Accutane and Crohns Disease

[DawnCt1]

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.

When he was working full time, he had his employer health insurance. When he left to go back to school full time, he was able to COBRA that plan for 18 months. Because he returned to school, DH switched him to our insurance to COBRA because we could get that for him for 3 years. What he can't do, is what I have done for DS#3; which is buy a much cheaper insurance, BC BS Tonik plan for less than half the price; $188/ mo. He has a preexisting condition so he is excluded from that type of plan. He just graduated, has a part time 20 hr per week job lined up so will be able to get group insurance and his job will ultimately go to full time, and he will have full time hours with per diem shifts available, but the reason is, "pre-existing conditions". He has been lucky. His medical bills have been reasonable, partly because he is feeling okay right now and does not want to take 6-MP, which his GI doc would like him to be on so right now he is on no regular medication.

 

[Aimeedyan]

When he was working full time, he had his employer health insurance. When he left to go back to school full time, he was able to COBRA that plan for 18 months. Because he returned to school, DH switched him to our insurance to COBRA because we could get that for him for 3 years. What he can't do, is what I have done for DS#3; which is buy a much cheaper insurance, BC BS Tonik plan for less than half the price; $188/ mo. He has a preexisting condition so he is excluded from that type of plan. He just graduated, has a part time 20 hr per week job lined up so will be able to get group insurance and his job will ultimately go to full time, and he will have full time hours with per diem shifts available, but the reason is, "pre-existing conditions". He has been lucky. His medical bills have been reasonable, partly because he is feeling okay right now and does not want to take 6-MP, which his GI doc would like him to be on so right now he is on no regular medication.

I have never attempted to get private insurance. I went from my dad's employer offered policy to my own employer offered policy and just have to pay whatever the employee cost is. Thankfully, it's never been too high. We did buy COBRA for one month when DH was between positions and I was in grad school. It was $900 but since I was on Remicade, it was worth it. Those infusions were billed at $6000 each at the time. I know my dad had to buy COBRA for me a couple of times as a kid because I have asthma, which of coures is considered pre-existing. Little did I realize how little $ asthma costs in relation to Crohns!

I am on 6mp, but it's by far the cheapest med I've been on. One of the reasons why I've advocated staying on it!

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

No one I know who took accutane has Chrons disease.

No one I know who has Chrons disease took accutane.

Same here - no one I know , including myself, who took accutane has Chrons and the people I know who have Chrons have never taken accutane.

 

[Inigo]

I was diagnosed with CD 19 years ago at age 26, really bad symptoms for 1 year prior, but probably had it for at least 16 years before diagnosis. Never took accutane or any related medications. (Actually, I was lucky and never had very bad acne.)

This is the first time I've ever heard of a link between the two.

 

[ols386]

My ds took accutane for about 30 days when he was around 16. When he went in for blood test, his liver enzymes were elevated, and the dr. wouldn't let him continue with the accutane.

To make a long story short, we eventually found out that the elevated liver enzymes were do to split muscle fibers, that leak a particular type of enzyme into the bloodstream. It's not a serious condition (and has nothing to do with accutane), but the only problem with it is that if you are given general anesthesia, it can interact with this condition in a negative way (causing muscle-breakdown malignant hyper-thermia). As long as the anesthesiest and the doctors are aware of the condition, they know how to deal with it if there is a problem. But if someone has this condition, and receives general anesthesia, and the doctors are not aware of it, the patient can die from it.

I read an article about an 18-year-old girl who died in this situation after she had breast-implant surgery. They did not know prior to surgery that she had this condition. I think they found out about this condition in her when they did an autopsy.

Sorry to get OT.

 

[SpecialK]

I know two people who used accutane and neither has Crohns.

My husband has been dealing with CD for close to 40 years and has no family history on either side. He's also on 6-MP - the most expensive med he's been on, but worth it for its effectiveness.

 

[mrsv98]

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?

In a roundabout way yes. She was given Humira for the CD and had all sorts of bad reactions including the heart issues and psoriasis on her arms. Poor kid can't catch a break, first the disease and then complications from the medication. Her heart is ok for now so they are not insisting on medication, which in her case, is a good thing.

 

[Inigo]

I'm home sick* today, and saw one of the shyster attorney commercials saying if you took Accutane and have Crohn's Disease, call us and get in on the class action lawsuit.

*Being sick today is not the CD. I also have Pseudo-Tumor Cerebri, and the medication seems to have caused low potassium levels. Lovely. Just what I freaking need--another ailment.