Erudite Relics of Loc Huu Ho

So my final decision is to take Accutane to deal with my increasing bad case of acne. I’ll be keeping a daily tab of any side-effects I may experience while on Accutane. I would also like to mention that in my current state, I’m perfectly healthy (even though I just recovered from a cold).

So I just got the pills from the pharmacy today, which consisted of the following:

• 30 Capsules of 40mg Accutane Roche 40 (1 capsule taken a day)
• 30 Capsules of 10mg Accutane Roche 10 x 3 Packages (3 capsules taken a day each after a meal)

Monthly Dosage

I will be starting on the pills tomorrow since I need to leave a day for all the antibiotics I have been taking to pass through my system.

I really hope I do not run into any of the severe side-effects due the extreme toxicity of this medicine. I’ll briefly post what was written on Accutane’s consumer information. Please note that the information copied here are the latest as issued of August 2006 so there may be updates to the information when you receive your Accutane. Check out www.rochecanada.com for the full product monograph.

What the medication is used for:
ACCUTANE is a medicine used to trat severe acne (nodular and or inflammatory acne) that cannot be cleared up by other acne treatments, including antibiotics.

What it does:

• The mechanism of action of ACCUTANE is not known. It is believed to act on the sebaceous glands (sweat producing glands) to reduce sebum exretion. This may indirectly reduce bacterial activity associated with acne and improve the condition.
• ACCUTANE contains the active ingredient isotretinoin. This is a vitamin A derivative, belonging to the retinoid class of medicines. Retinoids are normally used to treat skin problems.
• During the first few weeks of treatment, your acne may seem to get worse. Redness and itching of the affected skin are common initial effects. These should disappear as you continue to take ACCUTANE. Most often, the first signs of healing occur after two to three weeks of treatment. It may take one to two months before beneficial effects are seen. Most patients with severe acne notice a marked improvement after one or two courses of treatment with ACCUTANE.

When it should not be used:

• Though this part doesn’t apply to me whatsover, I’ll include it for the sake of information. Do not take during any period of pregnancy (including breast feeding)
• Do not take tetracyclines with ACCUTANE. For some antibiotics, you may have to stop taking ACCUTANE until the antibiotic treatment is finished. Use of tetracyclines with ACCUTANE together can increase the chances of getting increased pressure in the brain. Certain antibiotics interfere with teh effectiveness of birth control pills.
• Do not take Vitamin A supplements. Vitamin A in high doses has many of the same side effects as ACCUTANE. Taking both together may increase your chance of getting side effects.
• Do not take ACCUTANE if you have liver or kidney disease.
• Do not take ACCUTANE if you have blood fat (lipid) levels.
• Do not take ACCUTANEif you are sensitive to retinoids, or hydrogenated soybean oil, parabens, partially hydrogentaed soybean oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, or any other non-medicinal ingredient listed under: “What the non-medicinal ingredients are;”

What the medicinal ingredient is:
isotretinoin

What dosage forms it comes in:
ACCUTANE capsules 10 mg and 40 mg are available in blister packages of 30 capsules.

What the non-medicinal ingredients are:
ACCUTANE 10 mg capusles
beeswax, black iron oxide, canthaxanthin (contains peanut oil), gelatin, glycerol, hydrogentaed soybean oil, mannitol, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, shellac, sorbitol, soybean oil, titanium dioxide.
ACCUTANE 40 mg capsules
beeswax, black iron oxide, gelatin, glycerol, hydrogenated soybean oil, methylparaben, partially hydrogentated sybean oil, propylparaben, quinoline yellow WS, shellac, soybean oil, sunset yellow FCF, titanium dioxide.

Serious Warnings and Precautions to All Patients:
Mental health problems and suicide
Some patients, while taking ACCUTANE or soon after stopping ACCUTANE, have become depressed or developed other serious mental health problems. Signs of these problems include feelilngs of sadness, irritability, unusual tiredness, trouble concentrating, and loss of appetite. Some patients taking ACCUTANE have had thoughts about putting an end to their own lives (suicidal thoughts), tried to end their own lives, and some people have ended their own lives. There were reports that some of these people did not appear depressed. There have been reports of patients on ACCUTANE becoming aggressive or violent.
No one knows if ACCUTANE caused these behavoirs or if they would have happened even if the person did not take ACCUTANE.

