$Unique_ID{BRK01858}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Of Acne and Accutane}
$Subject{acne pimple pimples cream creams lotion lotions soap soaps Accutane
medication medications sex life isotretinoin birth defect defects woman women
female females cystic therapy therapies antibiotic antibiotics control
controls controlling measure measures pregnancy pregnancies warn warning
warnings therapy therapies pill pills requirement requirements baby babies
malformation malformations malformed}
$Volume{}
$Log{
ACNE:  Blackheads and Whiteheads*0001101.scf
ACNE:  Pimples and Pustules*0001102.scf}

Copyright (c) 1993  Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Of Acne and Accutane


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QUESTION:  I am a young woman, with a severe case of acne.  I have tried all
the creams, lotions and soaps without a great deal of success.  A friend of
mine (a young man) has a similar case of acne and is currently under treatment
with a medication called Accutane.  However when I visited his doctor to get
the same medicine for myself, I was met with a barrage of questions about my
sex life, and a number of forms to sign.  What goes here?  I feel that my sex
has kept me from a medicine I need and I think that is against the law.  Could
you please comment.

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ANSWER:  Rather than a case of sexual harassment you have been the recipient
of some very protective medical care.  After a number of reports of birth
defects associated with taking isotretinoin (Accutane), the manufacturer
(Hoffman-La Roche) launched an education program to reduce the possibility of
additional cases of birth defects to an absolute minimum.  Doctors, who are
well advised to follow the program, will prescribe this medication for women
only when certain circumstances exist.  They include:  a case of disfiguring
cystic acne that has failed to respond to other therapies including
antibiotics; where the patient can understand and carry out instructions
fully; when the patient can comply with mandatory birth control measures; when
both verbal and written warnings about the danger of pregnancy have been given
to the patient and she has acknowledged her understanding of the warnings in
writing; when a pregnancy test is negative within two weeks of starting the
therapy, and finally, when the therapy will begin only on the second or third
day after the next normal period.  Both counseling and pregnancy tests
continue on a monthly basis for the time you are on the medication.  In
addition, since birth control methods may not always be 100 percent
effective, two methods are required used simultaneously, of which one should
be the birth control pill.
     Now, if you can meet with all of these requirements, you may obtain a
prescription from your doctor.  It will be for but 1 month's supply, and you
can obtain renewals after each monthly visit, when the results of pregnancy
tests are found to be negative.  A lot of restrictions?  You bet, but it is
the best way to assure that no malformed babies are created.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.