Current Topics in Skin Health - A popular acne drug may raise cholesterol levels.

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A popular acne drug may raise cholesterol levels.

People who take the acne drug Accutane (isoretinoin), may be at risk for high cholesterol. Researchers from the University of California, San Franscisco, looked at the blood tests of almost 13,772 patients who took the drug between 1995 and 2002. Looking closely at those who had normal blood tests before taking the drug, the researchers noted that 44 percent developed high triglycerides, 31 percent developed high cholesterol and 11 percent developed high liver enzymes while taking Accutane. While Roche, the maker of Accutane, does warn patients that the drug may cause increased triglycerides, cholesterol and liver enzymes, this is the first study to show how significantly blood levels of these elements change. The study found that blood tests tend to go back to normal once patients stop taking the drug.

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A popular acne drug may raise cholesterol levels.