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Accutane and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Keywords: Accutane IBD Lawyer Ulcerative Colitis Lawsuit Side Effects Attorney

The lawyers and attorneys at our firm are currently offering free evaluations to people suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) as a result of the drug Accutane.  IBD is an extremely painful and debilitating condition that often requires the removal of the colon, and sometimes the rectum. The Accutane injury lawyers at our firm know how devastating a diagnosis of IBD is, and we will work hard to make sure that Hoffman-La Roche, the maker of this defective drug, is held accountable for its serious side effects.

Victims of IBD will often need medical care for the rest of their lives, and can face staggering medical bills.  Because of the chronic pain and debilitating diarrhea that typically accompanies IBD, many victims are unable to work.  Our Accutane injury lawyers will do everything in their power to help victims of this dangerous drug get their lives back on track.
 

Accutane - known generically as Isotretinoin - is a medication used for the treatment of severe acne.  Accutane helps those who have acne by decreasing the amount of oil produced by the sebaceous glands and increasing the skin renewal rate. It is a retinoid, meaning it derives from vitamin A and is found in small quantities naturally in the body. Vitamin A in large quantities is known to be toxic to the body. 
 

Accutane is normally reserved for patients whose acne has not responded to other forms of treatment, such as antibiotics. Accutane is meant for only the most severe forms of acne, but sometimes, doctors do prescribe it to treat more moderate forms of the condition.  This is unfortunate, because Accutane is known to carry serious side effects.
 

Approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 1982, Accutane has been the subject of controversy for years. In addition to IBD, the drug has been associated with many other problems. It first garnered attention in the late eighties for causing severe birth defects. It has also been known to cause psychiatric problems, and has been linked to hundreds of suicides in the United States. Accutane has also been associated with problems of the liver, kidneys, central nervous system, and pancreas, as well as the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and auto-immune systems.  In addition to victims of IBD, our Accutane injury lawyers are also offering free case evaluations to people suffering from other Accutane side effects.

Accutane and IBD

Accutane has been associated with the onset of IBD in patients without a prior history of intestinal disorders. In some instances, symptoms have been reported to persist after Accutane treatment has been stopped. In 2006, a report published in the "American Journal of Gastroenterology" found that out of 85 IBD cases reported between 1997 and 2002 to the FDA, it was “highly probable” or “probable” that 62 were caused by Accutane. The authors of the study indicated that this connection should be taken into consideration before Accutane is prescribed for people who have a strong family history of IBD or people who already have symptoms of IBD.

IBD is now listed as a warning on Accutane's product information label, noting that symptoms have been reported to persist after use of Accutane has ceased. The warning also states that Accutane users who experience abdominal pain, rectal bleeding or severe diarrhea should stop using Accutane immediately. Additionally, Accutane's medication guide states, "certain symptoms may mean that your internal organs are being damaged. These organs include the liver, pancreas, intestines, and esophagus (connection between mouth and stomach). If your organs are damaged, they may not get better even after you stop taking Accutane."

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

IBD refers to two chronic diseases that cause inflammation of the intestines: ulcerative colitis  and Crohn's disease.  It's estimated that up to 1 million Americans have inflammatory bowel disease. It occurs most frequently in people ages 15 to 30, but it can also affect younger children and older people. Patients experiencing abdominal pain, rectal bleeding or severe diarrhea should discontinue Accutane.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the large intestine, also called the colon. In ulcerative colitis, the inner lining of the intestine becomes inflamed and develops ulcers. Ulcerative colitis is often the most severe in the rectal area, which can cause frequent diarrhea. Mucus and blood often appear in the stool of IBD sufferers if the lining of the colon is damaged.

Crohn's disease differs from ulcerative colitis in the areas of the bowel it involves - it most commonly affects the last part of the small intestine (called the terminal ileum) and parts of the large intestine. However, Crohn's disease isn't limited to these areas and can attack any part of the digestive tract. Crohn's disease causes inflammation that extends much deeper into the layers of the intestinal wall than ulcerative colitis does. Crohn's disease generally tends to involve the entire bowel wall, whereas ulcerative colitis affects only the lining of the bowel.

Therapies involving anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressive agents are the most common treatments for these diseases.  In severe cases of ulcerative colitis, removal of the colon and even the rectum may be necessary. In the case of Crohn's disease, doctors will try to avoid surgery if at all possible, because of serious complications that can occur. People with either form of  IBD usually suffer a limited quality of life due to the pain, liver problems, arthritis, vomiting, weight loss, and other troubling symptoms of the disease. Those with IBD also have an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Legal Help For Victims of Accutane an IBD

If you or a loved one suffers from any form of IBD as a result of Accutane use, you have valuable legal rights.  Please fill out our online form or call us at 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) to one of our experience Accutane Injury lawyers.