Roaccutane lowers brain metabolism (new study 2004)

Hi! Please read this important study before considering Roaccutane. The study recently published (2004) and shows that Roaccutane works through lowering brain metabolism, (which influences among other things the endocrine and dopaminergic system).

Is it worth the risk?


FUNCTIONAL BRAIN IMAGING ALTERATIONS IN Acne PATIENTS TREATED WITH ISOTRETINOIN

Program No. 114.2. 2004 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC:
Society for Neuroscience, 2004. Online.

J.D. Bremner, N. Fani, N. Ashraf, J. Votaw, M. Brummer, V. Vaccarino, M.
Goodman, L. Reed, C.B. Nemeroff.

Although there have been case reports suggesting a relationship between
treatment with the Acne medication isotretinoin (Accutane) and the development
of Depression and suicide, this topic remains controversial. In order for
isotretinoin to cause Depression it must have an effect on the brain; however
no studies to date have examined the effects of isotretinoin on brain function
in Acne patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of
isotretinoin on brain function in acne patients. Brain function was measured
with [F-18]-2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)
before and after four months of treatment with isotretinoin (N=13) and
Antibiotic (N=15). Isotretinoin (but not antibiotic) treatment was associated
with decreased brain metabolism in the orbitofrontal cortex (-21% change versus
a +2% change for antibiotic) (p<0.05), a brain area known to mediate symptoms
of
depression. There were no differences in severity of depressive symptoms
between
the isotretinoin and Antibiotic treatment groups before or after treatment.
This
study suggests that isotretinoin treatment is associated with changes in brain
function.

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