is almost endless.
The most dangerous and destructive side effects include psychiatric problems (depression, psychosis, aggression, violent behaviour, and suicide). Since Accutane arrival on the market in 1982, suicides of 240 people worldwide, who were taking this drug, had been linked to its therapy.
Another devastating aspect of this aggressive medication refers pregnancy. Accutane may cause birth defects, miscarriage, and death of a baby. As a result, women of childbearing age are especially carefully tested for pregnancy before Accutane therapy is prescribed. They must use a back-up contraception method besides their main one a month before and after the treatment with this medication and during it. Pregnancy tests are done each month during the whole period of treatment.
All the patients must be aware of the possible risks this drug poses to the human health. They must also be ready to tolerate, get used to, or even fight them. Doctors advice and observation will be of great help.
It is obvious that Accutane is effective in fighting acne; however, it is also clear that it can harm one's health so greatly that, perhaps, it would be easier and better to live with acne than take tones of other pills for the rest of the life to heal the results of Accutanes work.
Ivanna
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