Accutane

[texasgal]

Hi, all!  In a desperate but probably useless search of a reason I have contracted Hepatitis C, I have been doing some pretty heavy research on the internet and trying to go back in my past and see where all of this began.  Well, when I was in my early 20's, I was on an acne drug, called "Accutane".  I recently found some articles stating that Accutane can cause hepatitis and other liver damage.  Has anyone ever heard of this?  If so, does it only affect the liver while you are taking it.  I know this is a very powerful drug, but little did I know that it could cause liver damage?  If anyone has any input, I would sure like to hear it?  Thanks, friends.

[loulou1966]

The connection I read was Hepatitis B from exposure to large amounts of Vitamin A which is what Accutane is. I am getting tested because I have already been diagnosed with internal gastro damage from the drug. And I found that I had been on another medicine that Hepatitis B was linked too. So it wouldnt surprise me that what you are hearing is true too.

Hope you are doing well

[Rockerforlife]

Drug Induced Hepatitis
A large number of drugs can cause hepatitis. The anti-diabetic drug troglitazone was withdrawn in 2000 for causing hepatitis. Other drugs associated with hepatitis:

Accutane
Halothane (a specific type of anesthetic gas)
Methyldopa (antihypertensive)
Isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (tuberculosis-specific antibiotics)
Phenytoin and valproic acid (antiepileptics)
Zidovudine (antiretroviral i.e. against AIDS)
Ketoconazole (antifungal)
Nifedipine (antihypertensive)
Ibuprofen and indomethacin (NSAIDs)
Amitriptyline (antidepressant)
Amiodarone (antiarrhythmic)
Nitrofurantoin (antibiotic)
Oral contraceptives
Some herbs and nutritional supplements

If you have experienced problems while on the drug Accutane, now is the time to do something about it. Fill out the form below for a free case evaluation from Weitz and Luxenberg.



http://www.weitzlux.com/accutane/hepatitis_2458.html

[tashka]

Your daughter could not get hepatitis C from Accutane. Hepatitis C is an infection. It is transmitted ONLY through blood to blood contact. You can not get it from taking pills. It is just impossible.

I also sincerely hope that treatment will help her. And I am glad you are negative.

[savga]

My daughter is 14 years old and used accutane for three months. She now has hepatitis C. There is no doubt in mind this is how she contracted hep c. I have been tested and my resuls were negative. I pray that treatment will work and she will be cured.

[annainitaly]

what do you mean luigi... much mooooooore ..... !!!!!    ROTFLMAO
have let us know about your bio.
a.ˇ

[Lucky Lou]

Hi texas gal!! thank you for the nice words. but I must be honest and say that when you want hard core information this forum is the place to be. I am the grasshopper and the masters are here. I have better fashion sense to be sure! But the info is right here at med Help. keep studying. I feel as though I can make intellient decisions becuase of the info I learnd here and from where these fine people sent me. Come see us yes , but ask you treament and medical questions right here, they have the experiance. Oh yes its true I have the good looks that they lack, that goes  unquestioned..and yes the pinache that they crave..but please please your too kind. Stick with the winners and many are right cher! nice to here from you and get your butt over to see us at the "other place" (Oh my god! was that a plug!)

Anna Italia! thank you. Test results thursday. I will post as I will have quetions. Always nice to here from the mother country! Anna, if you are half as beautiful as your pleasing  personality, you are twice as beautiful as a goddess!

Take care!

Lou

[honey1616]

Hey,,,I can supply all the cold ones you guys want,,,Called interferon stashed in the fridge! LOL  I know,,,not the right one huh?

[want2live]

I want a cold one too!

[honey1616]

Hey Auggie,,,I guess you are right about not knowing what will make this disease take off.  I have sat back and tried to figure out so many things that would make some people more advanced stages and it can be puzzling.  Hey,,,hope you are feeling good these days and when is your Pcr?

Joni & Couch,,,,Yes,,,Joni,,I will email you as would love to hear your story,,I know you have been so much an inspiration to everyone here!
Couch,,,Yeah I would think if I can clear this and get a biopsy to see how I stand that I would pray that one day,,,I could have an occassional drink..

[cuteus]

I'll drink to that!  maybe we can do a SVR happy hour...

an occassional drink, for those with little or no damage does not show increased liver damage in the studies I have read. Some will choose never to drink, and some will take that cold one on special events, some might go back to their old ways of heavy drinking... is what choices is all about.
Some time in the future I want to enjoy that cold one...

[whoaisme]

We talked to my husband's doctor/nurse about that same situation and she said not to worry, as a matter of a fact, in not so many words she said pulling back (aspirating) isn't really even that necessary since the shot is just under the skin (subcutaneous) not into a muscle, or anything. Don't worry!

[DebbieDo]

Hey, tonight i did 38/48 and first time i drew back on the syringe and got a tad of blood, i pulled out alittle and no more blood so i injected.........i hope this is OK, if not what is going to happen with the blood........
has anyone else done this.....i know i read that if you draw blood you should throw it out and start over......and then i believe i read here someone did this very same thing and it wasnt a big deal.....can anyone answer this for me.....thanks  :)

[texasgal]

Lou,

Sometimes, you can be such a lifeline for people.  Your experiences and knowledge of this horrible infection amaze me.  You have really done your homework and I appreciate your input so much.  I read your story of 9/11 and you truly are an amazing person.  If there is anything I want to know, I know right where to go.  Thank you again.

