An acne drug that has been linked to suicide and depression in teenagers is not causing any major concern in Bermuda.

The drug Accutane has spawned a hostile website, scores of lawsuits and media reports alleging dangerous side effects.

Concern surfaced in the US and UK media recently over the drug, which is said to be extremely effective in curing severe cases of acne.

According to a February report in the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, the drug has been linked to 14 suspected suicides in Britain. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration has received reports of 37 suicides, with an average age of 17. But the FDA says the figures could be due to a correlation between depression and severe acne.

That's the view of the Island's only dermatologist, Dr. Alexander Romeo. He says that there is no major cause for alarm and emphasised that a causal link between use of the drug and suicidal tendencies had not been proven.

And when contacted by The Royal Gazette , the Consumer Affairs department was not aware of any complaints in connection with the drug.

Hamilton pharmacists, while confirming the drug is dispensed on a regular basis, also said they had received no enquiries in relation to the reports.

Dr. Romeo told The Royal Gazette he had been prescribing the drug for 20 years and had not had a single case of severe depression or suicide as a result of its use.

In the US, the drug itself has a cautionary label that says that users who suffer from depression or have thoughts of suicide during or after taking it should consult their doctor immediately.

But the warning adds that a causal link had not been established.

Dr. Romeo said that he believed that Accutane use was a convenient "whipping boy'' for parents who did not realise the depth of their children's depression.

But concern about the drug has been mounting in recent years, not just in the US and the United Kingdom, but in Canada, Norway, France and other countries.

And regulators have responded with increased restrictions over its use.

According to the Accutane Action Group website, the drug remains the only prescription medication sold in France which lists suicide as a possible side effect.