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AccutaneFind out if you have an AccutaneŽ lawsuit claimWhat is Accutane®? Accutane® is the brand name for isotretinoin, a drug prescribed to treat a form of nodular acne that most often occurs in adolescents. This form of nodular acne cannot be treated by other drugs including antibiotics. Accutane® is manufactured by Hoffman-La Roche Inc., a New Jersey-based prescription drug company. There is currently no generic form of Accutane® available on the market. Why is Accutane® dangerous? Accutane® has come under scrutiny by the Food and Drug Administration for several side effects issues including irritable bowels and abdominal problems. These side effects can cause problems in the esophagus, liver, pancreas and bowels (intestines). Severe pain in the stomach, chest or bowels may indicate damage to these organs that may not clear up even after a patient discontinues use of Accutane®. Other symptoms of abdominal problems include trouble swallowing or painful swallowing, new or worsening heartburn, yellowing of skin or eyes, diarrhea, dark urine and rectal bleeding. Nearly 600 lawsuits against Hoffman-La Roche Inc. allege that use of Accutane® caused inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and gastrointestinal problems ranging from occasional pain in the abdominal region to severe conditions requiring surgery and/or colon removal. One such case by plaintiff Andrew McCarrell, 36, claims that Accutane® caused McCarrell’s IBD. After taking Accutane® for four months in 1995, McCarrell had to undergo three major surgeries resulting in the removal of his rectum and most of his colon. He was forced to use a colostomy bag for several years until the third major surgery connected the remains of his colon with his anus, resulting in permanent diarrhea. The New Jersey Superior Court jury awarded McCarrell over $2.6 million in damages and medical expenses on May 29, 2007. An attorney for Hoffman-La Roche Inc., Andrew See, argued that scientists do not know what causes IBD which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, an ongoing disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract most commonly in the small intestine. See noted that the drug passes through the body in four to seven days, while McCarrell’s condition did not occur until a year after he took the drug. However attorneys working on the large number of recent lawsuits against Accutane® have found documents showing that Hoffman-La Roche has long been aware that IBD and other gastrointestinal problems are the most common side effect of Accutane®. Do you believe you or a loved one has been injured by Accutane®? Goldberg & Osborne can help. The law firm of Goldberg & Osborne is dedicated to helping injured people nationwide and is currently accepting cases for Accutane® victims. For a FREE case evaluation, please call us toll-free at 1-800-THE-EAGLE (1-800-843-3245) or submit a short and simple online case form here. |
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FDA Accutane Guide |
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| More Information: | |||
Accutane Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
Accutane Side Effects |
Accutane Articles |
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Accutane Summary |
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