In the dark on anti-acne drug

By ELIZABETH BINNING and MARTIN JOHNSTON

Patients prescribed a powerful acne drug in New Zealand are not forced to confront some of its potentially severe side-effects, unlike patients in the United States.

To receive Roaccutane in the US, patients must sign a four-page consent form which highlights an unconfirmed association with psychiatric disturbances and suicide.

The US Food and Drug Administration says that from 1982 to 2000 the drug was associated with 37 patient suicides, 24 while taking it and 13 after stopping.

Roaccutane, or its Government-funded equivalent Oratane, is taken by about 5000 people in New Zealand, mainly teenagers.

Roche, which makes Roaccutane, says no link has been proven between the drug and psychiatric events.

In New Zealand, literature given to patients by dermatologists mentions suicide. Health Ministry senior medical adviser Dr Stewart Jessamine said the US used the consent forms because doctors faced greater risks of expensive legal action.

In New Zealand, such forms were unnecessary because medical misadventure was covered by the accident compensation system, he said.

ACC has received 11 claims in the past 10 years for compensation over Roaccutane, of which six were accepted. A spokeswoman Lin Ferguson said the median payout was about $1100 and the cases involved chronic dry eyes, gastric complications and hepatitis.

nzherald.co.nz/health