Accutane and Vitamin A

[Brian000]

Hi, im currently on accutane and I was reading threw that booklet, and in it, it said not to take any vitamin A supplements.. im just wondering how important is this, because I still need my Meal Replacement shakes, which have about 80% r.d.a. of vitamin A in it..

so does anyone else have some more info on this?

thanks

 

[CanadianBro]

When it states not to take Vitamin A, it is basically a precaution. If you stay at, or around, the RDA you will be fine.

The key is not to take any EXTRA Vitamin A

Accutane and vitamin A are chemically related; taking them together is like taking an overdose of vitamin A.

Here is an article that deals with Vitamin A Toxicity (Overdose)


"Vitamin A Toxicity

Excessive intake of vitamin A may cause acute or chronic toxicity. Acute toxicity in children may result from taking large doses (> 100,000 µg or 300,000 IU); it manifests as increased intracranial pressure and vomiting, which may lead to death unless ingestion is discontinued. After discontinuation, recovery is spontaneous, with no residual damage; only two fatalities have been reported. Within a few hours of ingesting several million units of vitamin A in polar bear or seal liver, arctic explorers developed drowsiness, irritability, headache, and vomiting, with subsequent peeling of the skin. Megavitamin tablets containing vitamin A have occasionally induced acute toxicity when taken for a long time.

Chronic toxicity in older children and adults usually develops after doses of > 33,000 µg (100,000 IU)/day have been taken for months. In infants who are given 6,000 to 20,000 µg (20,000 to 60,000 IU)/day of water-miscible vitamin A, evidence of toxicity may develop within a few weeks. Birth defects have been reported in the children of women receiving 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin) for skin conditions during pregnancy (see Drugs in Pregnancy in Ch. 249).

Massive doses (50,000 to 120,000 µg or 150,000 to 350,000 IU) of vitamin A or its metabolites are given daily to persons with globular acne. Although the treatment is effective, it puts the patient at risk for vitamin A toxicity.

Although carotene is metabolized in the body to vitamin A at a slow rate, excessive ingestion of carotene does not cause vitamin A toxicity but produces carotenemia (carotene blood levels > 250 µg/dL [> 4.65 µmol/L]). This condition is usually asymptomatic but may lead to carotenosis, in which the skin (but not the sclera) becomes deep yellow, especially on the palms and soles. Carotenosis may also occur in diabetes mellitus, myxedema, and anorexia nervosa, possibly from a further reduction in the rate of conversion of carotene to vitamin A.

Symptoms, Signs, and Diagnosis

Sparse coarse hair, alopecia of the eyebrows, dry rough skin, and cracked lips are early signs. Later, severe headache, pseudotumor cerebri, and generalized weakness are prominent. Cortical hyperostosis and arthralgia are common, especially in children. Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly may occur.

Normal fasting plasma retinol levels range from 20 to 80 µg/dL (0.7 to 2.8 µmol/L). In vitamin A toxicity, fasting plasma levels may exceed 100 µg/dL (3.49 µmol/L), up to 2000 µg/dL (69.8 µmol/L). Differential diagnosis may be difficult because symptoms are varied and bizarre, but they usually include headache and rash."