Symptoms: Severe dry eye, Stunted growth
My son took Isotretinoin (Accutane) when he was only 13 years old. He took it two times. It permanently stunted his growth. He never grew after 14. He had many more cm to grow. This has been verified by endocrinologists at our hospital. The endocrinologists are well aware of this side effect, epiphyseal closure.
His eyes are also permanently damaged. Meibomian gland dysfunction. Has to be on medication and eye treatments for life.
How can you give a medication that is totally forbidden to take when you carry a growing child, because it causes deformities and stops your child from growing, how can you give the same forbidden medication to the growing child itself as he continues to grow and has his final growth spurt in his teens. How? Why? It is just bizarre. Not that you ever should take it.
As a parent you are so devastated from moral harm. You barely can survive at the same time and are not taken seriously. No one wants to touch this. And you need to hold it together for your child. It's hard to put into words but I know we are far from alone. Families try to move on. The guilt and shame.
The child is still there so you don't have the "right" to mourn. No one takes responsibility. And it's your whole world, their affected future and lost possibilities. It's a nightmare. I still have a hard time accepting it has happened.