Drinking alcohol while taking certain prescription medications can have disastrous, potentially life-threatening, results. In today’s post, we look at the risks of combining alcohol and Accutane.
If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol addiction, call us today or visit our admissions page to start your journey toward recovery.
What Is Accutane?
Accutane was the brand name of a powerful prescription medication that was used to treat severe acne. The primary active ingredient in Accutane was isotretinoin.
In 2009, the pharmaceutical company that owned Accutane, Hoffmann-La Roche, announced that it was voluntarily removing this brand from the market. However, isotretinoin is still available, both as a generic and in several other brand name medications, including Absorica, Amnesteem, Claravis, Roaccutane, and Zenatane.
Though the brand name Accutane is no longer employed by Hoffman-La Roche, many people continue to use it when referring to either generic isotretinoin or other brand name versions of the medication. For this reason, today’s post will use the terms Accutane and isotretinoin interchangeable.
Adverse Effects
Though Hoffmann-La Roche claimed that competition from generic isotretinoin led to the decision to pull Accutane from the market, the drug had also been the focus of thousands of lawsuits from patients who claimed they were harmed by it.
Some of the more common side effects of Accutane include:
- Itchiness
- Dry eyes
- Dry lips, mouth, and nose
- Increased sensitivity to sunlight
- Skin infections and rash
- Thinning hair
- Muscle and joint pain
Less common but more severe physical side effects of Accutane include:
- Vision problems
- Hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Intense headaches
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Pancreatitis
- Liver damage
- Blistering, peeling skin
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat
- Rectal bleeding
Isotretinoin use has also been linked with a range of concerning psychological side effects, such as:
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Depression
- Irritability and hostility
- Hallucinations
- Thoughts of self-harm
- Suicidal ideation
What Are the Risks of Drinking Alcohol While on Accutane?
Generally speaking, the risk of using alcohol and Accutane at the same time is that alcohol can increase the likelihood that a person will experience some of Accutane’s more intense adverse effects. These include psychological harm, impaired organ functioning, and birth defects if a person uses these drugs while pregnant.
Mental Health Impact
On their own, both alcohol and Accutane have been linked with mental health concerns such as depression, mood swings, and suicidal ideation. When a person has both of these substances in their system at the same time, their risk of these types of problems may increase.
Organ Damage
Accutane use can be harmful to both the liver and pancreas. Alcohol abuse is also a known risk factor for liver disease, including steatosis (fatty liver), fibrosis (formation of scar tissue on the liver) and cirrhosis (which can include irreversible damage and may precede liver failure).
Birth Defects
Both alcohol and Accutane have been associated with risks of birth defects if a person uses them while pregnant. Accutane’s negative impact on fetuses and infants can include cleft palate, heart defects, hearing and vision problems, preterm birth, and miscarriage.
Drinking alcohol while pregnant can result in miscarriage, premature birth, and a range of cognitive and physical concerns that are referred to collectively as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
What Happens if You Can’t Stop Drinking While on Accutane?
If you understand the risks of combining Accutane and alcohol, yet you continue to drink while taking the medication, you may have developed alcohol use disorder (which is the clinical term for alcoholism).
Alcohol Addiction Warning Signs
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) includes 11 criteria for alcohol use disorder, though a person only needs to meet two of these criteria to be diagnosed with this condition.
Two of these 11 criteria have direct application to someone who can’t or won’t stop drinking while they’re using Accutane:
- Recurrent use of alcohol in situations where it is physically hazardous to do so
- Continuing to use alcohol despite knowing that you have experienced some type of physical or psychological harm that was caused or worsened by your alcohol use
Other warning signs of alcohol addiction include:
- Finding it difficult or impossible to stop drinking once you’ve started
- Devoting a considerable amount of time to using and recovering from the effects of alcohol
- Experiencing powerful cravings for alcohol
- Failing to meet your personal, academic, or work-related responsibilities because of your drinking
- Continuing to drink even after you’ve lost friendships or had other interpersonal or social difficulties as a result of your alcohol use
- No longer participating in activities that are important to you due to your alcohol use
- Needing to drink more to achieve the effects that you used to experience after consuming smaller amounts of alcohol (which is known as developing tolerance)
- Developing withdrawal symptoms when you abruptly stop drinking or significantly reduce the amount and frequency of your alcohol intake
- Having a persistent desire or multiple failed attempts to quit drinking
If you or someone that you care about has been exhibiting signs like these, an ideal next step is to schedule an assessment with your doctor or a reputable addiction treatment provider. This professional can determine which programs and therapies may be best for you.
Treatment Options
For many people, treatment for alcohol addiction begins in a detoxification (detox) program.
Detox is a short-term program that offers medical and therapeutic support to keep you safe and help you manage your symptoms as you complete the withdrawal process. Detox can be especially important for people who have severe cases of alcohol use disorder, as they may be at elevated risk for a particularly dangerous set of withdrawal symptoms call delirium tremens (the DTx).
After completing detox, follow-on treatment may occur at the residential and/or outpatient level.
In a residential addiction treatment program, patients follow customized plans that include a variety of therapies and support services. Among its many benefits, residential treatment gives patients the chance to temporarily step away from the distractions of daily life, so they can focus fully on establishing a solid foundation in early recovery.
Outpatient options for alcohol addiction treatment include partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), and outpatient programs (OPs). Some people spend time in all three outpatient levels, while others only receive care at one or two levels. There’s no ideal path that’s right for everyone – what’s of the utmost importance is finding a treatment provider who will develop a customized plan that aligns with your specific history, needs, and goals.
Find Help for Alcohol Addiction in Atlanta
Retreat of Atlanta offers medical detox and residential programming for adults who have become addicted to alcohol and other drugs. We also offer dual diagnosis services for those with certain co-occurring mental health challenges.
Untreated alcoholism can be devastating and potentially life-threatening. But when you get the care you need, you can start living the healthier life you deserve. Our team will work closely with you to determine which therapies and support services can best support your efforts to achieve lifelong sobriety.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.