Accutane
is a prescription drug that is intended to treat severe nodular acne,
however it was commonly used to treat all forms of acne, including
moderate to mild cases. Unfortunately many people have suffered horrible
side effects from this powerful acne medication. These side effects
include Crohn's disease, IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), ulcerative
colitis, birth defects, and even psychiatric complications. These
horrible side effects have motivated people in the recent past to file
an Accutane lawsuit.
Crohn's disease, which is a form of IBD is a
disorder in which the digestive tract is inflamed, which most often
affects the lower part of the person's small intestine. Common symptoms
of Crohn's disease include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and stomach cramps.
Accutane
ulcerative colitis is another form of IBD and is similar to Crohn's
disease however, this disorder is different because it causes
inflammation deeper in the intestinal wall. Ulcerative colitis causes
inflammation and ulcers, or sores, in the rectum and colon's lining.
Long term side effects of Accutane involving IBD can be found in various
parts of the person's digestive system, such as the person's mouth,
esophagus, colon, and small intestine.
Accutane was manufactured
by Hoffman La Roche Pharmaceutical Company, which made it in a pill
form, however they stopped producing it because of a drug recall in
2009. The scary thing is, many other manufacturers are still making this
medicine, they are just using different names for it. And health care
professionals are still prescribing it to their patients. The FDA did
require the medication to have a black box warning though.
Other names that this medication is being manufactured under include:
>Isotretinoin
>Oratane
>Isotret
>Clarus
>Anmesteem
>Roaccutane
>Izotek
>Decutan
>Claravis
>Isotane
Despite
of the recall of Accutane in 2009, people who used this prescription
drug are still experiencing its long term side effects. Because of this,
people are looking to the help of an Accutane lawyer to help them
understand their legal rights.
To date, more than 1,000 class
action type lawsuits have been taken to state and federal court. People
have brought the lawsuits against La Roche, and against the medical
providers who prescribed the medicine. In most cases the lawsuit was
stating that La Roche did not adequately notify its customers of the
various dangerous side effects that this drug could cause. The first six
suits resulted in the company losing and the verdicts totaled to about
$56 million dollars. The lawsuits were much more successful when the
people who took the medication did so before the black box warning was
established.
If you or a loved one has taken this powerful
prescription drug, then you should consult your lawyer to see if you
have an Accutane lawsuit. There are some lawyers available who operate
on a contingency basis, which means that you do not have to pay any
legal fees or expenses unless you win compensation in your case.
Currently there are no national Accutane lawsuits so right now claims
are being filed on an individual basis.
