The drug, isotretinoin, is sold as Accutane, Amnesteem, Claravis and Sotret.
When both men and women are put on it, they are entered into a program called iPledge, which is an electronic, online tracking system that identifies exactly when the prescription was written, and must be filled in a pharmacy within __ hours according to the individual state law. I believe here in florida, you have 1 week to get it filled. That's how strongly they need to track it. In women, a pregnancy while on this drug will cause you horrible, terrible birth defects... think "flipper baby", to use the crude colloquialism.
For both men and women, though especially in men, there is a noted increase in violent impulses or thoughts for some people while taking the medicine.
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Originally Posted by maleficent
The family of the suspect's reaction just irks me to no end... The drug maybe was responsible for him going into a psychotic state, but did the same drug make him run away from his responsibility... I strongly doubt drugs make a person board a plane for St Martaan and tell your roommate to forward your mail there...
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Yeah... but... there are really only two reactions to have if you come down from a drug-induced rage and realize you've killed someone... cry yourself into the courthouse or run with your guilt. I'd like to say I'd go turn myself in... but there's really no way of any of us knowing until the blood is on our hands. Shitty thing to do, yes, but... he killed a guy and then panicked when he realized what he'd done.
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When a person is prescribed a drug, doesn't the pharmacist give them a pamphlet explaining the side effects, yeah a lot of it is mumbo jumbo but the side effects are usually in plain english... Isn't it up to a person to ask about what they are putting into their body? The suspect isn't coming across as an illiterate person...
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It's mandated by US/FDA law that all prescriptions sold must be accompanied with a minimum of information, such as side effects, potential adverse reactions, and (when applicable) warnings on what other drugs may not be taken while on a particular drug. For example, you may not use nitroglycerin if you've taken a viagra, levitra, or cialis pill in the preceding 24 hours, or it could cause a mild case of deadness. This warning is normally found in the information sheet accompanying a prescription for nitroglycerin products.
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Accutane is some potent stuff, and women who are put on it, it's pretty much mandatory to be on a secondary method of birth control because the risk of birth defects are so strong...
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Not only that, but women must undergo a pregnancy test at the doctor's office prior to even getting the prescription written, and then enter into an agreement not to get pregnant either intentionally or through inaction while on the medicine.
/infoporn
Having said all that, it is every individual's
responsibility to be educated on the drugs/etc that they take. The doctor is technically required to give some certain information, but good luck holding them to that- it is up to you to know what you're taking, and why, and what effects it may have on you.
Oh, and do yourself and your family a favor... write out a list of all the medications you're currently on, and keep it updated and in your wallet/purse.
...Forbid that something happens to a family member, it is an invaluable tool, especially in medical issues, to the paramedics and your ongoing emergency healthcare providers at the hospital. Without knowing what drugs you're on, we lose precious time or have to operate blind as to what might be going on internally.
/PSA