Lawyers
Accutane is a prescription medication that has been used to reduce severe acne and had been prescribed to patients in the U.S. prior to 2009. The drug works by inhibiting skin pores and glands from performing functions that commonly inflame acne and acne-like skin conditions. In 2009, however, the manufacturer of Accutane (Hoffman-LaRoche) stopped making and distributing the drug after researchers linked Accutane to inflammatory bowel disease and other adverse side effects leading to severe infection and even death.
Accutane has been a common prescription medication used by health care professionals for severe acne since 1980. Between 1980 and 2009, Accutane's popularity grew enormously and even led to prescriptions being written for simple cases of acne. Even though Accutane was never meant to be used for simple acne, doctors were constantly prescribing it. The large influx of Accutane prescriptions meant many more related side effects were being discovered. As a result of Accutane side effects, patients began experiencing serious side effects in much larger amounts than ever before witnessed.
As a result of Accutane, countless patients have experienced inflammatory bowel disease. Researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill have proven a clear link between Accutane and ulcerative colitis, which is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. Patients who used Accutane were found to be at least four times more likely to develop ulcerative colitis than nonusers of Accutane, which provides the strong empirical link. Even more significant is the rise in likelihood of developing ulcerative colitis in relation to a higher dosage of Accutane prescribed to the patient. Patients with much higher doses of Accutane see exponentially higher risk levels for the disease. Researchers say this link is nearly indisputable as being caused by the use and prescription of Accutane.
LaRoche has been targeted by more than 1,000 lawsuits related to Accutane and the drug's side effects. Even though LaRoche has discontinued the use and prescription of Accutane, past users of the drug are still dealing with the side effects. Patients suffering from Accutane use are encouraged to contact a lawyer.
In addition to Accutane's connection to inflammatory bowel disease, the drug has also been linked to death as a result of skin infections. Two deaths from skin infections thus far have been reported to be connected to Accutane. Courts have found in favor of plaintiffs alleging skin infection related to Accutane in the past. To date, approximately 56 million dollars in damages have been paid out in settlements to prescribed users.