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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Smoking > Accutane and Marijuana
Posted on: 07/21/2009
Question
This question is about smoking marijuana while on accutane. I saw one was already answered and the answer stated there are no known interactions between the two, but I would like to inquire more specifically.
I know smoking cigarettes while on accutane increases your chance of getting cancer drastically, is this also true with smoking marijuana?
Answer
Hi! I think you definitely should stop marijuana use while on Accutane for several reasons. First of all, there are several small studies that suggest that marijuana can be toxic to your liver. Since Accutane is a vitamin A derivative that can also cause liver changes, taking the two together might give you problems. Secondly, there is a chance that you might have emotional instability and depression while on Accutane, although there are conflicting data regarding this. Since marijuana affects the central and peripheral nervous system, the combination of these two drugs can also give you problems. So, in short, I think Accutane is an extremely effective drug for acne with the advantage of being a short term therapy (4-5 month, as opposed to months-years w/ other acne trearments). It is a very safe drug IF TAKEN CORRECTLY and for this reason I wouldn't gamble with your health by adding cannabis into the mix. If you can't stay off of it for 4-5 months, then you have a more serious problem with addiction. Sorry to state it so harshly - good luck and stay off the weed.