Thursday, November 12, 2009

On Accutane's Withdrawal

I was both happy and sad to hear that Accutane was being pulled from the market in the U.S.

Particularly in my early teens, I suffered the worst kind of acne, and the most frustrating thing thing was that there was little that could be done to combat it. Circa 1970, popular literature on what acne is and how to control it was in the Dark Ages - virtually barbaric. Masturbation was sometimes blamed for the condition, or poor hygiene, or poor diet, by unfeeling so-called 'experts', right through the 60's, and into the 70's as well.

Diet control wasn't terribly effective, and ultraviolet treatments were so-so. In my late teens, treatment with antibiotics seemed most-effective, when combined with exfoliating scrub containing benzoyl peroxide. But even that was only partially helpful.

Besides, by the late teens, all the serious damage had been done.

Nevertheless, in the early 80's, Accutane came along, a true wonder drug. In 1988, I ventured to the U of A Medical Center to get me some.

By 1988, reports of birth defects were already available. In response, the U of A doctors would not prescribe the drug to women under any condition - whether they were taking birth control, whether they had their tubes tied, whether they were decapitated below the navel.

Plus, by age 32, my problem was no longer quite as severe as it had been. I tried to squeak through, as an older afflicted male, but they just laughed at me and told me to get lost.

Maybe just as well. Accutane kicks the liver around like a football. Who knows what damage might have resulted?

But then again, who knows how much further acne trouble I might have avoided?
Swiss-based Roche Holding quietly pulled its blockbuster drug Accutane off the market in June amid early signs that the drug may be linked to inflammatory bowel disease. And last week, a study was released that quantified those risks, finding that users of the medication have almost twice the odds of developing a serious bowel disorder as nonusers.

For now, generic versions are still available, but the latest troubles could lead to the withdrawal of the controversial medication considered the treatment of last resort for acne so damaging it can lead to pitting of the face and a lifetime of anguish.

In its tumultuous 27-year history, the drug, also known as isotretinoin, has been found to cause serious birth defects if taken during pregnancy and to possibly increase the risk of depression, including suicidal behavior. Women who take it must register with the government, sign a consent form saying that they understand the medication's risks, use two forms of birth control, and submit to monthly pregnancy tests.

The fact that it's still on the market puzzles some former users and consumer advocates -- and reflects the profound lengths to which doctors, pharmacists, pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies and patients have gone to ensure its survival.

"It would be a true disaster if this medication would become unavailable," said Dr. Steven Stone, chairman of an American Academy of Dermatology committee that has reviewed the drug's safety.

"People don't die of acne, so it's easy to say, 'This is a drug that causes inflammatory bowel disease; let's take if off the market.' But that ignores the psychological harm of severe acne."

A form of vitamin A, isotretinoin is usually taken daily for three to six months, resulting in lasting improvements in 99% of patients and a cure in about 70%.

It is also used occasionally for psoriasis, lupus and cancer.

Accutane has been used by more than 13 million people worldwide and was one of Roche's best-selling drugs, with about $200 million a year in sales before its patent expired in 2002.

When approved in 1982, the drug was known to cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy and was labeled with warnings to that effect. In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration implemented the stringent iPledge program, requiring patients, doctors and pharmacists to join a risk-management registry to try to ensure that women didn't become pregnant while on the drug.

The program has kept isotretinoin on the market, although the system is so cumbersome that some doctors and patients have given up trying to obtain the medication, says Dr. Amy Forman Taub, a dermatologist and assistant clinical professor at Northwestern University in Chicago.

"This drug has had so many fears associated with it over the years," she said. "There are no other medications other than thalidomide where there is a registry. But we've mastered it, and it works."

Isotretinoin can cause other side effects, including increased sensitivity to the sun, joint and muscle pain, headaches, thinning hair, elevated cholesterol and liver toxicity.

The drug has been publicly and emotionally linked to an increased risk of depression, including suicides, and some families of suicide victims have pressed the FDA for its removal -- among them Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), whose teenage son committed suicide after taking Accutane.

A study published in January in the Annals of General Psychiatry, however, found that the relationship between isotretinoin and psychiatric problems is unproved. Now research has found a possible link to inflammatory bowel disease. Last week at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in San Diego, researchers from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, presented evidence showing a higher rate of bowel disorders in isotretinoin users. Before the study, the connection was largely anecdotal.

In inflammatory bowel disease, the intestines become chronically red and swollen, producing pain, cramping, diarrhea, weight loss and bleeding. Surgery to remove all or part of the colon is sometimes required.

..."The absolute risk of getting inflammatory bowel disease is very low," he said. "So if someone has disfiguring acne that was affecting their quality of life, it might be a risk they are willing to take."

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