It seems many people are sharing their prescription medications with friends and family members. In a paper published in the June 2008 issue of the American Journal of Public Health, about one quarter of study participants reported having borrowed someone else's prescription medications. Nearly as many say they had shared their own medications with others. This included oral antibiotics, birth control pills, and the acne treatment drug Accutane.

In fact, more than 6% said they had given some of their Accutane pills to someone else. This is more than a little scary, considering the laundry list of side effects that comes with the drug. Those prescribed Accutane must use two forms of birth control and women must submit to regular pregnancy tests, because this medication causes severe birth defects. All Accutane users are also carefully monitored for liver damage and an increased level of triglycerides in the blood. Which means those borrowing this medication aren't getting the carefully monitoring they need to stay safe and healthy.

It's hard to watch your friends and family members struggle with acne, and maybe more so when you personally understand the anguish that acne can cause. It's tempting to give them some of your Accutane pills in an effort to help them out. But instead of handing over your prescription medications, it's much safer to encourage them to see their own doctor for treatment.

And if you're the one using your best pal's Accutane, understand that it's never okay to use someone else's prescription. Accutane is a powerful drug, and you're putting yourself at risk if you're taking it without a doctor's approval.

Please keep yourself safe. Never use someone else's prescription medications, and never share yours with others. (And I'll get off my soapbox now.)

Related Topics:

• Accutane
• The Link Between Depression and Accutane
• Should I Buy Accutane in Mexico?
• Prescription Drug Basics
• Accutane and Birth Defects

_{Source: Goldsworthy RC, Schwartz NC, Mayhorn CB. " Beyond Abuse and Exposure: Framing the Impact of Prescription-Medication Sharing." American Journal of Public Health, 2008; 98(6): 1115-1121. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.123257}