Accutane and Crohns Disease

[DawnCt1]

Do you know anyone who took Accutane in their teen years and developed Crohn's Disease later?

 

[Tinker74]

No...but this has me worried..My 17yr old DS took accutane for 6 months last year.

 

[lspst8]

I took Accutane when I was in high school and have suffered to ill effects to this day.

My sister also took it when she was in high school and had to have her gall bladder out when she was 20. We don't know if the Accutane caused this, but it is possible. It is not normal for a 20 year old's gallbladder to be filled with gall stones. She does not have any problems now.

 

[crashbb]

No one I know who took accutane has Chrons disease.

No one I know who has Chrons disease took accutane.

 

[Robinrs]

Wow, just looked it up. That's one high price to pay for acne medication.

 

[DawnCt1]

Wow, just looked it up. That's one high price to pay for acne medication.

No kidding! DS#1 had awful cystic acne in 8th grade. The dermatologist treated him topically, and then with tetracycline for a long time to no avail. In 10th grade he went on Accutane for the entire cycle; 4 to 5 months? His acne recurred within a few months so he had another half term cycle. By 11th and 12 grade he had all o the bowel symptoms. I won't bore you with the details. But about three years after that, he was diagnosed with Crohn's. He's had 4 surgeries, 5 hospitalizations, can't get private, individual health insurance plus he is still symptomatic. No family history on either side anywhere. Its upsetting. Of course at the time of treatment there was no link. Now there is.

 

[Octoberbride03]

I took it when i was 16/17. Just one cycle so i guess we're taking about 3-6 months. Anyway, no ill effects while on it and no Chron's disease now and I'm 37.

 

[krcit]

My best friend from high school took Accutane and while she has not had Crohn's she has had severe pancreatitis and eventually had to have her pancreas removed. I have heard people suggesting there could be a connection. Scary!

 

[AshleyW]

No one I know who took accutane has Chrons disease.

No one I know who has Chrons disease took accutane.

Same for me.

DF took accutane while we were in high school, and the only long-lasting side effect he's had is the skin on his hands drys out and peels easily.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I have Crohn's and never took accutane.

 

[DawnCt1]

I have Crohn's and never took accutane.

I am sure that most of the patients with Crohn's have never taken Accutane and probably most of the patients who have taken Accutane will never develop Crohn's. However if there is no history of Crohn's on either side of the family and there has been an increased incidence of Crohn's among Accutane patients, then there is a causative relationship.

 

[crashbb]

I am sure that most of the patients with Crohn's have never taken Accutane and probably most of the patients who have taken Accutane will never develop Crohn's. However if there is no history of Crohn's on either side of the family and there has been an increased incidence of Crohn's among Accutane patients, then there is a causative relationship.

Only in the absence of an overall increase in sporadic chrons disease in the population.

I don't know enough about the current epidemiology of chrons disease to know if this clause has been satisfied, but it is important to consider.

 

[DawnCt1]

Only in the absence of an overall increase in sporadic chrons disease in the population.

I don't know enough about the current epidemiology of chrons disease to know if this clause has been satisfied, but it is important to consider.

Apparently the link between Accutane, Crohns, IBD and Ulcerative Colitis is now accepted science.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

I just saw a commercial today from a local law firm asking this same thing. They are looking for people who took accutane and then developed Crons and two other digestive type deseases. Never heard if it before but there must be something to it.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I have Crohn's and never took accutane.

hey, me too!!

 

[themilesfamily]

I took Accutane and have had no ill effects yet. I'm 41.

Accutane was such a godsend to me -- I had awful acne to the point where I was embarrassed to leave the house.

ETA: I do feel terrible for the people who are suffering from Crohn's disease because of Accutane.

 

[mrsv98]

Yes, DNiece, 21, took it when she was 16 and has suffered ever since. She has Chron's, sees a cardiologist for racing heart rate and has generally paid a hefty price for clear skin. It is so hard on Sis in Law since she has now graduated from college and moved to Atlanta. Sis worries so much about her being far away and in and out of the hospital. At least she works in a hospital so she has good health care.

 

[DawnCt1]

I took Accutane and have had no ill effects yet. I'm 41.

Accutane was such a godsend to me -- I had awful acne to the point where I was embarrassed to leave the house.

ETA: I do feel terrible for the people who are suffering from Crohn's disease because of Accutane.

At the time, Accutane was a godsend to DS#1. He looks back and minimizes a "few pimples"now, but he was miserable back then. If it wasn't for the accutane, he would have had permanent scarring. Now, in retrospect, acne and scarring is certainly preferable to Crohn's Disease, but no one knew at the time and it wasn't predictable. The last 12 years of his life have been affected by Crohns.

 

[DawnCt1]

Yes, DNiece, 21, took it when she was 16 and has suffered ever since. She has Chron's, sees a cardiologist for racing heart rate and has generally paid a hefty price for clear skin. It is so hard on Sis in Law since she has now graduated from college and moved to Atlanta. Sis worries so much about her being far away and in and out of the hospital. At least she works in a hospital so she has good health care.

Its a terrible disease for young people, particularly the more severe type. DS is lucky. He has moderate disease. Do they feel that her cardiac problems could be related to the accutane as well?

 

[Aimeedyan]

I post regularly on a Crohn's board and this is the first I've heard of a possible link. It certainly is interesting, especially since there are so many theories about what causes Crohns in the first place.

I am curious as to why your DS can't get insurance. I've never had an issue, as I've never let my insurance lapse (including paying out COBRA when needed) and by law always have to be offered coverage. I assume he went without at some point? My medical bills even with insurance are outrageous; I can't imagine not having it. =(

I have never taken Accutane.