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by Lynn Fugaro
Accutane (Isotretinoin), produced by Roche Laboratories, is a medication used to treat a very severe and resistant form of acne called resistant nodular cystic acne. This type of acne does not respond to other treatments including topical applications and antibiotics. While this form of acne is extremely unpleasant, the side effects of Accutane can far outweigh the benefits. Adverse reactions to Accutane can be permanently disabling or even deadly, wreaking havoc on the mind and body.
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Side effects, which have been linked to Accutane use, include:
Severe birth defects and fetal death
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Inflammable Bowel Disease (IBD)
Lupus
Psychosis
Suicide and suicidal behavior
Accutane was approved by the FDA in 1982. Its side effects are so common and dangerous that the labeling has been changed over twenty times since the drug was released. It is believed that Roche Laboratories was aware of the dangers of the drug before its FDA approval or its release and may have actually hidden the information.
Birth defects
Nearly 30 years ago the FDA estimated that Accutane was responsible for up to 13,000 miscarriages and 900 to 1,100 babies born with birth defects. The consumer group Public Citizen estimates that about 25% of babies born to mothers taking Accutane have serious birth defects and 50% are mentally disabled. The likelihood of serious birth defects is so high that women who become pregnant while taking Accutane commonly choose to have an abortion, over 78% during one year.
IBS and IBD
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are painful, embarrassing, and often debilitating conditions, which can lead to severe, even deadly malnutrition, and greatly increase your chance of developing colon cancer.
IBS is also called spastic colon. People with IBS suffer from chronic diarrhea, constipation, or both. Eating certain foods, or simply eating period often triggers symptoms. Stress is also a common trigger. Since episodes can be unpredictable and very painful, IBS can mean refraining from social events altogether, and, for some, the inability to hold a job.
IBD is an even more severe set of intestinal disorders, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Symptoms of IBD include:
- Severe, chronic diarrhea (sometimes in excess of 20 bowel movements a day)
- Bloody stool
- Blocked bowels
- Abdominal cramps
- Fever
- Anemia
- Dehydration
- Loss of appetite
- Extreme weight loss
- Malnutrition
- Inflammation of the liver
- Arthritis
IBD often requires surgery and removal of part of the colon. Considering that most Accutane users are in their teens, the side effect of IBD is a particularly horrible result that will impact them throughout the rest of their lives.
Once started, discontinuing Accutane use does not mean that IBS or IBD will go away.
Accutane is meant to treat only the most resistant acne and only as a last resort, but it is prescribed to over a million people every year, often to patients with moderate or mild acne. The severity and frequency of adverse reactions make it questionable if Accutane is worth the risk, even for those who cannot find other relief.
Accutane has also been implicated in causing:
- Rectal bleeding
- Bone and muscle damage
- Damage to the central nervous system
- Hearing and vision problems
- Liver, kidney, and pancreas damage
- Skin problems
Roche Laboratories and the FDA know how dangerous this drug is, yet it is still on the market. So far attempts to force Roche Laboratories to fully inform patients of the risks have failed to be effective. The adverse effects of Accutane can mean life-long pain and medical problems. If you have suffered an adverse reaction to Accutane and you were not fully informed of the dangers before taking the drug, you may be entitled to compensation.
Several lawsuits involving Accutane side effects have been in the news recently. In May 2007, a jury in New Jersey awarded $2.5 million to Andrew McCarrell of Alabama. The jury concluded that McCarrell suffered severe inflammatory bowel disease as a direct result of taking Accutane.
A second Accutane lawsuit in Florida was recently dropped by the victim's mother who claimed she was physically and emotionally unable to continue the litigation. That case involved the well-publicized incident of a teenager who flew a small plane into the side of an office building. The lawsuit had blamed Accutane for the suicide.
Currently, there are over 400 pending Accutane lawsuits in the US.
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