Is it true that using Accutane during pregnancy can cause miscarriages?
The medication isotretinoin, formerly sold as Accutane, is an effective medication against severe acne, but unfortunately it is true that the drug can cause miscarriages. Use of isotretinoin during pregnancy -- even just once -- carries an unacceptably high risk of causing miscarriage or severe birth defects. Compared to the general population, research has shown that birth defects are ten times more likely in babies exposed to Accutane or other isotretinoin brands during pregnancy. As a result, isotretinoin should never be used during pregnancy -- and women using the drug are required to be extremely careful about birth control. The drug carries a Category X designation in the FDA's ranking system for pregnancy safety.
If you are isotretinoin (currently sold under the brand names Amnesteem, Claravis, and Sotret) and wish to become pregnant, you will need to wait until you have completed your treatment before you conceive. Your doctor can advise you on when it will be safe to consider a pregnancy. If you are using isotretinoin and have discovered that you have an unplanned pregnancy, contact your doctor right away for further information.
Source:
Accutane (Isotretinoin) and Other Retinoids. March of Dimes. Accessed: 11 Mar 2010. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/1168.asp
