Accutane is a medication derived from vitamin A that is used to treat severe cystic acne. The medication is supposed to be prescribed for dermatology patients with severe acne, but it can also have some serious side effects. Accutane side effects over the short term include dry skin, fatigue, and muscle pain. Accutane long term side effects are more serious, and may include severe depression, birth defects in the children of women who are taking the medication, and the development of serious gastrointestinal problems like Crohn’s Disease.
Accutane lawsuits are becoming quite common, even after the medication was discontinued in June 2009. Now, it still lives on in some generic forms, including Claravis and Sotret, though Roche Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of the name brand drug, has stopped making it.
The lawsuits against Accutane are one of the main reasons Roche cited for discontinuing the medication. Having paid out about millions of dollars in actual lawsuits, as well as amounts in settlements as of 2010, Roche decided they no longer wanted to manufacture the medication that millions of people worldwide were using.
Accutane Lawsuit 2010
The Accutane Crohn’s lawsuit is one of the most common ways that people have looked for compensation from Roche for their Accutane side effects. Unfortunately for many users of this medication, Accutane side effects years later can even years after they cease taking it. Sometimes, the side effects start while a patient is on the medication, but then persist for a long period of time after use has ceased.
Crohn’s Disease is a form of Irritable Bowel Disease in which certain parts of the gastrointestinal track become inflamed. When this happens, bleeding, pain, and cramps can occur. Also, many people with Crohn’s Disease struggle with malnutrition and unintentional weight loss, as nutrients are poorly absorbed through the walls of an irritated bowel.
Recently, one man who had been on Accutane for years succeeded in an Accutane lawsuit for several million dollars because he had developed Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Crohn’s disease. This most recent case ended in early 2010, but Roche plans to appeal the decision to award the plaintiff with over ten million dollars for his long-term suffering.
When dealing with a disease like Crohn’s or IBS, your medical expenses can increase over time. These problems take special dietary precautions, lifestyle changes, and medications over the long-term. Plus, this doesn’t account for of all of the pain and suffering caused by the side effects of Accutane.
If you have taken Accutane in the past and have noticed symptoms like unexplained weight loss, abdominal discomfort or pain, chronic diarrhea, or a host of others related to IBS or Crohn’s Disease, you may need be eligible to file a claim. An attorney can help explain your legal options including the latest Accutane lawsuit 2010 news.
