Popular acne medication Accutane® has been linked to serious and painful intestinal problems such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which is incurable and characterized by chronically red and swollen intestines.
What is Accutane?
ACCUTANE, or generic isotretinoin, is a drug used to treat severe recalcitrant nodular acne, a skin condition characterized by whiteheads, blackheads and red pimples. Isotretinoin is in a class of medications called retinoids and it works by slowing the production of certain natural substances that can cause pimples to form. Accutane was originally developed and marketed as a chemotherapy drug for certain types of cancer by manufacturer Hoffmann-La Roche.
What’s the concern?
The brand Accutane has been discontinued by manufacturer Roche Pharmaceutical in the summer of 2009 after numerous studies were published, alleging that the drug was tied to the development of several incurable inflammatory diseases. After Hoffman-La Roche lost its exclusivity on the drug Isotretinoin, several generic forms of Accutane began to be produced under a wide variety of names that include the following: Amnesteem, Claravis, Clarus, Decutan, Izotek, Oratane and Sotret.
Accutane Side Effects
- Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Crohn’s Disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
Accutane Lawsuits
Thousands of personal injury lawsuits have been filed against Roche Pharmaceuticals, alleging that Accutane caused bowel problems. Separate lawsuits have been filed against Roche Pharmaceuticals for reactions to Accutane including suicide, psychiatric side effects, and various gastrointestinal disorders.
In the late 1990’s, A woman diagnosed with ulcerative colitis received a $10.5 million award for pain and suffering in a lawsuit filed against the company, and was awarded $78,500 for Medical Expenses after her attorneys proved the company knew of a potential risk of IBD from Accutane.
In February of 2010, Roche was ordered to pay more than $25 million to a man who developed inflammatory bowel disease years after taking Accutane. The verdict was issued after an earlier decision forcing the company to pay the man $2.5 million was thrown out in a state appeals court.
We are here to provide Legal Assistance
There is no cure for IBD, so sufferers of this condition can only seek to continuously treat the symptoms. In some severe cases, patients must have their colon surgically removed. It is estimated that approximately 13 million people were treated with the drug between 1982 and 2009. M&A Law Firm is currently evaluating Accutane cases. If you or someone you know has suffered adverse effects from Accutane, please contact us today.
