Many people want the National Health Service (NHS) to stop prescribing Roaccutane (isotretinoin), a popular acne drug, amid claims that it has been leaving some users impotent and suicidal.
Roche’s Roaccutane is used by more than 30,000 people every year in the United Kingdom. The manufacturer said it has benefited millions across the world.
However, some young men claimed that the acne drug has left them impotent, while some parents believe it led their kids to develop suicidal thoughts.
Ed Henthorn, who started taking Roaccutane at 19, said that it made him impotent and caused him psychosis with suicidal thoughts. After using it for nearly five years, he still suffers from impotence and psychosis.
He said, “I used to think about girls… but my feelings, thoughts, just faded away. That was why I decided to stop taking it. The drug’s just turned my life upside down.”
In 1998, the manufacturer mentioned the warnings about the side effects of depression and psychosis to the drug’s patient information leaflet. And two years ago, a new warning was added mentioning that some people may have issues with attaining or maintaining an erection along with low libido.
In 2011, another Roaccutane user, Jesse Jones, took his own life at 24 because he was depressed after the drug affected his sex drive, which left him needing the little blue pill, Viagra. He drafted an email stating, “Roaccutane seems to have changed the way my mind and body works in a big way. I can barely bring myself to type its name because I hate it so much.”
Derek Jones, Jesse’s father, said, “The drug is too dangerous to prescribe on the NHS.” He added, “A minority get these terrible, terrible side-effects that affect them for the rest of their lives.Should we just ignore this minority group? I think the risks are just too high.”
Professor of Bangor University, David Healy, expressed concerns about the drug causing such serious issues and for so long. He said, “It’s very, very, important the label makes it clear that these problems can be enduring.”
The NHS has said that Roaccutane is only prescribed to patients a severe form of acne, who fail to respond to other acne treatments. The officials acknowledged that there have been reports of mood changes upon using the drug, but there is no evidence that the drug caused them.
Sarah Perkins, who posts videos on YouTube on coping up with acne, has described Roaccutane as a “wonder drug.” She said, “I feel so much happier. I’m confident in my own skin.”
Roaccutane is a prescription-only drug that is ought to be used under the supervision and care of a doctor, according to its manufacturer Roche. The company explained that many users have experienced positive effects from the drug. It also explained that clinical studies have not established strong and clear links between Roaccutane and erectile dysfunction or psychological disorders.
