What to Beware Of
Your child could suffer severe deformities of the heart, brain, or face because of this drug. Originally developed in 1982 by a Swiss pharmaceutical giant, Hoffmann-La Roche created a high dosage of vitamin A to inhibit the production of fatty acids that can lead to acne. Along with risks to the infants, there are risks to the mothers as well. This is by no means the safest medication to take, and it can stay in your system for up to three years. For this reason, some women have had trouble with the birthing process even long after they stopped using Accutane. Examples of adults’ adverse consequences include vomiting, anemia, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, dermatitis, back pain, and suicidal thoughts.
Potential Uses
To be clear, there are many uses that you can get out of this drug, including the prevention of skin cancer on rare occasions. Doctors have also used Accutane for cancers of the pancreas, brain, and other organs. Classified as a retinoid drug, this medication prevents oils from forming within the sebaceous glands. Most often, medical professionals prescribe this drug after all other types of treatment for acne have failed. There is a 70 to 80 percent effectiveness rating with Accutane, yet many women have taken it without realizing the potential for long-term consequences.
The Dangers
There is a range of birth disorders that can result from taking Accutane. Unfortunately, this medication has a reputation for causing birth injuries. These include heart defects, cleft palate, facial dysmorphism, ear abnormalities, Microcephaly, eye abnormalities, intellectual disabilities, and central nervous system malformations. Let’s say that you have already taken this medication. What can you do? First and foremost, you should avoid breastfeeding your child.
Some birth injuries can be a lifelong struggle, like cerebral palsy. In many cases, parents have to seek financial help to afford assistance for their child. With the help of legal professionals, some people can get the compensation they deserve. What happens if the drug causes birth defects in your child? Because this drug falls under the FDA’s jurisdiction and is restricted, the pharmaceutical company has a legal obligation to pay for any birth defects that may arise. Since its dangerous history was revealed and the company had to continue paying out in lawsuits, Accutane was withdrawn from the United States’ pharmaceutical market due to the high costs that the company had to continue paying out in lawsuits. While the brand name no longer operates here, they still continue to use the formula, which has led to ongoing birth defects in infants.