Acne cure and suicidal risk

Acne cure may raise suicide risk, says study

By Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor
Last Updated: 1:21am GMT 13/11/2007
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...3/ndrugs213.xml


An acne drug prescribed to thousands of people could cause severe depression and even lead to suicidal thoughts, according to new research.

Roaccutane, used to treat those suffering from severe acne, appears to interfere with the brain's use of serotonin — the feel-good hormone — a study published today found.

In the United Kingdom 26 patients taking the drug have committed suicide. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency [MHRA] also recorded 19 attempted suicides, and 31 patients considering suicide, among those taking Roaccutane.

In the study published in the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine today, researchers at the University of Bath found that the drug, also known as isotretinoin, could disrupt the way serotonin carries signals from one part of the brain to another.

Dr Sarah Bailey, from the University of Bath's Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, said serotonin is thought to play an important role in the regulation of a range of behaviours, such as aggression, anger and sleep.

She added: "Low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression, as well as bipolar and anxiety disorders.

"Our findings suggest that Roaccutane might disrupt the way serotonin is produced and made available to the cells. This could result in problems associated with low levels of serotonin, which might include depression."

The tests were carried out on rats and follow others by the same group which showed mice given the active ingredient retinoic acid, which is derived from vitamin A, exhibited depressive behaviour such as trying to escape less.

Women who are pregnant or trying to conceive are told not to use Roaccutane as it has been linked with birth defects.

A spokesman for the MHRA said: "The safety of isotretinoin remains under close constant scrutiny. Most recently, in June 2005 an Expert Working Group met to consider all available data relating to psychiatric reactions.

"The Group concluded that the current product information reflected the available data but recommended that patients starting isotretinoin should be advised about possible mood changes and monitored for depression."

A spokesman for Roche, the makers of Roaccutane, said: "Although we warmly welcome scientific research, we would caution about concluding that this early work in animal cell cultures can be extrapolated to the effects of isotretinoin in humans.

"Approximately 13 million patients worldwide have been treated with Roaccutane since its availability in 1982.

"Unfortunately, severe acne can cause some sufferers to become depressed and can also affect their mood and self-esteem.

"This is why the information provided with Roaccutane carries a warning that some patients may experience mood changes, including an increase in depression."

Last year, 6,400 prescriptions were dispensed for Roaccutane in England.