Have you ever taken Accutane as a treatment for cystic acne? This strong medication that shrinks the oil glands in the skin is typically used as a last resort for patients who cant otherwise find relief for their skin problems. Since its so strong and was, actually, first created to be part of chemotherapy treatments, doctors only prescribe this drug, normally, for a few weeks of use at a time. Even in a few short weeks, though, patients can experience changes that become serious Accutane long term side effects.
The side effects of this medication are numerous, but one of the most serious and life-changing is the development of bowel diseases. There are several different diseases that are linked with the use of Accutane. They include Crohns disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and ulcerative colitis. These are essentially the same disease, but they all affect different parts of the digestive tract.
All of these diseases can have serious long-term ramifications for sufferers. This is why many who have taken Accutane and later developed them are suing the manufacturer of this drug.
Long-Term Effects of Bowel Disease
All of these bowel diseases, including Accutane Crohns and Accutane colitis, are essentially inflammations of the bowels at various points of the intestines. Chronic inflammation anywhere in the body is uncomfortable, but in the bowels, it can cause serious problems over the long-term.
Short-term effects of these diseases are serious abdominal pain and cramping along with chronic diarrhea. These effects can cause long-term problems, though, that can have serious side effects for health.
For instance, intestines that are inflamed cannot properly absorb nutrients, which means that many who suffer from these problems also suffer from malnutrition. Other problems can include fistulas, which is when the intestine abnormally joins with another organ, and serious ulcers form.
What to Do if Youve Taken Accutane
Accutane is certainly not the only cause of these disorders. In fact, many of them are thought to be hereditary or even to be caused by bacteria. However, for some reason as yet unknown to scientists, Accutane seems to seriously increase a persons risk of developing these bowel problems.
This is why there are currently many pending Accutane lawsuits across the United States. In many cases, doctors have found that this medication was directly responsible for an individuals developing serious intestinal inflammation problems.
If you have ever taken Accutane, even if you took it for only a short time, and have developed IBD, Crohns, IBS, or Colitis, it may be time to seek legal action. Consult with an experienced lawyer about your case. You may find that you have a right to file a claim against the manufacturer of Accutane for compensation. Juries around the country are finding Roche Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturers of Accutane, responsible for damages to suffering patients.
Author Resource:
Mark Peterson is the author of this article on Accutane Class Action .
Find more information about Accutane Lawsuit here.