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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Warning over acne 'wonder drug' | Warning over acne 'wonder drug' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| By Charlotte Ashton Revealed reporter | By Charlotte Ashton Revealed reporter |
| Roaccutane has become known as an acne wonder drug but the side effects can be severe. A top dermatologist has told Newsbeat that doctors are using it as a quick fix for patients who could be treated with milder medication. | Roaccutane has become known as an acne wonder drug but the side effects can be severe. A top dermatologist has told Newsbeat that doctors are using it as a quick fix for patients who could be treated with milder medication. |
| Roaccutane can cause exhaustion, aching joints and dry lips | Roaccutane can cause exhaustion, aching joints and dry lips |
| Roaccutane works for thousands of acne sufferers in the UK every year - nearly 12,000 prescriptions for the drug were handed out last year. | Roaccutane works for thousands of acne sufferers in the UK every year - nearly 12,000 prescriptions for the drug were handed out last year. |
| The leaflet you get with the tablets warns about depression and even suicidal feelings. | The leaflet you get with the tablets warns about depression and even suicidal feelings. |
| It can also cause physical side effects like exhaustion, aching joints and severely dry lips and eyes. | It can also cause physical side effects like exhaustion, aching joints and severely dry lips and eyes. |
| It is licensed in the UK as a last resort for patients with severe acne who have already tried two other forms of treatment. | It is licensed in the UK as a last resort for patients with severe acne who have already tried two other forms of treatment. |
| But top skin doctor Tony Chu says this isn't happening. | But top skin doctor Tony Chu says this isn't happening. |
| 'Off the books' | 'Off the books' |
| "An awful lot of people are being offered Roaccutane almost as a first-line treatment," she said. | "An awful lot of people are being offered Roaccutane almost as a first-line treatment," she said. |
| A few months of hell is nothing for a lifetime without spots Luke from Hereford class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6442&edition=1&ttl=20090515114505">Have Your Say: What's the best way to beat spots? | |
| "It's bad medicine. You know with Roaccutane you can get patients clear and off your books in six months rather than go through the mill and try them on a variety of things until you hit on the thing that will actually work for them." | "It's bad medicine. You know with Roaccutane you can get patients clear and off your books in six months rather than go through the mill and try them on a variety of things until you hit on the thing that will actually work for them." |
| Dr Chu says doctors have no way of knowing which patients will get mental health side effects. | Dr Chu says doctors have no way of knowing which patients will get mental health side effects. |
| But it can take many months to find the right combination of alternative treatments like oral antibiotics and skin creams which is frustrating if acne's ruining your life. | But it can take many months to find the right combination of alternative treatments like oral antibiotics and skin creams which is frustrating if acne's ruining your life. |
| Different treatments | Different treatments |
| After spending two years trying different antibiotics and creams 22-year-old student Charlotte Bowser from Truro was desperate to try Roaccutane. | After spending two years trying different antibiotics and creams 22-year-old student Charlotte Bowser from Truro was desperate to try Roaccutane. |
| "When I heard about it I was like: 'Wow! Give it to me now'. I'd tried so many different lotions from my GP. | "When I heard about it I was like: 'Wow! Give it to me now'. I'd tried so many different lotions from my GP. |
| Luke says taking Roaccutane made him feel like he had no energy | Luke says taking Roaccutane made him feel like he had no energy |
| "I had one that bleached my hair and clothes. And I had another one that was like pouring lemon juice on a cut. That was horrible. I hated it." | "I had one that bleached my hair and clothes. And I had another one that was like pouring lemon juice on a cut. That was horrible. I hated it." |
| Roaccutane gave Charlotte bad mood swings, but it did get rid of her spots. It also worked for 17-year-old Luke from Hereford. | Roaccutane gave Charlotte bad mood swings, but it did get rid of her spots. It also worked for 17-year-old Luke from Hereford. |
| He said: "I didn't feel depressed but what I definitely did get, and what a lot of people do say, is that your energy levels are so incredibly low. I always wanted sleep. | He said: "I didn't feel depressed but what I definitely did get, and what a lot of people do say, is that your energy levels are so incredibly low. I always wanted sleep. |
| 'Try other medication' | 'Try other medication' |
| "It's one of the most life-changing things I've ever done. A few months of hell is nothing for a lifetime without spots." | "It's one of the most life-changing things I've ever done. A few months of hell is nothing for a lifetime without spots." |
| Alison Dudley, founder of the patient-support group The Acne Foundation, says it's important that patients try other medication properly before asking for Roaccutane. | Alison Dudley, founder of the patient-support group The Acne Foundation, says it's important that patients try other medication properly before asking for Roaccutane. |
| "It is very difficult to have to remember to use creams or take tablets every day for months on end and understandably many people get fed up," she said. | "It is very difficult to have to remember to use creams or take tablets every day for months on end and understandably many people get fed up," she said. |
| "But if you stick to your treatments for at least two months before you start to judge whether it works or not, then you are giving your skin a good chance to recover. | "But if you stick to your treatments for at least two months before you start to judge whether it works or not, then you are giving your skin a good chance to recover. |
| "Try thinking of using spot treatments like you would cleaning your teeth - unless you keep it up regularly you'll get problems, but used everyday helps to keep the bacteria away." | "Try thinking of using spot treatments like you would cleaning your teeth - unless you keep it up regularly you'll get problems, but used everyday helps to keep the bacteria away." |
| So what is the best way to get rid of spots? BBC News programme Revealed . has been investigating. Revealed .how to beat spots is on Saturday 16 May, on BBC Two at 1.40 pm or visit www.bbc.co.uk/switch/revealed for more information. | So what is the best way to get rid of spots? BBC News programme Revealed . has been investigating. Revealed .how to beat spots is on Saturday 16 May, on BBC Two at 1.40 pm or visit www.bbc.co.uk/switch/revealed for more information. |