Accutane Bowel Problems

The 21st century has seen an incredible number of new and beneficial drugs come onto the market. These pharmaceuticals help alleviate the worst pain and suffering caused by all manner of sicknesses and diseases. Everything from cancer treatments to hernia treatments are coming onto the market and helping patients cope. However, there are certain drugs, designed to treat rather superficial conditions, that are causing all sorts of serious side effects in the patients who are taking them.

For instance, the drug Accutane, designed for the treatment of cases of acne and severe acne, has caused the onset of serious bowel inflammation side effects. Lawsuits are being filed all over the country seeking damages resulting from these severe side effects in the treatment of acne which in the case of many patients was mild or moderate.

Side Effects of Accutane

Accutane is produced and distributed by Roche Pharmaceuticals, operating out of Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the past six months, Roche Pharmaceuticals has faced and lost two high profile lawsuits concerning the severe side effects of Accutane. A third case has been settled out of court during pre-trial motions. In each of the three cases, plaintiffs claimed that the use of Accutane led to harsh and severe bouts with numerous types of chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

These diseases included Crohn's disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the often-fatal ulcerative colitis. Roche Pharmaceuticals faces more than 1,000 more such lawsuits across the country in the wake of the wide spread use of Accutane.

Though no conclusive link has yet been established between Accutane and its severe side effects, such as Crohn's disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and other types of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), there is enough evidence to establish a causal relationship between Accutane and these severe side effects. What is currently known from the research is that dosages of Accutane required to treat the severest cases of acne can result in these Accutane bowel problems.

In the fall of 2009, Roche Pharmaceuticals agreed to pull Accutane off of store shelves. They claimed at the time that it was due to competition from generic forms of Accutane that impinged on Roche's market share. It was not too long afterward, though, that the first lawsuit regarding Accutane's side effects was filed in a court of law.

Accutane's side effects can be fatal in extreme cases. Ulcerative colitis is especially dangerous, as it destroys the gastrointestinal tract of the patient. In the best cases, this condition is destructive and chronic, meaning that it cannot be cured. But Accutane can cause all manner of different types of side effects. These include the aforementioned IBDs, but some patients have been known to develop severe cases of depression, suicidal thoughts, damage to the liver and many other health problems.

About the Author:

John Mitchell is the author of this article on Accutane Class Action. Find more information about Accutane Lawsuit here.