Is There a Link Between Depression and Accutane?
In recent years there have been a number of high profile suicides of teenagers who were taking, or had recently taken the prescription acne drug, Accutane. Several lawsuits have been filed alleging that Accutane causes depression.In 1998 Roche Laboratories, which manufactures Accutane, responded to legal pressures by including a warning about depression in the Warnings section of the prescribing information for the drug: “Accutane may cause depression, psychosis and, rarely, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide. Discontinuation of Accutane therapy may be insufficient; further evaluation may be necessary. No mechanism of action has been established for these events.”Despite the manufacturer’s warning that Accutane can cause psychiatric symptoms, there is actually little firm evidence of a relationship. Four hundred and thirty-one cases of patients developing severe depression while taking Accutane have been reported to the FDA through May of 2000. These cases include reports
