Accutane is the former brand name for the medication isotretinoin. Isotretinoin is a drug that doctors prescribe to treat severe acne that does not respond to other treatments. Some people believe that it may cause Crohn’s disease.
The makers of Accutane no longer produce this medication, but the drug continues to be known colloquially by this name.
In the past, some case reports linked Accutane with an increased risk for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease.
This article will look at the research on the possible link between Crohn’s disease and taking isotretinoin.
Accutane is the former brand name of a drug called isotretinoin, which is an oral derivative of vitamin A. People take this medication when they have acne that is painful or so severe that it affects their quality of life.
Most people will see a reduction in acne symptoms after taking Accutane for about 4 to 6 months.
Although the original manufacturers of Accutane have stopped making it, other manufacturers sell oral isotretinoin under different brand names, including Absorica, Claravis, Amnesteem, Myorisan, and Zenatane.
Some online pharmacies and illegal operations may also sell medications that they label as “Accutane.”
The suspected link between Crohn’s disease and Accutane came from case reports that connected taking Accutane with an increased risk for Crohn’s disease.
In these case reports, doctors and researchers provided details on specific patients that they believed to have Crohn’s disease as a result of their Accutane treatment.
However, the number of cases of IBD that may have related to Accutane was very small. Doctors reported only
The researchers found that the incidence of IBD was lower in people who had taken isotretinoin than in those who had not.
As a result, the researchers could not confirm an increased risk for IBD after taking isotretinoin.
However, they did suggest that isotretinoin could potentially influence IBD by:
- causing cell death in the intestinal lining, which could lead to ulcers and inflammation
- revealing pre-existing IBD
- coincidentally co-occurring with IBD, as an IBD diagnosis is most common in young people, in whom acne is also more prevalent
If a person takes isotretinoin and symptoms of Crohn’s disease appear, doctors will often recommend discontinuing the medication to see if these symptoms improve.
If the Crohn’s symptoms do improve, this may support the theory that taking isotretinoin reveals mild, pre-existing IBD.
Accutane’s most well-known side effect is the risk of congenital abnormalities.
As a result, women who take Accutane between menarche and menopause should use two forms of contraception to prevent pregnancy.
Other side effects that Accutane may cause include:
- dry skin
- diarrhea
- nausea
- stomach pain
Doctors do not know the exact cause of Crohn’s disease, but it is likely that a combination of genetic, immune-related, and environmental factors all contribute to the condition.
Crohn’s disease is more common in people between the ages of 15 and 35, but it can occur at any age.
The symptoms of Crohn’s disease include:
- abdominal cramping and pain
- feeling as though the bowels are not empty after a bowel movement
- fatigue
- frequent constipation
- frequent sudden and strong urges to go to the bathroom
- night sweats
- persistent diarrhea
- weight loss
The early identification of Crohn’s disease can help a person reduce intestinal damage.
Some case reports have suggested a potential link between Crohn’s disease and Accutane.
However, studies have not proven that Accutane, or any other brand of isotretinoin, increases the risk of developing Crohn’s disease.
If a person who takes or has taken isotretinoin develops Crohn’s disease, they should notify a doctor.
