Accutane Safety - Long Term and Short Term

Hello,

I've had acne for nearly six years now on my neck, face, back, and chest.  I've tried Minocycline, Differin 3%, Benzoyl Peroxide 5%, Salicylic acid, and different eating habits but it is still there - and still pretty bad (but no cysts).

I've read lots about Accutane (Isotretinoin).  There are lots of people that say it was the best thing ever, and some say it did horrible things to them.  Since over 2,000,000 people have taken Accutane, isn't it probable that averse side effects would happen sooner or later?  But don't you think it is over dramatized?

Two separate studies done by Britain and Israel show the safety of Accutane.  Here is a link to the site that I found the studies: http://www.drmirkin.com/morehealth/G200.htm (you'll have to cut and paste to get to the site).  I was wondering if anyone else has heard of this study?  And also I would like some responses to the study (especially from dermatologists) and about your own experience with Accutane safety.

And by the way, I'm looking for discussion on liver damage, intestine damage, etc.  NOT birth defects and depression and suicide.  Those are very preventable and are already scrutinized by the FDA.

Thanks!
-Luke

[Lukey_]

To find some common ground and information, I'll add some more info that I've found.

Over 13,000,000 people have taken Accutane (http://accutanelawyer.com/2010/08/02/the-history-of-accutane/) I had my numbers wrong in my previous post.  There have been 5,000 lawsuits against Roche Pharmaceutical (the manufacturer of Accutane).  Cited from:  http://www.torhoermanlaw.com/accutane.  And that 5,000 incorporates people with Inflammatory Bowels Disease (IBD), Crohn's disease, and Ulcerative colitis.

I'm not saying that that 5,000 is all the people that have been diagnosed with internal damage due to taking Accutane - there is most likely more.  But 5,000 is only .038% of the 13,000,000 people who have taken Accutane!  That is a ridiculously small percent!  

If you wanted to get the percent of people diagnosed with these internal diseases to 1%, you would have to times the amount who have filed suet (5,000) by 30!  That would be 100,000 people and it would still be only 1%!

What I'm trying to say is that your chances of developing damage to your internal organs by taking Accutane (Isotretinoin) is VERY small.  Less than .2%.

Again any comments, questions, and concerns are very welcome!  Please, lets engage in a discussion and find the truth in the "miracle drug" for Acne.

Best Regards,
Luke