Accutane Lawsuit Settled Case Loans

Accutane Lawsuit Funding

Generically known as Isotretinoin, this drug has been a popular anti-acne drug since it came on the market in 1982. It went “off-patent” in 2002 and has been available in generic prescription form under the following names: Amnesteem, Claravis, Decutan, Istane, Sotret, Ratane, RAccutane and the generic Isotretinoin. It was originally intended for the treatment of severe acne but many dermatologists prescribe the drug for off-label purposes.

Acne treatment was created by Hoffman La Roche, a United States drug manufacturer. It is a synthetic form of Vitamin A that is made to alleviate severe acne symptoms. The La Roche Group is a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer bringing in $1.2 billion annually just for sales of Accutane.

Serious side effects include:

Accutane Side Effects

Recent studies have linked Accutane (known generically as Isotretinoin), a popular acne medication, to serious and painful side effects and gastrointestinal problems such as inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).   IBD is often characterized by conditions such as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease and is associated with an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. 

In addition, studies have suggested Accutane may cause serious mental health problems (such as depression, psychosis, and suicide), birth defects, miscarriages, premature births, and  Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (severe skin reaction which can sometimes be fatal).
Over 16 million people worldwide have used the drug since it was first approved by the FDA in 1982.  Accutane is used for the treatment of severe acne that is unresponsive to conventional therapy, including antibiotics.

On June 26, 2009, Hoffman-La Roche Pharmaceuticals voluntarily pulled the drug from the US market citing, among others reasons, the cost of defending against lawsuits.  Isotretinoin continues to be available as a generic and is also sold under a wide variety of names including Amnesteem, Claravis, and Sotret.
There are dozens of know side effects, the most serious of which are gastrointestinal problems like inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. Here is a full list of known Accutane side effects.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

People suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can experience the side effects many years after consuming the medication.  IBD is a general term that refers to a group of digestive disorders that can cause chronic inflammation or redness and swelling in the small and large intestines.  Symptoms often include abdominal pain and cramping, weight loss, poor appetite, fatigue, diarrhea (can be bloody), rectal bleeding, and fever.  Other IBD-related health problems may include: arthritis and joint pain, weak bones, and bone breaks, eye inflammation, liver inflammation, gallstones, skin ulcers or lesions, kidney stones, delayed puberty, and growth problems (in children and teens), and in rare cases, lung problems.

The two major types of IBD are Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.  Although they share similar symptoms they differ in that they affect different parts of the digestive tract.

Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Crohn’s disease results in inflammation which usually affects all layers of the intestinal wall in the small and large intestines, as well as other digestive organs.  In contrast, ulcerative colitis results in inflammation and ulcers (sores) which usually affect the inner lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum.  The big difference between the two being Crohn’s causes inflammation deeper within the intestinal wall whereas ulcerative colitis affects only the superficial top layer of the lining of the large intestine.  There is no cure for either disease and if drug therapy fails, which it often does, in treating these ailments then surgery is the only viable option.

Accutane FDA Black Box Warning

Isotretinoin was a pregnancy category X drug under the previous FDA system and is contraindicated in pregnant women or who may become pregnant. There have been severe, documented congenital disabilities when pregnant women have taken isotretinoin.

The FDA issued a web page warning in 2007 and required a Black Box Warning label since 2003.   It is the strongest warning that the FDA requires.  A black box warning indicates that studies have found that the drug carries a significant risk of serious or even life-threatening adverse effects. The FDA required Hoffman-La Roche to place a black box warning on the labeling and in the literature describing it to help patients avoid serious adverse events.  In addition, the FDA now has stricter rules regarding the dispensation of Accutane.