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Accutane Lawsuit Crohns

Many patients who have taken the prescription drug Accutane to treat severe acne cases might be entitled to compensation if they have suffered from Crohn's Disease that can be attributed to using Accutane.

Accutane is a specially formulated version of vitamin-A which was manufactured by the Swiss-based pharmaceutical company Hoffman-LaRoche. It is also known by other commercial names such as Amnesteem, Claravis, Sotret and Ratane. Accutane is also known by the generic market name of Isotretinoin. It was sold via prescription to patients by dermatologists around the country from 1982 to 2009.

How Accutane Works

Accutane was formulated to treat severe cases of acne that refused to respond to other treatments. It works by reducing the amount of natural oils that is allowed to enter into the skin. It is also used to re-grow skin more quickly to help patients recover their skin's natural appearance.

Side Effects of Accutane

Accutane's formula makes people vulnerable to a number of side effects. These side effects include eye dryness, back and joint pain, aggressive behavior, and the risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome. Other side effects can include anaphylaxis, liver damage and vulnerability to depressive episodes. In addition, there's growing evidence that suggests Accutane could cause patients to develop symptoms of Crohn's disease.

About Chron’s Disease

Crohn's disease is a type of irritable bowel disorder that causes inflammation near the lining of the digestive tract. This can cause people to suffer from symptoms such as abdominal bloating and cramping, stomach pains, problems with watery stool and diarrhea , bloody stool, chronic vomiting, and chronic weight loss.

Chron’s Disease Progression

When Crohn's Disease progresses, patients suffer from more intense symptoms that make one's quality of life suffer. These symptoms include chronic intestinal discomfort, frequent bowl discomfort and joint discomfort. Patients can also suffer from arthritis, malnutrition, anemia, skin lesions, and perhaps eye damage.

Legal Options

Prescription drug makers are required by law to accurately describe to consumers any possible side-effects that could occur when taking a drug. As a result, drug makers must clearly spell out the potentially harmful side-effects that might occur on the packaging of their products.

When drug makers have reasonable evidence of potential side effects but forget to issue the proper warnings, they expose themselves to lawsuits from patients who were harmed by the drug. These lawsuits can include product liability lawsuits and personal injury lawsuits.

There are several instances of lawsuits that have been brought up by patients who have suffered from Accutane-based Crohn's Disease. The most famous example was a 2010 case brought up by a New Jersey resident who had suffered from severe Crohn's Disease symptoms.

The large jury award that was given to the patient shadowed other awards given to patients around the country who suffered from Crohn's Disease and other related gastro-intestinal ailments. These awards and other problems forced the Hoffman-La Roche pharmaceutical company to pull Accutane off the market completely in 2009.

As a result, patients who think they might have developed symptoms of Crohn's Disease after using Accutane should consult at an attorney right away to explore their legal options and to protect their legal right to sue for potential compensation.