ACCUTANE-RELATED INJURY
Accutane, (generic name of Isotrentinoin) made by New Jersey-based Hoffman-La Roche Inc., hit the market in 1982. Use of this drug is for the treatment of a severe form of acne (severe recalcitrant nodular acne). Taken orally, it is marketed as a prescription medication. It is also sometimes called Roaccutane as well.
As with most pharmaceutical medications, there are side effects from using Accutane including, chapped lips 90%, dry skin and itching, joint and muscle pains. More side effects can be obtained from reading the label that comes with this prescription. Serious side effects are liver damage and conditions of the colon including:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a debilitating and dangerous condition. It often involves severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and/or constipation. IBD can cause life-threatening complications and secondary conditions. In some cases, radical treatment such as colostomy is required. IBD primarily affects the digestive system, but it can cause damage to other internal organs and the inflammation sometimes spreads to other parts of the body.
Crohn’s Disease is a type inflammatory bowel disease that commonly affects the small intestine, but it can affect any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus. Crohn’s disease typically causes abdominal pain and often causes diarrhea, vomiting, or both. Depending on the area of the digestive system that is attacked, people with Crohn’s disease may experience rectal bleeding, abscesses or ulcers around the anus, dangerous weight loss, and even joint pain and skin lesions. Crohn’s disease has been associated with use of accutane.
Ulcerative Colitis is another type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the colon. It involves inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the colon causing cramping, pain, diarrhea, and frequent bowel movements. Because they have the same symptoms, ulcerative colitis is often misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, the complications of ulcerative colitis are much more serious. Ulcerative colitis has been associated with the use of Accutane.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel disease such as those above, please contact me to discuss whether you may have a viable legal claim against the manufacturer of this drug.