Accutane Side Effects: Should Depression Be A Concern?
Medical professionals and acne-pestered adolescents have no doubts about the effectiveness of the severe acne drug isotretinoin. It's the looming possibility of side effects such as depression and fetal damage that makes people uneasy when considering using this medication. Accutane (isotretinoin) is one of Hoffman-LaRoche's most popular and controversial pharmaceuticals. This week, a study published in the Archives of Dermatology vindicated isotretinoin from causing depression. In this report, Christina Y.
Chia, MD, from Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, St. Louis, and colleagues examined whether patients with moderate to severe acne treated with isotretinoin experienced an increase in depressive symptoms compared with patients treated with a topical antibiotic, topical retinoid, and an oral antibiotic.Dr. Chia found that "The use of isotretinoin in the treatment of moderate-severe acne in adolescents did not increase depressive symptoms. On the contrary, our study shows that treatment of acne improves depressive symptoms".Five years earlier, in 2000, the isotretinoin-depression link still appeared misleading. That time, the Archives of Dermatology posted study, headed by Dr.
Susan S. Jick, from the Boston University School of Medicine, which found no evidence that isotretinoin increases the risk for depression, suicide, or other psychiatric disorders.Even though isotretinoin finds ample support among dermatologists and psychiatrists, a host of parents, politicians and medical professionals hail isotretinoin as a medical misfortune. For instance, Dr. David J. Graham, the Associate Director for Science and Medicine in FDA's Office of Drug Safety, recently warned that Accutane should be taken off the market.
And while there are few studies with any negative observations about isotretinoin, Dr. Douglas Bremner's research at of the Emory University School of Medicine has linked isotretinoin treatment with changes in brain function. At the conclusion of this study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, Dr. Bremner concurred with Dr. Graham's view that isotretinoin proves too dangerous for human use.Dr.
Bremner explains that to invoke depression, isotretinoin must influence the brain. During the investigation, brain function of the subjects was measured using positron emission tomography (PET) before and after four months of treatment with isotretinoin. Isotretinoin treatment was associated with decreased brain metabolism in the orbitofrontal cortex- the area of the brain known to mediate symptoms of depression. Yet, there were no differences in severity of depressive symptoms between the isotretinoin and antibiotic treatment groups before or after treatment. The pessimistic effects of isotretinoin also caught the attention of Diane K.
Wysowski PhD. Dr. Wysowski noted that in June 2000, isotretinoin ranked among the top 10 drugs linked to depression and suicide attempts in the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System database. In 2001, Dr. Wysowski examined isotretinoin's depression inducing potential and posted her findings in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Dr. Wysowski concluded that more studies of isotretinoin are needed. She also advised patients and their parents to immediately report mood swings and symptoms that are suggestive of depression such as sadness, crying, loss of appetite, unusual fatigue, withdrawal, and inability to concentrate to their prescribing physician. These protective measures can avoid more serious side effects and permit appropriate treatment, including consideration of drug discontinuation and referral for psychiatric care. While dissension among researchers still exists about whether or not isotretinoin causes depression, one idea most of them can agree on is that more research on the side effects of isotretinoin are desirable.
If you are not in the mood for being an isotretinoin guinea pig, Geoffrey Redmond MD, author of The Good News about Women's Hormones, suggests using hormone therapy and/or using Retin-A if isotretinoin seems too chancy for you..
Health author and Stanford University graduate Naweko San-Joyz lovingly writes from her home in San Diego. Her works include ?Acne Messages: Crack the code of your zits and say goodbye to acne? (ISBN: 0974912204) and the upcoming work ?Skinny Fat Chicks, Why we?re still not getting this dieting thing? (ISBN: 0974912212) for release in June of 2005. For useful acne self-help articles visit http://www.Noixia.com3 Words That Relieve Stress, Depression & Anxiety
Copyright 2006 Christopher Green
One of the most common flawed modes of behavior performed by every sufferer who enters into a harrowing episode of stress, depression or anxiety concerns the words they use to describe situations and events they are confronted with. In using powerful, emotive words, sufferers will trigger the fear response and the more they use such words, the worse their suffering gets.
Powerful, emotive words are part of everybody's vocabulary. Sometimes, we use powerful words when we lose our temper or we become angry and frustrated. In this state, we give vent to our feelings and the emotions within us have an outlet.
This is fine. For most people, once their emotions have been expressed, they return to their usual selves and life carries on as normal.
But it doesn't work like this if you are prone to stress, depression or anxiety.
In these states, sufferers will react negatively to every event they...
Depression > 3 Words That Relieve Stress, Depression & Anxiety
Depression Symptoms, and Depression Treatment with Vitamins, Herbs and Supplements Explained by MyVitaminGuide.com
Virginia Beach, VA (ContentDesk) August 30, 2005 ?- My Vitamin Guide (MVG), an online review of vitamins, supplements, herbal remedies and alternative medicine, announced today it has compiled an extensive list of nutritional supplements that medical studies show can help alleviate symptoms of depression. Found online at www.MyVitaminGuide.com, MVG provides consumers free information on vitamins and supplements as well as resources, news, advice, and content from medical professionals on more than 650 health concerns and illnesses."Our information comes from experts in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, nursing, naturopathic, and public health, and from over 500 prominent medical journals," said MVG CEO Sam Knoll.
"By providing information on depression in a clear and easy-to-use way, we are helping people research and understand alternatives to traditional depression medications, so they can make informed decisions...
