OMG: Zit Meds and Depression

If the study results that show an acne drug ingredient more than doubles the risk of depression are true, a whole lot of teenagers are totally screwed.

Yet that’s exactly what a recent Canadian study concluded. The active ingredient is isotretinoin, which is in the acne drug Accutane. However, the researchers say the absolute risk for depression is small.   

The researchers followed 30,496 participants who received at least one isotretinoin prescription throughout almost a decade. During this time, 126 of the study participants had a depression-related diagnosis. The researchers looked at isotretinoin use during five months before the depression diagnosis, which is the risk period, and compared it to a five-month time frame a year before the depression diagnosis, which is the control period. After taking into account other possible influential factors, the final results showed a 2.6-fold relative risk of depression.
 
Have you ever used Accutane and experienced depression-related side effects? Have certain medications for other health conditions influenced your dealing with depression? [Reuters]