February 29, 2008
Diagnosis and Symptoms, Research: Causes and Prevention
Question from Cheshire, Connecticut, USA:
My daughter started Accutane just over a month ago with normal laboratory readings. After the first month on the drug, she completed her laboratory tests and the doctor noted elevated cholesterol levels, recommended a drug for that, assured us all was fine, nothing to worry about. The doctor then wrote a prescription for the cholesterol drug and increased the Accutane. Two days after taking the increased dosage of Accutane and the cholesterol drug, she had severe thirst and weakness. Tests revealed a blood sugar of 600 mg/dl [16.7 mmol/L] and now they are telling us she has diabetes and that it is genetic. Could the higher level be caused by the Accutane? As it wears off, could her sugar levels reverse? Have you ever heard of this occurring for patients that were on Accutane?
Answer:
New cases of diabetes have been diagnosed when kids and teens were taking Accutane but, according to the latest information I could find from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Roche (the company that makes Accutane), there is no causal relationship. It is most likely that your daughter would have developed diabetes eventually and it is not related to the Accutane or cholesterol drug.
MSB
