Show New Drug Being Tested j For Remission Of Acne by 63 Holly y Hughes i- i Until recently teenagers and adults with severe acne had no way to deal with the disfiguring blemishes but a new drug may offer help The drug is through the testing stage and on the market but local dermatologist Dr Lealand Clark has reservations Everyone thought the shuttle was out of the testing stage and fully operational then it blew up said Clark a vitamin A became available in September 1982 after being test tested and approved by FDA The drug temporarily suppresses the activity of glands reducing production of skin oils sebum by 80 to 90 percent The r reduction of sebum is accompanied by a decrease decrease of of acne ba bacteria teria P. P acnes aches on the skin which are thought to be responsible for of acne After treatment with is discontinued skin oil and P. P acnes slowly return to their original levels but acne lesions usually do not recur for extended periods of time is not a cure for acne The drug creates a temporary remission usually lasting one to five years depending on the patients dosage and the severity of the acne The manufacturer of Hoffmann- Hoffmann La Roche Inc recommends taking the drug for four months although this may vary from doctor to doctor In addition to severity of acne a patients patient's weight and acne location determine determined d dosage age Patients with only facial acne respond better to treatment than patients with acne on both the face and trunk according to dermatologist Dr Barry said 15 percent of his patients need a second course of therapy to clear up the blemishes If IT the acne returns after two months a second course is administered The manufacturer doesn't recommend over three courses of therapy said 20 to 25 percent of his patients experience a worsening of acne during the first few weeks of treatment Because of the relationship of to vitamin A the use of vitamin supplements containing vitamin A can cause additive toxic effects and should not be used eq during tr treatment Some patients sensitive to par bens are restricted from because the substances are used as preservatives in inthe inthe inthe the gelatine capsule can cause a number of harmless side effects that disappear when treatment is discontinued The most common are dry skin and lips redness and dryness of the eyes mild and bleeding of the gums mild aches and pains itching rashes increased sensitivity to sun light and peeling of palms and soles Patients wearing contact lenses sometimes experience decreased tolerance to the lenses during and shortly after therapy comm commonly elevates cholesterol and fat levels in inpatients inpatients inpatients patients during treatment The levels return to normal shortly after treatment is completed can cause some rare but more serious side effects in a few patients The drug has been associated with bowel disease in patients without a prior history of intestinal disorders Patients experiencing abdominal pain rectal bleeding or severe diarrhea should discontinue immediately Other serious side effects include headaches rapid mood changes blurred vision or decreased night vision nausea and vomiting These symptoms may be early signs of conditions which if left untreated could possibly result in permanent effects Women should not become pregnant during therapy because causes birth defects An abortion should be mandatory if a woman becomes pregnant while on said Clark recommends that women abstain from sex or r use contraceptives during treatment and for one month after has been stopped H He said less than 40 percent of births of women who took during pregnancy are normal The remaining 60 to 70 percent of babies are commonly born with ear eye throat a and d neurological defects Antibiotics or hormones are other options available for patients with mild acne who wish to avoid but for severe acne that does not respond to these treatments is the best therapy |