Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination
    PLoS Med. 2006 Nov;3(11):e483.

    What is the best approach to reducing birth defects associated with isotretinoin?

    Source

    Department of Prevention and Community Health, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University, Washington, D. C., United States of America. lorien@gwu.edu

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND TO THE DEBATE: Isotretinoin is an effective treatment for severe acne, a condition which can be physically, emotionally, and socially disabling. Because the drug is teratogenic, causing severe birth defects, women taking the drug are directed to avoid pregnancy. In the United States, a series of risk reduction programs have been implemented that aim to prevent pregnant women from taking the drug and to prevent women taking it from getting pregnant. The most recent, and most stringent, is an Internet-based, performance-linked system called iPLEDGE, which tries to ensure that the drug is dispensed only when there is documentary proof that the patient is not pregnant and is using two forms of birth control. Is iPLEDGE the best way to reduce isotretinoin birth defects, or is it an unproven and overly burdensome system?

    PMID:
    17121451
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    PMCID:
    PMC1637125
    Free PMC Article

    Images from this publication.See all images (1) Free text

    Figure 1

      Supplemental Content

      Icon for Public Library of Science Icon for PubMed Central

      Save items

      loading

      Recent activity

      Your browsing activity is empty.

      Activity recording is turned off.

      Turn recording back on

      See more...
      Write to the Help Desk