accutane

Does accutane effect long bone growth?  What type of dosage may have an impact on this?


This discussion is related to Accutane's Effect Upon Skull Size.

[Phil87]

   I have researched this topic extensively because I took it around 15 years old. It seems that PROLONGED  use of the drug may have this affect (early fusing of the growth plates) meaning 2 or more years of treatment. However, I took it for one cycle I think with 40 mg twice daily. I'm still not very tall coming in at around 5'8'' and I don't think I have grown very much at all (maybe some negligible amount) since my last pill. I am going to receive my derm. records in the mail hopefully in the next 2 days so I know exactly what my dosage and length of time on the drug was. I found this link very helpful, if you scroll to the part about skeletal affects:

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071225092305AAIKmsz

I have read other interesting articles about the drug's affects on bones and to basically summarize it for you... DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES allow a child ANYWHERE in the pediatric age range take anything above the lowest mg amount per day. And ONLY for one cycle. If the acne persists just wait till he/she is 19 or 20 then resume treatment. I personally would never ever put my child on this drug unless they had acne so bad that it could permanently scar their face or something. Long story short, height can be compromised if you give this drug to children so wait till they are probably done growing before suggesting this treatment. Use one of the many, many other beneficial acne medications available in the mean time. all the best.