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Hallucination

Background

Accutane is a medication used mostly for cystic acne, in cases that prove resistant to other treatments, or that produce physical or psychological scarring.  However, it is also employed for a number of cancers and a few severe skin conditions. It was first developed to be used as a chemotherapy medication for the treatment of brain cancer, pancreatic cancer, and other cancers. It is still used in the treatment of these cancers because of its ability to kill rapidly dividing cells. Its effects are systemic and nonselective.

Because of its side effects, it is used only after other acne treatments fail to produce results and is only available from dermatologists. Treatment of acne usually begins with topical medications (e.g., benzoyl peroxide or adapalene), followed by oral antibiotics (or a combination) and finally isotretinoin therapy.

Now I quote "Nearly all patients achieve initial clearing of acne during high-dose isotretinoin therapy. Furthermore, about 40% observe complete and long-term remission of the disease following one course of isotretinoin, while another 40% eventually develop less severe recurrent acne, which is treatable with less invasive medications. The remaining 20% relapse significantly enough to warrant an additional course of isotretinoin. Each additional course, however, has a higher probability of cure."

How does it work?  Scientists don’t know!  It is a retinoid, meaning it derives from vitamin A, and is found in small quantities naturally in the body.  Recent research suggests “the drug amplifies production of neutrophil-gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in the skin, which has been shown to reduce sebum production by inducing apoptosis in sebaceous gland cells, while exhibiting an antimicrobial effect on Propionibacterium acnes.   The drug decreases the size and sebum output of the sebaceous glands”

Side effects

There are some severe side effects. I quote from the literature:

• Birth defects - Isotretinoin's potential to cause birth defects has resulted in a set of government-regulatory and pharmaceutical-maker restrictions that make isotretinoin one of the most difficult pharmaceuticals to obtain in the United States.  In some countries women with the potential to bear children must commit to the use of two forms of contraception simultaneously for the duration of isotretinoin therapy, as well as for the month immediately preceding and the month immediately following therapy.

• Growth damage - The FDA's medication guide for Accutane also states the drug "may stop long bone growth in teenagers who are still growing."

• Brain damage - I have also added a paper that seems to show it can also cause the brain damage that results in manic depression

So why does it produce hallucinations – spiritual experiences both auditory and visual?

The answer appears to be that increasingly higher dosages result in higher toxicity, resembling vitamin A toxicity.  In effect the reaction is ultimately the reaction of ‘delirium’ from the toxicity – being poisoned.  Many of the side effects are typically delirium related and include such things as

• Dryness of skin, lips and mucous membranes,
• Nose bleeds
• Dry eyes,  eye irritation, conjunctivitis, reduced tolerance to contact lenses
• Permanent thin skin
• Headaches
• Temporary or permanent hair thinning
• Muscle pain and back pain
• Decreased libido or erectile dysfunction
• Fatigue
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Pancreatitis
• Hepatitis
• Psychosis and depression

And hallucinations.

One very interesting side effect [from our point of view] is hyperlipidaemia – which is raised lipid levels.  This along with the delirium may play a very important part in the mechanism of action.

The source of the experience

Concepts

Symbols

Science Items

Activities

Overloads

Suppressions

Commonsteps

References