Could Accutane cause sterility?

[Dear Maggie]

I'm thinking it might be something to check into. I notice that the list of potential harm looks a lot like the warnings of 2-butoxyethanol ... which has n-butyl ether. http://home.gci.net/~blessing/pages/accutane.htm If you look at more information on this chemical, it damages the testes. I know of a Coastguardsman who became sterile after monitoring the Exxon Valdez oil spill 'bioremediation' experiment www.valdezlink.com/inipol/pages/experiment.htm

This is the list for Accutane and it does have a butylated inert ingredient:

*Birth Defects
*Ulcerative Colitis
*Crohn's Disease
*Inflammatory Bowel Disorder
*Rectal Bleeding
*Abdominal Pain
*Premature Closure of Growth Plates
*Dessicated Discs
*Organ Damage
*Optic Neuritis
*Central Nervous System Injuries
*Bone and Muscle Loss
*Cardiovascular Injuries
*Liver and Kidney Damage
*Pancreatitis
*Immune System Disorder
*Lupus
*Hearing and Vision Damage
*Thyroid Disorders
*Suicidal Behavior

Source: http://www.accutane-side-effects.com/

Best I can tell, it could be the butylated inert ingredient that causes all of this. Sort of the CFS, CFIDS, 'gulf war syndrome' list of add on ailments http://home.gci.net/~blessing/pages/whatis.htm(after the fatigue, that is)http://home.gci.net/~blessing/pages/canine.htm

If I had a parental choice for my child, I wouldn't give a medication that dries out your whole body for life, and which may cause birth defects into the future ... not just during the time the drug was being taken. A young woman I know took Accutane maybe 8 years ago. Her child was born premature. She was a big boned woman in good health by all appearances. Premature child birth does not run in her family. There was no reason for her to have a premature child.

My friend's son took Accutane and has not been able to have children and has been trying for over 13 years. Maybe there is a connection; maybe there isn't. But maybe someone should be checking into it.

[whistle]

1. Where is accutane used?

[Tess49]

2. It's used mostly to treat acne

[punpirate]

3. Accutane is...

... a proprietary drug used in the treatment of acne.

[wtmusic]

4. good post

I take it, and have to say it's been very helpful.

Acne sucks. It can take a major toll on your self-esteem and confidence. On the other hand, Accutane is a powerful drug. It does tend to dry out just about every gland in your body and I believe it's way overprescribed. I'm taking 1/5 of the recommended dose and I'm big (210 lbs).

There are proven risks for pregnant women taking the drug and I wouldn't be at all surprised if there are long term health effects which haven't yet been documented.

[Dear Maggie]

5. just be very careful of the dose

Because though they don't say so, it could be that men are at risk for reproductive harm.... maybe the testes are more at risk that the ovaries, for instance.

Where I first learned about what 2-butoxyethanol does
http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/0275.pdf
on about page 2

I had someone contact me last summer that was so distraught. They were all messed up from this acne medicine. I didn't know what to say

For one thing it is overprescribed. Intended for only the most horrible nodular type of acne, it is being over prescribed ... even for mild acne