Accutane is a member of the drug class known as retinoids, which have been demonstrated to affect the way the body reads genes. Use of the drug while expecting a child is known to damage fetuses and reduce the amount of brain cells that they produce. This is why cautions are taken to ensure that female who are pregnant or who can become pregnant do not use the drug. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that brain-cell production can be equally important in adolescents and adults. Scientists at the University of Baths and the University of Texas in Austin express Accutane might also interfere with the body's synthesis of the mood hormone serotonin.

While evidence from the more than 13 million consumers of Accutane worldwide shows that only 5 to 10 percent experience from side effects, retinoids have also been implied in connections to Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia, so doctors are eager to know how the drug works.

Depression Linked to Acne Treatment

Acne treatment with the drug isotretinoin (Accutane) has been involved in an increase in feelings of depression among adolescent users, and while the link has never been demonstrated, researchers have gathered evidence through an animal study.

Although researcher Dr. Sarah Bailey noted that it is not possible to ask a mouse if it is depressed, its behaviour can be analyzed and modeled with two tests. The first includes causing the young mice to experience stress by forcing it to swim, while the other one induces stress by hanging the mice by its tail.

Acne Cure Tested for Side Effects

Usually, a mouse will swim, climb and struggle, and only periodically stop in a phase of resignation. A depressed mouse will stay in its resigned state longer than one that is healthy. The mice given human-equivalent doses of Accutane used to demonstrate increased depression-related behavior.

Accutane producer Roche says, "While no causal relationship has been established between Accutane and either depression or suicide, we are constantly monitoring all available safety databases on Accutane worldwide." However, the World Health Organization has confirmed 720 cases of mental complications linked to the administration of Accutane, including 84 suicides and suicide attempts.

The allegation that isotretinoin promoted depression and suicide has won a few lawsuits, and is partially responsible for the severe control of the drug, especially in the US. Various case studies of depression, suicidal tendencies, suicide attempt, and suicide in people treated with the acne skin care isotretinoin have been reported to the U.S. FDA Adverse Events Reporting System, with 431 incidences reported between 1982 and May 2001 - of these 37 patients had committed suicide.

Idiosyncratic Effects From Acne Skin Care

Studies have shown that people with acne, the population group eligible to undergo isotretinoin treatment, have an increased chance of clinical depression compared with the general population. Isotretinoin associated depression is "an idiosyncratic side effect." Usually anxiety can bring on acne and depression, creating more anxiety. Also, treatment of severe acne using isotretinoin has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression.

One study using positron emission tomography (PET) demonstrated functional brain imaging changes in patients treated with isotretinoin, however the clinical significance of this finding is unclear.