Accutane Crohns Disease
Accutane was discovered in 1979 and released by Hoffmann-La Roche in 1982. Accutane was originally prescribed to patients with moderate to severe acne that did not respond to other acne treatments. Over the past 25 years Accutane has become popular and is now being prescribed more frequently and for less severe acne. This is controversial, as taking Accutane increases the risk of developing a number of serious side effects such as ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Crohn’s disease.
Medical experts have found a connection between Accutane ingestion and Crohn's disease. If Hoffman-La Roche, the makers of Accutane, knew that inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn's disease were possible side effects of Accutane, it should have been included on the drug's warning label. The manufacturer of any drug is required to revise its label and include a warning when there is reasonable evidence of a serious hazard associated with a drug.
The FDA has since required the drug's maker to change Accutane's warning label several times. The drug's most recent label states that Accutane has been known to cause inflammatory bowel disease in patients without any prior history of intestinal problems. The FDA also recommended that patients who experience abdominal pain, severe diarrhea or rectal bleeding should stop using Accutane immediately.
Accutane and Crohn’s Disease
Patients did not anticipate the pain associated with Accutane Crohn’s disease when they were initially prescribed Accutane for acne treatment. Accutane Crohn’s disease is the most painful of the inflammatory bowl disease related side effects of Accutane use. Patients suffer from pain in the stomach, vomiting, unexplained weight loss and acute diarrhea. Accutane Crohn’s disease affects the lining of the digestive tract. A portion of the small intestine and whole of the large intestine are also affected and the disease has no known cure. At the most, patients can get some relief with medications while the disease arises intermittently. In serious cases of Accutane Crohn’s disease, part of the colon must be surgically removed.
Accutane Crohn’s Disease Lawsuits
By the time the Accutane side effects were fully realized, though the FDA issued black label warning for the drug, the bulk of the damage had already been done. Many patients have begun experiencing delayed Accutane side effects like Accutane Crohn’s disease years after they stopped taking the drug. Accutane maker La Roche withdrew the drug from the US market in 2009. It cited increasing competition as the main reason for the withdrawal, though it is now well known that the increasing numbers of serious Accutane side effects forced the drug's recall from the market.
Many Accutane side effects patients have obtained legal counsel to help enforce their right to compensation for injuries caused by negligence on the part of a pharmaceutical drug's manufacturer. One Accutane side effect patient in Utah was awarded $10.5 million in her suit. A jury in Florida awarded Accutane Crohn’s disease compensation of $7 million to a man who was diagnosed with the disease in 2000. Another victim in Alabama was awarded a settlement of $25 million for a similar Accutane side effect. If you have suffered from Accutane related Crohn’s disease, then you may have a strong reason to seek a lawyer to discuss Accutane compensation.
