Accutane Side Effects May Increase Risk of Suicide for Acne Sufferers: Study

Scientists say that the findings of a new study may show a link between the use of the acne treatment Accutane and an increased risk of suicide. 

The Accutane suicide study, published in the latest issue of the British Medical Journal, attempts to provide some answers to persistent questions of whether suicide is a side effect of Accutane or whether the suicides are caused by depression over the severe cases of acne the medication is designed to treat. The researchers say the results appear to indicate that there may be a part of the population that is more likely to commit suicide after using the drug, which would not have done so solely due to the acne.

Accutane (isotretinoin) has been used by more than 16 million people worldwide since it was first introduced in the early 1980s as a treatment for severe acne. Although Roche discontinued the drug in the United States in June 2009 due to the cost of Accutane litigation, a number of generic versions remain available under a number of names, such as Claravis, Sotret, Amnesteem and generic isotretinoin.

The retrospective cohort study looked at 5,756 patients who were treated with Accutane for severe acne. Researchers reported that 24 of the patients committed suicide and 128 patients were admitted to hospitals for attempting to commit suicide on 210 occasions.

Researchers say that the data they compiled does show that simply having severe acne increases the risk of suicide. However, researchers noted that there was an increase in suicide attempts after patients began taking Accutane.

The researchers concluded that most Accutane suicides were likely related to the severity of the patients’ acne. “For certain vulnerable patients, however, (Accutane) may trigger such behavior,” the researchers determined. “The challenge for future studies is to find out how to identify people who may be vulnerable to (Accutane).”

The scientists said doctors prescribing the medication should be aware that past psychiatric problems are not necessarily an indication of future suicide attempts on Accutane.

“Much more important is the fact that suicide attempts can occur quite a long time after treatment has stopped,” they said. The researchers suggested close monitoring of the mental status of patients on Accutane, as well as any patients suffering from severe acne. That monitoring should continue for at least a year after treatment has ended.

In addition to the drug’s suspected ties to suicide attempts, Accutane side effects have also been linked to an increased risk of severe bowel problems, such as inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. About 1,600 Accutane lawsuits over bowel injuries have been filed as part of a New Jersey mass tort.