In response to recent reports regarding Accutane, a drug for people with severe acne, the Food and Drug Administration is strengthening the drug’s warning label.The drug has been known to cause depression, psychosis, and suicidal thoughts, an FDA statement said.”Whether or not Accutane really caused the depression or suicidal thoughts is hard to say,” said Dr. Adam Hessel, an assistant professor in the dermatology department at Ohio State. “When I put patients on Accutane, I give them a list of the side effects,” Hessel said. “I personally haven’t seen signs of depression in my 10 years of putting people on it.”Accutane is for people with severe acne that can cause scarring, he said.The drug was almost taken off of the market because it can cause birth defects, like miscarriages, Hessel said. Women of child-bearing age must sign consent forms, take a pregnancy test, and agree to use two forms of birth control before taking Accutane.Roche Laboratories, the manufacturer of Accutane, has published pamphlets for both men and women that explain the causes of acne, how Accutane works on acne, and the possible side effects of the drug. The pamphlets are available at the dermatology clinic at OSU. More common side effects of Accutane include dry skin and lips, red eyes, itching, bleeding of the nose and gums, and sensitivity to the sun, the Accutane pamphlet said. Usually, patients taking Accutane have to worry only if there is a history of depression in their family, said Eric Brooker, a registered pharmacist at CVS pharmacy.There are alternatives to Accutane, such as Minocycline and Tetracycline that students can take to treat acne, Brooker said. Both are antibiotics.”Accutane may work a little better (than the alternatives), but with all of the side effects I wouldn’t even touch it,” he said.