[En español aquí]

What was meant to clear my skin nearly destroyed my life.

My name is Miriam, and three years ago I was prescribed isotretinoin, better known as Accutane.

Marketed as a miracle cure for acne, isotretinoin is in fact a highly toxic derivative of vitamin A, originally developed as a chemotherapy drug. Yet it continues to be prescribed to teenagers and young adults across Europe — often for moderate and even mild acne, like mine.

Behind every prescription lies a story of harm — not healing. 
Since taking isotretinoin, I’ve been left with severe chronic dry eyes and lasting damage to my fertility, bones, joints, gut, and mental health. What was supposed to clear my skin has left me fighting, every single day, just to live a normal life.

I’m not alone. Thousands of people have reported life-altering consequences from this drug — including depression, suicidal thoughts, sexual dysfunction, chronic fatigue, infertility, bone and joint deterioration, irreversible eye dryness, vision loss, auto-inmune diseases and fragile, prematurely aged skin.

We need your help to stop this now — please sign to ask the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to ensure that isotretinoin is prescribed only for the most severe and treatment-resistant acne cases, and only for patients over 18 years old.

In addition, we believe that the European Union must also:
✅ Reassess safety standards, aligning with EU restrictions already in place on vitamin A derivatives in cosmetics.
✅ Follow the UK’s lead in tightening controls over proven risks — including depression, suicide, and sexual dysfunction.
✅ Enforce true informed consent — every patient deserves to understand the full scope of long-term risks before taking this drug.
✅ Implement mandatory long-term monitoring — including mental, hormonal, and reproductive health checks.

Most of us were never truly warned. We were told isotretinoin was “strong,” not that it could destroy our health, our energy, or even our sense of self. No teenager should have to risk lifelong damage just to have clear skin.

This drug has ruined too many lives.
It’s time to protect patients, demand accountability, and make sure no one else has to suffer in silence.

✍️ Sign and share to demand the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to take urgent action to restrict isotretinoin prescription to only the most severe, treatment-resistant acne cases and for patients over 18 years old.

Initiated by: Miriam — VEROGI, Isotretinoin Victim Association (Spain)
In collaboration with: VIRAG Association (France) / Moral Medicine (USA)