March 09, 2010
UTNE READER

Acne Drug Poses Fatal Risks for Some Users

July 16, 2001
By Sara V. Buckwitz 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share
Acne Drug Poses Fatal Risks for Some Users

RELATED CONTENT

Hara Davis, Simone Denny, Nazli Kfoury, Eva Russel, and Ruth Solow, Children's Express
Fifty-four suicides have been linked to the side-effects of Accutane, a powerful acne medication, but many people are still risking compromised mental health for clear skin. Writing for the New York City-based newswire Children's Express, Shara Davis, 15, Simone Denny, 12, Nazli Kfoury, 15, Eva Russel, 15, and Ruth Solow, 10, explore the controversy surrounding the drug. Accutane can cause a host of maladies, such as liver failure, jaundice, and depression. Before getting a prescription for the medication, female patients must agree to regular pregnancy tests due to the high rates of birth defects that have been reported by pregnant women taking the drug. All patients receive regular blood tests. Still thousands of Americans take the treatment every year. However, Rosanna, 14, opts not to. "Obviously it's pretty potent stuff, and I'm not sure if I want to mess around with changing the chemical makeup of my body just for my face."
--Sara V. Buckwitz
Go there>>
Also: For more information about Accutane's known side effects, check out the FDA's official website. 
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

Add Your Comment

We’d like to know what you think. To comment, please use this form. E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments. First time registrants: You will receive an email confirming your email address. Once you confirm, your comment will be posted. Questions about our comments policy? Click here.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Utne Reader?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Pay Now & Save $6!
First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Want to gain a fresh perspective? Read stories that matter? Feel optimistic about the future? It's all here! Utne Reader offers provocative writing from diverse perspectives, insightful analysis of art and media, down-to-earth news and in-depth coverage of eye-opening issues that affect your life.

Save Even More Money By Paying NOW!

Pay now with a credit card and take advantage of our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. You save an additional $6 and get 6 issues of Utne Reader for only $29.95 (USA only).

Or Bill Me Later and pay just $36 for 6 issues of Utne Reader!