(UK) Suicides linked to acne drug Roaccutane as regulator reopens inquiry

[nitpicker]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/dec/27/suicides-linked-to-acne-drug-roaccutane-as-regulator-reopens-inquiry

Suicides linked to acne drug Roaccutane as regulator reopens inquiry

Sarah Marsh

Fri 27 Dec 2019 08.00 GMT

Ten suicides this year have been linked to a powerful acne drug as the medicines regulator reopens an inquiry into it after being contacted by patients.

Twelve deaths were recorded in 2019, 10 by suicide, by people who had been prescribed Roaccutane, according to data from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The figure is up from five fatalities the year before and is the highest since records began in 1983. However, the MHRA noted that the reaction may not have occurred that year but only been reported then.
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Roaccutane, a brand name of the drug isotretinoin, is used by about 30,000 people in the UK each year. Data from NHS Digital shows prescriptions for isotretinoin rose from 34,283 to 69,040 between 2008 and 2018.

Also manufactured under the name Accutane, the drug is often credited with yielding miraculous results at clearing people’s skin.

While studies have not found a clear or direct link with increased risk of psychiatric disorders and suicide, side-effects have been noted.
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