Accutane Birth Defects

Accutane and Birth Defects
Accutane is an acne cure drug and its scientific name is isotretinoin and is just like vitamin A. in some cases his drug has been wrongly prescribed and been given too women who do not have severe acne problems.

The prescription of Accutane is very strict must only be advised if all other kinds of acne treatments have been exhausted. There are those who used this drug even if they do not have such problems in the hope that their acne will be cured fast.

That is a big mistake as there are other medications possible and a woman have tried at least three other treatments before going for Accutane.

Acne treatment with the use of Accutane usually takes about 15-20 weeks and the best results occur about a year from start of treatment. This is the type of drug that stay in the system for a long time that is why this is not recommended for women planning pregnancy or those who are taking are not advised to get pregnant until after two from last dose.

Breastfeeding women are also not advised to use Accutane though there has been no report of this side effect yet.

The best alternative for Retin-A would be benzyl peroxide which is a substance that has no risky effects on pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Dangerous Side Effects of Accutane
The most risky side effect of Accutane is the possible birth defect to the unborn child. That’s why an oral contraceptive always accompanies the prescription for this drug. And a regular pregnancy test should be taken during the entire course of the treatment. These preventions should be observed ardently because the consequences are very serious. It was reported that 25 percent of children born to women under the treatment of Accutane while pregnant have birth defects such as mental retardation and some physical damages or malfunctions. Acne problem is not life threatening so it is better to try other forms of treatments or other kinds of drugs for acne while pregnant than taking such dangerous risks.

Common Side Effects of Accutane
Common side effects of Accutane in women is the pinkeye or conjunctivitis, cracked lips, dry mouth, itching, dry nose, nose bleeding and joint pains.

Less Common side Effects of Accutane
There are also some less common side effects of Accutane that include:

• Bowel inflammation
• Chest Pain
• Poor night Vision
• Depression
• Tiredness/Fatigue
• Headache
• Nausea/Vertigo
• Skin Rashes/Skin Infection
• Stomach Discomfort
• Skin Sensitivity to Sunburn
• Delayed Healing Processes of the Skin.