Accutane Side Effects
Have you or a family member been prescribed Accutane to treat acne? Did severe side effects follow months, even years, after Accutane treatment? If so, you’re not alone. And you have rights!
Accutane (generic name: Isotretinion) is an oral medication used to treat severe nodular acne. It’s been touted as an acne “cure.” But Accutane has been linked to an array of serious side effects.
According to Roche Pharmaceuticals, Accutane’s manufacturer and distributor, over 13 million patients have been treated with Accutane since its release in 1982. Roche removed Accutane from the market in June of 2009 citing both stiff competition from generic forms of isotretinion and the mounting cost of defending personal injury lawsuits brought by some patients prescribed the drug. Additionally, the timing of Accutane’s recall corresponded to new studies linking Accutane with depression.
Accutane has been linked to abdominal pain, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, depression, birth defects, liver damage, and other serious side effects. If you have experienced Accutane side effects, your may be entitled to compensation. Contact our Accutane lawyers to discuss your claim with an experienced Accutane attorney.
What are the serious side effects associated with Accutane?
While the results from Accutane can be impressive, the side effects are numerous. Accutane side effects range from mild to life-threatening in some cases.
Severe Accutane side effects include:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of disorders characterized by long-lasting or recurring inflammation of the intestines.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, characterized by abdominal pain and diarrhea. Like Cohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis can be debilitating and may sometimes lead to life-threatening complications.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s Disease is a painful and debilitating inflammatory bowel disease with potentially life-threatening complications. It causes inflammation of the lining of your digestive tract, which is characterized by abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, and malnutrition.
Birth Defects
25 percent of children born to women who were using Accutane while pregnant have birth defects, including brain and nervous system damage.
Depression
Back in 1998, Roche Pharmaceuticals addressed a letter to physicians stating: “Accutane may cause depression, psychosis, and rarely, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide. Discontinuation of Accutane therapy may be insufficient; further evaluation may be necessary. No mechanism of action has been established for these events.”
Accutane Lawsuits
As a consumer and a patient, you have the right to trust your medication is safe. This though is not always the case. When a pharmaceutical company acts negligently, its actions can result in serious side effects. Victims however, may recoup damages with a successful product liability claim against the drug’s maker.
Well versed in the product liability laws that protect consumers, our Accutane lawyers have handled countless lawsuits involving harmful pharmaceuticals. If you’ve experienced Accutane side effects, contact us today and discuss your potential Accutane lawsuit with an experienced Accutane attorney.