Special symptoms you must immediately tell your doctor about:
Serious side effects have been reported with ACCUTANE. It is important to watch for the symptoms listed below as they may be signs of serious side effects. If you get these symptoms, you must tell your doctor immediately because it may be necessary to stop ACCUTANE. These symptoms could lead to serious health problems requiring treatment even if ACCUTANE is stopped.

Signs of mental health probelms:

• Changes in your mood such as becoming depressed, feeling sad, or having crying spells,
• losing interest in your usual activities,
• changes in yoru normal sleep patterns,
• becoming more irritable or aggressive than usual (for example, temper outbursts, thoughts of violence)
• losing your appetite,
• becoming unusually tired,
• having trouble concentrating,
• withdrawing from family and friends,
• having thoughts about taking your own life (suicidal thoughts).

Your doctor may recommend a consultation with a specialist if you become depressed or experience these changes in mood.

• Signs of hypertension in your head: bad headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, vomiting.
• Signs of inflammation of the liver, pancreas, or intestines (bowel): severe stomach pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding; yellowing of the skin or eyes and/or dark urine.
• Changes in your hearing or ringing in your ears.
• Changes in your vision especially at night. Decreased night vision may occur and be suden in some patients. Take caution when driving at night.
• Persistent feelings of dry eyes
• Signs of bone or muscle changes: aches or pains in bones or joints, back pain, or difficulty in moving, muscle pain, especially after vigorous exercise. If a bone breaks tell your doctor.
• Signs of allergy to ACCUTANE: hives, swollen face or mouth, trouble breathing, fever, rash, red patches, bruises.
• Signs of changes in your blood sugar levels: fainting, become very thirsty, urinating a lot, feeling weak.
• Signs of heart problems: chest pain, palitations, vascular thrombotic disease, stroke
• Leg swelling, seizures (convulsions), slurred speech, problems moving or any other serious unusual problems.

ACCUTANE may affect blood fat, cholestrerol, or sugar levels. Therefore it is important for you to see your doctor at regularly scheduled visits.

What are the other possible side effects of ACCUTANE?
It is important to watch for the special symptoms listed above as these may be signs of serious side effects.
The side effects listed below are generally temporary and disappear when ACCUTANE treatment is stopped; however, you must tell your doctor if any of your side effects do not clear up in a few weeks after you stop taking ACCUTANE. You must also check with yoru doctor, if these effects become bothersome, to see if any change in yoru medication is needed.

• Some of the most common side effects are: dryness of the skin, lips, mouth, and lining of the nose. It is recommended that you use a skin-moisturizing ointment or cream and a lip balm from the start of treatment of ACCUTANE.
• Some other side effects that may occur include: facial or body rash, flaking of the skin, itching, peeling of the palms and soles, increased sensitivity to teh sun, sunburn, inflammation of the lips, mild nose bleed, bleeding and inflammation of the gums, easily injured skin and increased fatigue. You may experience some redness, dryness, or irritation of the eyes.
• If you wear conctact lenses, you may find them uncomfortable during treatment because ACCUTANE may cause dry eyes. This may continue after treatment has stopped. Dry eyes can be helped by applying a lubricating eye ointment or tear replacement therapy.
• In some patients variable amounts of hair loss have occurred. In rare cases, this hair loss persisted after treatment was completed.

These are not all the possible side effects associated with ACCUTANE. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you more deteailed information that is written for health care professionals.

What shoud you avoid while taking ACCUTANE?

• Do not give blood while you take ACCUTANE and for 1 month after stopping ACCUTANE. If someone who is pregnant gets your donated blood, her baby may be exposed to ACCUTANE and may be born with birth defects.
• Do not have cosmetic procedures to smooth your skin, such as waxing, dermabrasion, or laser procedures, while you are using ACCUTANE and for at least 6 months after you stop. ACCUTANE can increase your chance of scarring or inflammation of the skin from these procedures. Check with your doctor for advice about when you can have cosmetic procedures.
• Avoid the use of artificial ultraviolet lights such as the ones used in tanning machines and protect yourself from excessive sunlight. ACCUTANE may make your skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light. When necessary, sunscreen with a high protection factor of at least SPF 15 should be used.
• Avoid the use of exfoliative anti-acne agents
• Do not share ACCUTANE with other people. It can cause birth defects and other serious health problems.
• Do not take Vitamin A
• Do not take antibiotics unless you have discussed with your doctor.