Ensuring Acne Treatment Doesn't Cause Birth Defects

Ivanhoe Newswire
Friday, November 24, 2006; 12:00 AM

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Young women who suffer from severe acne can find relief with the drug isotretinoin (Accutane). The trick is ensuring they don't become pregnant while on the medication, since it is known to cause severe birth defects.

An online program called " iPLEDGE" is designed to make sure that doesn't happen by trying to ensure the drug is only dispensed after a woman can prove she isn't pregnant and is using two forms of birth control to make sure she doesn't get pregnant.

Is the program getting the job done? Researchers who reviewed the program believe it has strengths and weaknesses. They applaud iPLEDGE's attempt to ensure the drug isn't prescribed to women who may be pregnant (women must have two negative pregnancy tests before getting the drug and agree to monthly tests thereafter) and they agree with efforts to encourage women to use two forms of birth control while on the medication. However, they see room for improvement.

Specific suggestions for revamping the Web site include:

• Providing more information to reinforce the risks associated with isotretinoin and the need for two forms of contraception
• Developing an effective means of conveying information on various contraceptive methods and how to appropriately use them, complete with animation and video to model various techniques
• Audience testing of the site to ensure the content is clearly communicated, easy to use, and meaningful to all users -- patients, doctors, and pharmacists
• Adding e-mail reminders to reinforce key messages

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SOURCE: PLoS Medicine, published online Nov. 20, 2006