Acne depression may not be due to Accutane: Part 2

Accutane, manufactured by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, has always been a controversial medication since it was first introduced in 1992. Roche says that it intends to stop selling this highly effective drug because of the availability of generic accutane, known as isotretinoin.

There is no question that accutane is probably the most effective medication for clearing acne, but it has also been associated with teratogenic effects if taken by pregnant women. The drug also has been suspected of causing a variety of mental side effects, although Roche has never admitted to these claims. To make matters worse for Roche, a study from Canada several years ago, did indicate that isotretinoin increased the risk of depression.

Said Dr Halvorsen, "There has been a lot of controversy regarding these drugs and that has made many dermatologists cautious about prescribing isotretinoin. Our study is important because it provides an argument for not being so cautious."
However, psychiatrist Dr Ian Goodyer from Cambridge University says it is perhaps too early to jump to conclusions about accutane, "From this research I do not think we can say negative impacts on mental health were nothing to do with the drugs taken for severe acne. There may be additive effects in an already vulnerable group."

To date the evidence we have on accutane is not adequate. So far, no direct link between accutane and suicide or depression has ever been shown. We do know that acne can cause a certain mental morbidity and perhaps accutane may augment these symptoms. Even if accutane did cause an idiosyncratic reaction like depression or suicidal thoughts, the case reports are miniscule and appear to be very rare.

Final point: So far, it is not clear how this Norwegian study was funded. In the last decade, almost every study supported by drug companies has shown extremely favorable results for the drugs.  Does anyone believe that doctors who get paid lots of money by pharmaceutical companies will ever come up with negative results?