Accutane and Pregnancy

Accutane is the brand name of the generic medication isotretinoin, used for treating acne, rosacea, and occasionally psoriasis. Other names that isotretinoin can be called include Claravis, Amnesteem and Sotret.

Although the drug is highly effective at treating these skin conditions, the medication is also highly teratogenic, meaning that it has a very high potential to cause birth defects, fetal abnormalities, and various other complications associated with birth.

Risk for Infants

Over 30% of mothers exposed to isotretinoin experienced birth defects, as opposed to the typical rate of 3%. Due to this, a program called SMART was instituted in 2002 in order to try to ensure that women on this medication do not get pregnant. SMART was replaced with the iPLEDGE program in 2006, a series of extensive tests and surveys requiring both doctor and pharmacist participation in order for this medication to be dispensed.

If you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant, it is important that you avoid any type of medication containing isotretinoin. Birth defects can occur even in pregnancies occurring weeks after ceasing isotretinoin therapy.

If a loved one or roommate is taking an isotretinoin-containing medicine, caution must be taken to ensure that you do not accidentally ingest or come into physical contact with this medication. If you experience birth defects and you or someone who lives close to you has taken any isotretinoin-containing medication at any time in the recent past, you should discuss the issue with both a licensed medical practitioner and an experienced lawyer in order to determine if medical negligence was involved in your condition.

Contact Us

Injury to a newborn child is a true tragedy. If your family has been affected by an avoidable birth injury, contact the Philadelphia birth injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 215-238-1130 today.