Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
Apparently Accutane, an anti acne drug, is being implicated in inflammatory bowel disease.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080819/ga_accut ... .html?.v=1
Anybody ever take Accutane?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Very interesting. Thanks for bringing that to our attention.
How are you doing these days? - still improving, I hope.
Tex
How are you doing these days? - still improving, I hope.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex,
Yes, I am better. I am taking 125mg Imuran (Azathioprine) and try to follow a low fiber, low residue diet. I don't have completely normal solid formed BM's but only have 1 maybe 2 almost formed BM's with almost no urgency. To me the urgency and the volume is more important than the consistency. I have gained a little weight and feel and look better. I see my doctor next week.
Mary,
I took Accutane probably 5 or 6 years before MC symptoms so I am not sure if it contributed or not, but it is interesting.
Pat
Yes, I am better. I am taking 125mg Imuran (Azathioprine) and try to follow a low fiber, low residue diet. I don't have completely normal solid formed BM's but only have 1 maybe 2 almost formed BM's with almost no urgency. To me the urgency and the volume is more important than the consistency. I have gained a little weight and feel and look better. I see my doctor next week.
Mary,
I took Accutane probably 5 or 6 years before MC symptoms so I am not sure if it contributed or not, but it is interesting.
Pat
That's good news. I agree - next to the miserable feeling, (like you've been hit by a truck), the urgency is one of the worst things about MC, and the big reduction in volume is always a sure sign that you're improving.
Tex
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I've actually had the misfortune of taking 3 separate 6-month long courses of Accutane. Twice before I was diagnosed w/ Ulcerative Colitis and then once after. At the time of the first two courses, I wasn't aware of any link between Accutane and colitis. However, by the time I took the 3rd course, I knew of the reported connection and specifically asked my dermatologist as well as my GI doc if there was any risk to taking Accutane since I already had Ulcerative Colitis. They both told me there was nothing to worry about and I believed them.
Looking back, I can't really say that Accutane had any negative effect on my colitis symptoms when I took it the 3rd time. That is, I didn't bleed or experience any noticeable symptoms. However, if I had to speculate, I believe that I grew up w/ an undiagnosed gluten intolerance/allergy that was at the root of my skin problems and the repeated dosing of Accutane probably did wreak havoc on my digestive tract. The Accutane worked to clear my acne while I was taking it, but once I stopped a dose the acne returned. BUT, once I changed my diet and started to avoid gluten, dairy, and other foods I found I was reacting to, then my acne showed noticeable improvement.
As of now, I don't have flawless skin but it's drastically improved based primarily, if not solely, on my avoidance of gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, etc. It's a tough diet to adhere to but ultimately it's worth it because I can completely control my colitis symptoms and stay in remission as well as keep my skin pretty clear. Needless to say, if I could do it over again knowing what I know now, I wouldn't choose to take Accutane. I won't knock the drug because I think it has worked for a lot of people. That being said, for someone who even remotely suspects they have a possible intolerance to gluten or other food(s) it's much better to modify your diet and keep a food diary to see if that works on your skin prior to taking a powerful prescription drug. Perhaps most importantly, don't ever believe your dermatologist when he/she says something to the effect of, 'Diet has no effect on acne...' This might be true for some people, but I believe the vast majority of people w/ acne would benefit greatly from modifying their diets and removing foods their bodies view as poisons. This myth of 'diet has no effect on ______' is completely ridiculous. I'm living proof that diet can have a HUGE impact on both acne and ulcerative colitis.
I was actually contacted to become part of a class-action lawsuit against the makers of Accutane based on the fact that I had taken it and later been diagnosed (w/in 3 years) with ulcerative colitis. Still waiting for that hefty settlement check...=)
Looking back, I can't really say that Accutane had any negative effect on my colitis symptoms when I took it the 3rd time. That is, I didn't bleed or experience any noticeable symptoms. However, if I had to speculate, I believe that I grew up w/ an undiagnosed gluten intolerance/allergy that was at the root of my skin problems and the repeated dosing of Accutane probably did wreak havoc on my digestive tract. The Accutane worked to clear my acne while I was taking it, but once I stopped a dose the acne returned. BUT, once I changed my diet and started to avoid gluten, dairy, and other foods I found I was reacting to, then my acne showed noticeable improvement.
As of now, I don't have flawless skin but it's drastically improved based primarily, if not solely, on my avoidance of gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, etc. It's a tough diet to adhere to but ultimately it's worth it because I can completely control my colitis symptoms and stay in remission as well as keep my skin pretty clear. Needless to say, if I could do it over again knowing what I know now, I wouldn't choose to take Accutane. I won't knock the drug because I think it has worked for a lot of people. That being said, for someone who even remotely suspects they have a possible intolerance to gluten or other food(s) it's much better to modify your diet and keep a food diary to see if that works on your skin prior to taking a powerful prescription drug. Perhaps most importantly, don't ever believe your dermatologist when he/she says something to the effect of, 'Diet has no effect on acne...' This might be true for some people, but I believe the vast majority of people w/ acne would benefit greatly from modifying their diets and removing foods their bodies view as poisons. This myth of 'diet has no effect on ______' is completely ridiculous. I'm living proof that diet can have a HUGE impact on both acne and ulcerative colitis.
I was actually contacted to become part of a class-action lawsuit against the makers of Accutane based on the fact that I had taken it and later been diagnosed (w/in 3 years) with ulcerative colitis. Still waiting for that hefty settlement check...=)
