21 replies to this topic

[Welt]

Isotretinoin can and will cause stunted growth. The rate is estimated that anywhere from 5-50% of younger patients will experience stunted growth to some degree--ranging from minor to severe.


Stunted growth in height

"The FDA's medication guide for Accutane states the drug "may stop long bone growth in teenagers who are still growing."^[36] Several reports state spontaneous premature epiphyseal closure can occur in acne patients receiving recommended doses of Accutane,^{[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46]} and has been seen after only 5 months of treatment with a dose of 0.5 mg/kg in a 16 year old boy.^[47] Since the age until complete ossification of bones varies between individuals (17–20 years for upper limbs, 18–23 years for lower limbs)^[48] and since many are prescribed Accutane in their late teens when growth still occurs, but has begun decelerating, there is a risk that deceleration of growth from use of isotretinoin is mistakenly seen as the normal deceleration of growth. The effect of multiple courses of Accutane on epiphyseal closure is unknown."

Go to wikipedia to see all the sources: http://en.wikipedia....rowth_in_height

There are at least 10 independent scientific studies that support this.

There are several studies that says accutane has no effect on growth.. but they are all funded by the drug company that makes it (Roche)..

If you take accutane you are playing Russian Roulette with their health. Any doctor who prescribes this drug to anyone below the age 21 is fucking stupid.

-Welt

Edited by Welt, 19 January 2012 - 02:30 AM.

[labRat]

Welt, on 19 January 2012 - 02:27 AM, said:

If you take accutane you are playing Russian Roulette with their health. Any doctor who prescribes this drug to anyone below the age 21 is fucking stupid.

This is overly simplistic and sensationalist. It's a leap to go from epiphyseal closure to "Russian roulette." There are simply tradeoffs. It does worry me that the effects of isotretinoin on bone growth are not so well understood by many people taking or prescribing the drug. However, this doesn't make it stupid to accept the risk of a shorter height for a few years of acne-free skin. (There might be other effects, but I do not know them. I would also be concerned about bone density in younger women; the early teenage years are really important.)

Keep in mind too that the growth curves of males and females are pretty different; there's no magic number. Puberty for men often doesn't end until age 25 or so. I (a woman) haven't grown since age 14.

Oral antibiotics, which many of us would consider an alternative to isotretinoin, are not risk-free either.