Neurological side effects from accutane??

[labsci2]

Hi everyone, my name is Kathy. I'm 33 from Wisconsin. Here's a "brief" overview about me. I started taking accutane in 1994 after having tried EVERYTHING prior to that, both prescription and over the counter. I had awful acne, "pizza face" summs it up, with a face full of pimples, red marks, and painful cysts. I had the "usual" side effects while on accutane ("kool-aid" lips, dry eyes, back pain, etc). These went away after I stopped treatment. In the years that followed I had "weird" problems that I never related to the accutane. I had tailbone pain that the DR's couldn't find out the cause of. I blacked out at least 1-2x a year and also had 1-2 severe headaches. Anyways, in Sept. 2001, I dislocated my shoulder. I had an MRI with contrast (gadolidium). About 1 month later I blacked out at work and when I came to I had this awful6-7/10 headache and "drunk buzz" feeling. I couldn't shake it for the next few days, despite taking aspirin or Tylenol. It was at that point that I started my 4+ years of seeing DR's. I started out with the headaches and dizzies. Then it progressed to eye twitching and tremors when reaching for objects. Then my speech would garble so it would sound like I was drunk. My legs then got weak at first, then start to spasm to that I couldn't really stand or walk. My "episodes" noawdays consist of all of the above, lasting from 12-24 hrs up to 5 days or so. They can be triggeres by flashing strobe lights, movement, orgasms, gadolidium, bumping my head, or sometimes nothing at all. My questions are 1) has anyone ever had problems with or know about probs from gadolidium while on or after taking accutane? 2) are there any tests that can be done to "diagnose" problems from accutane? 3) does anyone know about this type of CNS involvement cause from taking accutane?

Kathy

 

[owenslife]

I've had symptoms you described. Even with the backing of the Cleveland Clinic, rheumatologists, pain management docs, internal meRAB, and psychiatrists I still don't have a complete answer. I'll tell you my story though and let you decide what you can take from it.

It began about 2 years ago. My junior year in college, amiRABt Cross-Country season training I began a course of Accutane. The side effects were unpleasant for the first few months but it seemed to be working so I pressed on. Now before I go on with this story I want to say (as of so far) Accutane has cured my acne, I haven't had a major pimple since I went off of it so in that sense it was a success I suppose. Anyhow, 2 months in the joint pain started, I was under extreme physical duress training which only heightened it. Each weekly checkup the same story, take some Ibuprofen. Month 4 rolled around and I'd began missing classes due to the pain, and had to stop attending running practices let alone meets, Ibuprofen at all. I'd even sat down with my coach and discussed the possibility that I may not be able to return next year if this somehow continued, but I reassured him that it would only be a temporary absence from running.

I went into the doctor on the 4 month checkup on the dot, and the same usual questions-
"Any pain or discomfort?"
"Yes."
"That