Health & Medical Skin Conditions & Dermatology

Congress Urging Teen Acne Drug to Disclose New Warnings

Congress Urging Teen Acne Drug to Disclose New Warnings

Congress Urges New Warnings on Teen Acne Drug



Dec. 5, 2000 (Washington) -- A congressional committee on Tuesday urged the maker of a popular acne drug to do a better job of highlighting the medication's potential association with depression and suicide. Although the committee did not advocate any further restrictions on the use of Accutane, it did urge the drugmaker to conduct additional studies into the medication's mood-altering effects.

At a House of Representatives hearing, members of the Committee on Government reform asked Roche Pharmaceuticals to educate patients and families about the possible association between Accutane and depression and suicide. This education should take place on top of any previous actions taken to outline those concerns on the drug's label, the committee said.

Accutane was approved in 1982 as a treatment for severe acne when other treatments have failed. It is the only drug currently on the U.S. market that has been shown to effectively control severe cystic acne, the most serious form of this skin disease.

"Because of the drug's benefits, it is imperative that we understand all of the drug's risks," said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), a member of the committee.

According to the FDA, Accutane has been associated with about 44 suicides since 1983. But whether the drug actually contributes to depression and suicide largely remains an unanswered question, despite its apparent mood-altering effects, the agency says.

"What we are seeing is mood changes," says Douglas Jacobs, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "The scientific evidence does not support a link between [Accutane] and depression, suicidal ideation [thinking about suicide], or suicide."

But considering that the drug is a derivative of vitamin A, there is cause for concern, says James O'Donnell, PharmD, MS, professor of pharmacology at Rush Medical College in Chicago. The link between vitamin A and depression is indisputable, he explains.

Roche says these "spontaneous" events simply reflect "the multiple risk factors in the adolescents and young adults afflicted with the disfiguring disease."

Still, for dermatologists, the committee meeting may have gone better than expected. Dermatologists had feared that lawmakers would also urge further restrictions on the drug's distribution, as was advocated recently by an expert medical panel, due to the drug's other side effects.
SHARE
RELATED POSTS on "Health & Medical"
Professional Acne Advice by Qualified Nutritionist
Professional Acne Advice by Qualified Nutritionist
Warts: How to get rid of them
Warts: How to get rid of them
Is Steaming Beneficial For Treating Spots?
Is Steaming Beneficial For Treating Spots?
What Will the Best Skin Firming Face Cream Offer?
What Will the Best Skin Firming Face Cream Offer?
3 Essential Remedies for Eczema in Children
3 Essential Remedies for Eczema in Children
Are Cold Sores Really Contagious?
Are Cold Sores Really Contagious?
Remove A Skin Tag
Remove A Skin Tag
Five Ways to Removing Stretch Marks
Five Ways to Removing Stretch Marks
Remove Scars-Simple Ways to Remove Acne Scars From Your Face
Remove Scars-Simple Ways to Remove Acne Scars From Your Face
Removing Facial Moles With 4 Self Help Tips for Best Results
Removing Facial Moles With 4 Self Help Tips for Best Results
Is it Oily Skin or Seborrheic Dermatitis
Is it Oily Skin or Seborrheic Dermatitis
SKIN AGING PART 1: Causes Of Skin Aging
SKIN AGING PART 1: Causes Of Skin Aging
Olive Oil Facial Cleanser - How to Find Truly Effective Natural Products That Won't Damage Your Skin
Olive Oil Facial Cleanser - How to Find Truly Effective Natural Products That Won't Damage Your Skin
Warts Removal - What Are Your Options?
Warts Removal - What Are Your Options?
Tips And Tricks For Quick Acne Relief
Tips And Tricks For Quick Acne Relief
Organic Natural Body Care Products - An In Depth Analysis On What Works And What Doesn't
Organic Natural Body Care Products - An In Depth Analysis On What Works And What Doesn't
Tanning Lotions And The Benefits Of Avoiding Too Much Of The Suns Harmful Moisture Sucking Rays!
Tanning Lotions And The Benefits Of Avoiding Too Much Of The Suns Harmful Moisture Sucking Rays!
A Skin Repair Product Should Do What It Claims - What Ingredients To Look For In A Safer Product
A Skin Repair Product Should Do What It Claims - What Ingredients To Look For In A Safer Product
Tips to Avoid a Dry and Itchy Scalp
Tips to Avoid a Dry and Itchy Scalp
5 Things to Cut From Your Acne Plan
5 Things to Cut From Your Acne Plan

Leave Your Reply

*