The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report indicating that some women taking the acne drug Accutane become pregnant despite efforts to warn them that the product is known to cause severe birth defects.
The CDC also said that a symbol used to remind women of the teratogenic effects of medicines is commonly misinterpreted. A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects.
According to the agency, current recommendations for Accutane suggest that women have two negative pregnancy tests, including one on the second day of their next normal menstrual period, before taking the medication. Additionally, women taking Accutane should use two forms of birth control, have repeat pregnancy tests every month and register with a survey that monitors the experience of women taking the drug.
The CDC said that over 2,000 pregnancies in US women taking Accutane were reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 1982 and March 2000.
In its report, the CDC also said that many uncounseled women who saw the teratogen warning symbol -- a pregnant woman depicted in a circle with a slash through it -- were unable to tell what it meant. Many women confused medication bearing this symbol with birth control.
Centers For Disease Control, Atlanta, GA August 17, 2001
Another example of a drug based solution gone bad. This is especially sad as changing one's eating choices seems to resolve most cases of acne. Severe cases might require some additional, more sophisticated natural medical therapies, but rarely, if ever is Accutane needed.
I have no problems with topical Retin A, which is most likely beneficial and probably prevents and even reverses several types of skin cancers.
However, Accutane should be used with great caution and only if one has not seen improvement with the eating plan and consulting with a natural medical clinician.
In addition to Accutane, it would be best to avoid ALL medications, even over-the-counter ones, if there is any chance of pregnancy. No drug has been proven to be completely safe during pregnancy.
As I said in December when I reviewed the evidence that Accutane is also associated depression and suicide:
Accutane is not the miracle cure-all for acne that it is promoted to be. It has a category X for pregnancy which means that it causes birth defects in nearly 100% of pregnant women.
The key to eliminating acne is to stop all soft drinks, juice, and milk and to drink one quart of pure water for every fifty pounds of body weight. It is also necessary to eliminate ALL sugar and chocolate. This strategy works in the majority of people, but some have elevated testosterone levels, which can promote acne.
In this case, non-synthetic vitamin A (the real McCoy-my favorite is emulsified vitamin A from Biotics Research) is very helpful. It is likely not toxic in pregnancy, but nonetheless should be avoided.
To be effective one must use a high dose of 100-200,000 IU per day. The dose should not be used for longer than several months as toxicity could be an issue (as detailed above) if taken much longer.
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