It is miraculous. It is impressive, says Dr. William Dobes, a psychologist. But, Dobes adds, there are side effects. In fact, the risk of birth defects is so great that females who are considering the drug are now asked to watch a video, warning them. They are also given a pamphlet detailing the possible side effects, which range from extreme dryness of the skin to high blood pressure.
Doctors often discuss the side effects with patients in detail.
So far, no hard research has proven there is, in fact, a connection, but experts say it s better to be safe than sorry. We tell them if there s any change in anything they feel is significant, stop the drug and call us. Erica says all the controversy might make her think twice if she were still using Accutane, but she believes the fear of pimples far outweighs anything else in a young teen s mind. For that reason, experts say if kids are on Accutane, it s up to parents to watch closely for any signs of trouble. It has shown itself to be very effective for treating the most serious and disfiguring types of acne.