Depression > Depression Symptoms, and Depression Treatment with Vitamins, Herbs and Supplements Explained by MyVitaminGuide.com
Trapped by depression?
Copyright 2006 Stan Lewis
If you have a sound sense of purpose for your life, it is more difficult for you to find yourself trapped by depression the hustle and bustle of today's workplace.
The way to have this sound sense of purpose is to have an understanding of priorities, set your priorities, and maintain your priorities by setting reasonable life goals.
Depression is a state of unhappiness and hopelessness. With depression, comes feelings of dejection, lack of energy, sleeplessness, and, sometimes, suicidal tendencies. Depression is a trap that can catch you in two different ways.
First, it can wear on you when you do not know what your sense of purpose is.
Second, when you have a purpose, but, for whatever reason, you have lost focus regarding your purpose in life.
When you do not know what your sense of purpose in life you have no direction for your life.
At best this will leave you with feelings of uncertainty...
Depression > Trapped by depression?
Do You Think You Have Depression?
Do you have days where nothing can make you happy? You are not alone. I ignored my depressive thoughts about life for years. Unfortunately I didn't do anything to fix my situation until they became so dehabilitating that I had no choice.Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. In a given year, an estimated 22.1% of Americans aged 18 and older (about 1 in 5 adults) suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. According to the 1998 United States Census population estimate, this figure translates to 44.3 million people! In addition, 4 of the 10 leading causes of disability in the U.S.
and other developed countries are mental disorders, with major depression being the leading cause of disability.It is estimated that depression alone will occur in approximately 18.8 million American adults, or about 9.5% of the United States population aged 18 or above. If you are a woman, you are twice as likely than a man (12% vs. 6.6%) to be affected by depression each...
Do You Think You Have Depression?
Depression > Do You Think You Have Depression?
Trapped by depression?
Copyright 2006 Stan Lewis
If you have a sound sense of purpose for your life, it is more difficult for you to find yourself trapped by depression the hustle and bustle of today's workplace.
The way to have this sound sense of purpose is to have an understanding of priorities, set your priorities, and maintain your priorities by setting reasonable life goals.
Depression is a state of unhappiness and hopelessness. With depression, comes feelings of dejection, lack of energy, sleeplessness, and, sometimes, suicidal tendencies. Depression is a trap that can catch you in two different ways.
First, it can wear on you when you do not know what your sense of purpose is.
Second, when you have a purpose, but, for whatever reason, you have lost focus regarding your purpose in life.
When you do not know what your sense of purpose in life you have no direction for your life.
At best this will leave you with feelings of uncertainty...
Depression > Trapped by depression?
Talking About Depression
In many ways, our society has allowed many people to believe that they can not communicate their feelings to others. Sometimes, we think that no one will understand. We think that what we are feeling is simply not important, not validated, or just wrong. If it was any of these things, we wouldn't feel this way. These feelings can be symptoms of depression.
To work through this episode of depression, you will need to find a way to talk it out.It is always important to consult a doctor if you feel that you are depressed. Talking to a doctor about your situation can help you know what is really going on inside your head. In many cases, the only way to work through depression is with therapy and medications. It is always beneficial, though, to talk to others about how you are feeling. If you have a trusted friend or family member, that is not going to judge you, then you should take the time to inform them of how you are feeling.
By finding a way to talk about your feelings,...
Talking About Depression
Depression > Talking About Depression
Depression Accutane Side Effects: Should Depression Be A Concern?
Some Useful Tips for Improving your Dodge's Fuel Economy
As global oil prices continue to rise meteorically to record levels, we have to find ways to improve our cars' fuel economy and save money. Especially now that drivers are doing a lot more traveling than ever, the importance of fuel economy cannot be over emphasized. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that vehicle miles traveled by the average American has increased by over 115%. This increase in miles traveled and the present dilemma of rising fuel prices means that we are spending more...
toyo tires Depression Accutane Side Effects: Should Depression Be A Concern? Some Useful Tips for Improving your Dodge's Fuel Economy
Depression > Some Useful Tips for Improving your Dodge's Fuel Economy
Dramatic Story Reveals How One Person’s Life Was Changed by a Lawsuit Cash Advance
(ContentDesk) October 7, 2005 -- One fall day in 2004, Betty quietly sat in her minivan at a red light waiting to make a turn when the light changed. Within seconds, a driver of another minivan ran a red light and caused a serious three vehicle accident.After this driver hit another car, she then crashed into Bettys vehicle on the drivers side, pushing her up a curb and into a tree. This other woman admitted fault at the scene to both Betty and the police officer, but later changed her story...
Depression
Depression > Dramatic Story Reveals How One Person’s Life Was Changed by a Lawsuit Cash Advance
Memory Foam Furniture Introduces: Build Your Own Memory Foam Mattress Feature
(ContentDesk) March 27, 2006 -- Memory foam mattresses are growing in popularity by the day. Most common arrangements can be found online or in local furniture stores. Have you ever thought of an arrangement you would like to see and you can't find it? Memory Foam Furniture has just provided the answer.Memory Foam Furniture has introduced their new Build Your Own Memory Foam Mattress Program. They provide a choice of covers, bases, and types of foam. They have chosen to use Foamex memory foam,...
mattress Depression Memory Foam Furniture Introduces: Build Your Own Memory Foam Mattress Feature
Depression > Memory Foam Furniture Introduces: Build Your Own Memory Foam Mattress Feature