Acne drug changes could cause more abortions

-The Australian

08/25/2008- MORE babies will be aborted if authorities push ahead with a decision to make the controversial acne drug Roaccutane available through the family doctor, specialists warn.

Dermatologists say a move by health authorities to allow GPs to prescribe the heavy-duty medication will push up prescription rates and endanger patients.

And there was a risk patients would not be informed of the dangers of birth abnormalities among babies born to women taking Roaccutane, forcing them to require an abortion, said Dr Stephen Shumack, secretary of the Australasian College of Dermatologists.

"This would be a very bad move indeed,'' Dr Shumack said.

"The college fears that appropriate people may not be given it, inappropriate people may be given it, and the side-effects may not be managed appropriately.

"And, overall, far more people will be given it, which increases the risk of pregnancies, especially if this is not properly screened for, and then there's more abortions.''

He said that under current arrangement there had been very few pregnancy issues with the drug.

Roaccutane is taken by thousands of Australians for the treatment of severe, persistent acne, but it has made headlines in recent years for its unproven links with depression and suicide.

In 2004, a coroner's report on the suicide of Sydney teenager Vivian Crane suggested the drug may have had a role in her death.

More than 140,000 prescriptions were written for Roaccutane in the past financial year but prescribing is limited to the nation's 400 dermatologists and specialist physicians.

However, the Therapeutic Goods Administration's national drugs and poisons scheduling committee says it will consider a proposal to extend prescribing rights to include 18,000 GPs.

Roaccutane manufacturer Roche, and several firms that sell the drug generically, have denied making the request.

Dr Shumack described it as "ill-conceived'' and said the college would oppose it.

He said it was also unnecessary because demand for the drug had been lower following the negative publicity.

But r John Gullotta from the Australian Medical Association said there was unmet need, especially in rural and regional areas.

"I don't see any problem with GPs prescribing it as long as it is carefully managed under the same strict guidelines as it is presently,'' Dr Gullotta said.

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