[ringeding]

hey tex...i was on accutane 15 yrs ago and i remeber having to have my liver functions done before they would even consider prescribing it...it is a very very heavy drug and difficult and harmful for the liver so they insist that your liver be checked before hand and also that you agree to not get pregnant while taking it as it does cause serious birth defects....these are the few things i rememebr about accutane....but it isn't in anyway responsible for hep c virus...unless of course the virus was undetected and the liver panal not done prior and the accutane severly aggravated an pre existing condition with your liver.....thats about all i can remember about that....good luck, sometimes sadly we can't seem to find a reason for getting this virus and i imagine thats really frustrating for anyone.  take good care

want2live...hi doll..well, i can empatise with you entirely...i too was in a slightly similar situation.....although my suicidal experiences were limited to my teens for the most part and am now 45 yrs old...44 when i started tx....i choose not to disclose my info(for fear of not being a candidate for tx) simply because almost 3 decades had past and i had not experienced any real depression or suicidal feelings in almost all of that time, so i was feeling a bit more confident...but remained extremely vigilant and took anti-depressants through out tx...i do however believe and agree sweetie that it is CRITICAL that you do dis close this info if you have had experiences with these things in the recent past....it is imparative because the meds prescribed do tend to exasperate spl? these feelings, even in the rational and un depressed and semi stableist spl? of people....i fully agree with i think it was chev, that you CAN DEFINATELY treat with the cooperation and help of a good, loving doc and therapist just to touch base with weekly while tx-ing....but this is absolutley possible for you....you are couragous and determined and self aware....i think this is a real possibility for you....and wouldn't give up...all the best...big hugs to you...this is a double whammy to have to deal with

kimmy

[annainitaly]

I agree with chev. a good doctor should not look at your liver only - you are ONE person with your story and should not be ashamed of it. his/her job is to take care of you all. I know that only a few doctors are so sensitive but try find one whom you trust, if not this one. to a good doctor, information like that is precious to take real care of a patient.
that's my opinion. all the best
anna

[annainitaly]

no no no gal, hep C is a VIRAL disease. you get it only by a blood-to-blood contact. that may have been a blood transufusion if you had one - (many years ago, when there were no tests, it seems safer now except the usual "casual accidents" you know...) but also it might have been a tattoo/piercing, a second- hand syringe, rough sexual intercourse (not that common after all), an electric needle for definitive epilation, and  MANY other ways - but only by contact with infected blood. it is a very aggressive virus and before understanding it, hospitals had been a major infection medium. somebody wrote here recently that even tattoo INK, when used for different people, can carry the virus, it gave me the idea of how hidden a contact can be. I don't know accutane but I would think it might have been  ->toxic<-  for the liver somehow, some component or some interaction with liver functions... certainly not hep C. please can you forum "experts" confirm?
I can imagine that you want to understand how you got it gal, it is a way of taking back control of your personal story... I would do the same effort if I were at your place... (mine is autoimmune so the problem is different, although frustrating enough as well). hope you are doing well, altogether.

LOU I've been around the forum doing a lot of cut-and-paste, creating a personal archive about hepatitis, reading & studying and not posting these last days.what an amazing forum this is, so rich with knowledge but even more with human charge! it's just too few people with MY biliary problem, but I am learning lots of things from you hep C people, first of all courage and warmth and mutual support. as for e-mail: I've problems with opening a lot of pages and have been cut out of e-mail for months. the point is that my OLD mac is not running updated browsers, so I can't enter either yahoo or a couple of other ones where I used to have my accounts. I hate the idea of being totally without my old faithful for some days if I take him to his doctor's. one year ago no e-mail would have driven me crazy, currently I am less addicted but I'll fix the thing eventually - you'll be informed as soon as it'll be done, I promise!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your result on the 16th and I'll come to read the news from here.
love to all, I wish everybody a good evening and a serene night  
anna

[texasgal]

Hey, you should not have to disclose your past suicide attempt.  In fact, due to HIPPA regulations, your doctor should not be able to find out about it unless you give him authorization to do so.  I am sorry for the trouble you are going through.  It is hard enough to deal with hepatitis alone.  My personal opinion is for you to find a doctor that will work on the issue at hand and if you feel the need to disclose your past, that is your prerogative.  Please be careful, though.  Even though you feel you are OK, you need to be aware of the severe side effects of the drugs associated with Hep treatment.  Good luck to you.

[want2live]

Sorry to bust in on your thread, but I have a question:

If I go to a new Dr. and lie about past history/tx, will they be able to find out?

My current Dr. will not retreat me due to my past history (suicide attempt). In other words he is deeply concerned about covering his ass and not at all concerned about me getting better. If he was that concerned about me they would have done something when I kept telling him "that the antidepressant is like pissing on a forest fire". They did nothing.

Well it's MY life I am concerned about. It's my f*cking decision. I am IN this game, the Dr. is a BYSTANDER, watching from the sidelines.

So, I would rather lie about it and take my chances.

Anyone know?