AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on most drugs. Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.
Organizations Institute of Biology, London.
Publications Author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 5th Edition published in November 2007 by Pearson Education, Australia.
I am a past accutane user from 1984. It was one of the best choices I ever made and have had no ill effects from the drug ever. I cleared my skin and acne has not been an issue for over 20 years.
Unfortunately, my son has now been hit with acne, early and severe. He is not quite 14. We have been seeing a derm since age 12 and have tried multiple antibiotics(mino cyclin, eurithro, doxy) and many creams(tazorac, differin, benzaclin) Nothing has helped. A few months ago things really started to escalate to the point that scarring was eminent. On July 18, we began accutane.
Thus far, the only side effect is dry lips and a couple of nosebleeds. However, I have read a few stories on the internet about some kids who stopped growing after accutane. The side effect listed is vague as spontaneous growth plate closure. Can you help me to understand how this drug is tested regarding this side effect. I have also read that people have died from taking aspirin and I don't doubt that drugs can affect certain people in an extreme way. However, I am interested in the likelihood of the drug causing this certain side effect. I hate to be swayed be an anecdotal story and would like to base my thoughts/decisions on scientific studies but I am not sure to find those studies.
With thanks.
Answer Dear Lor
The risks of one course of Accutane use is very, very unlikely to cause developmental changes in bone. I would side with you here in saying the advantage of this treatment in your son probably outweighs the negligible chance of retarding bone development. I have added below a statement from a dermatology conference on this which I think you will easily understand.
Bone Changes
Though bone toxicity may be seen in patients on long-term oral retinoids for disorders of keratinization, bone studies in acne patients have been reassuring. No changes in calcium homeostasis or mineral density were seen at 6 months on standard isotretinoin courses.[3] One study did reveal a small number (4.4%) of patients with slight decreases in bone density in Ward's triangle after 6 months of 1 mg/kg per day.[4] There is probably only minimal cause for concern during 1 course of isotretinoin, but there are no studies evaluating patients undergoing multiple courses of treatment.
