If youve ever taken the cystic acne medication known as Accutane, you may be wondering what, exactly, the side effects of the medication could be for you. Many times, people only think of side effects as short term things that fade away after the medication is flushed from their systems. This is untrue of Accutane, though. This medication has actually been shown to have long term side effects, symptoms of which may not even occur until the patient has been off the medication for months or even years.
So, if youve ever taken Accutane, even for just a short period of time, you may be wondering what you need to look for. Its a good idea to keep your eyes peeled and tune into your body for potential early warning signs of Accutane long term side effects. Here are the particular issues and the symptoms you need to be watching for if youve ever taken this medication.
Diseases Caused by Accutane
Though scientists arent quite sure why, its clear that Accutane has many long term side effects for the bowels. It can cause problems like irritable bowel syndrome, Crohns disease, and ulcerative colitis. These are all in the same family of bowel problems and are all related to inflammation of the intestines. When the intestines become severely inflamed, the digestive system stops working properly. For this reason, its vital that those with these issues recognize their symptoms and start treatment as soon as possible.
Symptoms to Watch For
If youve ever taken Accutane, look out for bowel symptoms like severe stomach pains or cramps and constant or frequent diarrhea. Both of these issues are common symptoms of IBS and other inflamed bowel diseases. Also, you might look out for symptoms like sudden and unexplained weight loss, fever, and loss of appetite, as these can also be tied into the bowel issues noted here.
Normally, those who have these issues will notice several symptoms at once. They may also experience extreme fatigue, and they could show signs of malnutrition even when eating a relatively healthy diet. This is because inflamed bowel walls can no longer absorb nutrients properly, leaving the body starving for certain vital nutrients even when youre eating them daily or weekly.
When Symptoms Occur
The trouble with Accutane side effects like these issues is that you never know when theyre going to occur. In one of the biggest lawsuits against the makers of Accutane, the plaintiff only took the medication for a couple of weeks and was experiencing symptoms within a few more weeks. Others, though, dont have symptoms pop up until months or even years down the road. The thing to remember is that Accutane doesnt cause all bowel problems, but if you do develop bowel problems and have ever taken this medication, it could certainly be to blame.
Many of those who have problems because of Accutane are in the midst of Accutane lawsuits. Some of these suits have already been won by plaintiffs. The money can be used to offset lifelong medical expenses accrued as a result of Accutane side effects.
Author Resource:
George Williams is the author of this article on Accutane Lawsuit 2011 .
Find more information about Accutane Lawsuit here.