Most notable about the drug Accutane (Isotretinoin) is the fact that it is the first drug in the history of medicine that requires any woman who takes it to sign a consent form, indicating that they have read the warning associated with Accutane.
 While many report that this drug has helped clear up their otherwise untreatable acne problems, it's reported that some 90% of the women and half of the teens who are prescribed this drug merely have what medicine considers as "mild acne", in contrast to the "severe, disfiguring acne" that Accutane was meant to treat.
It was accidentally discovered during a study of Accutane in treating skin cell disorders that Accutane was also effective at clearing acne.
 Registered in 1979, it was released in the United States in 1982.
 After the initial rage of patients finally have a drug to treat their severe acne, it steadily became the subject of wide controversy and litigation due to Accutane side effects including birth defects, and even lupus occurring in patients who took Accutane.
  The common Accutane Side effects are well-known.
 They involve a slew of problems ranging from pain and swelling for lips, joints, muscle and back, nosebleeds, weak and peeling skin, liver damage, tinnitus (ringing in ears) and depression.
 The more serious side effects of Accutane are erectile dysfunctions, violence, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, permanent hair loss, anaphylaxis, and the best known Accutane Side effect of all is that it will cause severe birth defects (internal and external) in unborn children.
 Pregnant women are never prescribed Accutane, and pregnancy tests are administered prior to prescription to all potential patients.
 Needless to say, with all these Accutane side effects, warnings, and potential damage, whether or not the drug should be legal is commonly debated.
Undoubtedly, Accutane is successful in treating all types of acne.
 The vast majority of patients who take Accutane consider the treatment successful in eradicating the problem they were attempting to treat, but at what cost? Life-threatening complications can result from taking this drug, affecting virtually all vital organs in a person's system, including the brain.
  One of the most tragic Accutane side effects is depression and psychosis.
 In the process of achieving clear skin, many have reported suicidal thoughts and even attempted suicide.
 Others claim to hear things that are not real, see things that cannot possibly exist.
 While the drug is potent in treatment of acne, Accutane side effects, it's so potent that even cessation of the drug is reported to not end the depression in some cases.
 On FDA's list of all drugs linked to causing depression, Accutane ranks 5th, and it is the only non-psychotropic drug listed on the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) in the top ten drugs associated with suicide and suicide attempts.
 In animal research, Accutane side effects have included depression in even mice, and in patients, depression occurred even in people with no history of depression.
If after understanding all the warnings and possible Accutane side effects, one still opts to take Accutane, then watching for symptoms of depression is imperative while taking the drug.
 Any changes in mood or behavior, feeling irritable or aggressive, concentration problems, or suicidal thoughts, however short, should be considered as a major indication that one may be experiencing Accutane side effects.
 See a doctor and consider discontinuing the medication immediately.