Recently, the acne treatment medication known as Accutane has been in the news, not for its ability to cure acne, but for the array of dangerous and debilitating side effects that can come along with its use. Accutane is a drug that was developed to treat cases of acne, and severe acne, for patients that have not experienced any success with previous forms of acne treatment. The drug has been effective for the condition that it was designed to treat, but unfortunately, for a number of acne patients, Accutane has prompted the development of something far worse. The severe side effects of Accutane have proven far more damaging to the health of some patients than the original cases of acne could ever be.
As a result of these damaging and dangerous side effects, there have been a number of lawsuits filed on behalf of plaintiffs who were acne patients, using Accutane to treat their conditions. These suits have been filed from patients all over the world, against the makers of Accutane, Roche Pharmaceuticals, located in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Because the company operates out of New Jersey, all lawsuits must be filed in New Jersey courts. Already, New Jersey juries have awarded millions in compensatory and punitive damages to patients who suffered with the severe Accutane side effects.
Accutane and Crohn's Disease
Though there are numerous side effects that have been discovered by the users of Accutane, the most common is a host of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) which is an umbrella description for several disorders that afflict the upper, lower and entire digestive tracts of patients. The most common of these for Accutane users is Crohn’s disease, which affects the gastrointestinal and digestive systems, and it is considered the worst, most painful of the inflammatory bowel diseases.
In many cases, patients stricken with Crohn’s disease will need to have a portion of their colon surgically removed, and then suffer through continuous flair ups of symptoms. These symptoms include cramping, severe pain, inflammation, bloating and diarrhea. Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition for which there is no known cure, and few medical treatments.
Accutane and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Accutane has also been connected to the development of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in patients who have used the acne drug. Irritable Bowel Syndrome involves an acute pain in the lower abdominal tract, along with pain during bowel movements and general inflammation all throughout a patient's gastrointestinal tract. As with Crohn's disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a chronic disorder for which there is no cure, and little in the way of practical medical treatment. Accutane patients who develop Irritable Bowel Syndrome face a lifetime of pain, inflammation and a host of complications with their digestive systems.
Accutane and Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is the most dangerous of Accutane side effects but it is, thankfully, far less common than either Crohn’s disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Ulcerative colitis can be deadly, though, if the complications of the condition are not effectively and quickly treated.
Author Resource:
Jim Grayson is the author of this article on Accutane Ulcerative Colitis .
Find more information about Accutane Lawsuit 2010 here.
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