The most notable complication is Irritable Bowel Syndrome. IBD primarily refers to two diseases characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Most often, these conditions are diagnosed during adolescence or early adulthood, a fact lawyers defending Accutane have pointed to time and time again in Accutane lawsuits.
Roche's position in IBD Accutane lawsuits is that even if plaintiffs prove general causation, that is, Accutane is capable of causing IBD, they cannot show causation in their particular case, pointing to the fact that IBD is a condition that over a million Americans suffer from. Certainly, they are correct that there are cases where people on Accutane were diagnosed with IBD that was not caused by the Accutane.
In fact, studies have found other potential contributing factor to IBD, including smoking, family history, prior history of infections, and the use of birth control and antibiotics.
But it is impossible to ignore the medical literature — that is still building — showing that Accutane use is a strong factor in causing IBD. In fact, it is more likely than not, some experts argue, that a patient with IBD who took Accutane developed the IBD from Accutane in the absence of any other evidence to support an alternative hypothesis. Accutane is so effective in treating acne inflammation because of its profound effects on the skin. These changes are so drastic that it leaves people at high risk of developing serious skin conditions.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a severe skin reaction that results from exposure to medications. It is a fatal and debilitating skin condition which is characterized by burning sensations, blister formation, rashes and in some cases separation of skin from the body.
More on Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. In at the latest, Roche began discussions of a warning for suicide as a side effect of Accutane use. Roche's U. Marketing Division did not approve the idea of a label change because they knew it would scare doctors prescribing Accutane and decrease sales.
They were right. And for a long time marketing won out. Accutane was first introduced in and has been the standard for acne treatment for people suffering from severe inflammatory acne. It has become the most popular choice for treatment due to the pace at which results can be seen.
But, given the risks, a drug other than Accutane would have been a better choice for a lot of patients. There are alternatives to Accutane that are effective in treating severe inflammatory acne. They include benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, and hormone therapy.
Medical studies have confirmed the link between the development of severe side effects and Accutane treatment. These medical conditions include a high risk of suicide, seizures, bone degradation, heart attacks, and strokes. Several medical studies have identified the positive correlation of Isotretinoin use and the development of bowel diseases. As a result, there has been a lot of personal injury Accutane lawsuits filed against Roche. The suits allege that Accutane treatment has resulted in serious medical conditions related to gastrointestinal disorders.
Candidly, lawyers have looked more closely at Accutane lawsuits because it is clear that juries are not happy with Accutane after hearing all of the evidence. Some of the cases have already gone to trial and have resulted in significant judgments. He sued Roche Pharmaceuticals for failing to warn him of the possible side effects of Accutane. This case has been reversed on appeal but the point this jury and others have made is clear: to say the least, mistakes were made in the marketing and labeling of Accutane.
The first case studies to indicate a possible connection between isotretinoin and IBD were published in the s, and a few others have appeared since then. More recent studies have questioned the conclusions of those prior studies, but some researchers still point to a link between Accutane and IBD.
Despite having no clear evidence of a causal link, plaintiffs allege that drug companies should have done more to warn them of the risks involved with taking their prescription drugs. Hoffmann-La Roche has also been implicated in numerous lawsuits regarding birth defects. The company paid out millions to families who suffered due to birth defects allegedly caused by Accutane.
In they took the drug off the market, partly due to lawsuit costs. Today, the FDA requires pregnancy-related risks to be listed on isotretinoin warning labels, and the iPledge program helps female patients avoid pregnancy during treatment for severe acne. However, if your child was exposed to Accutane, or if you were not fully informed of the birth defect risks of isotretinoin while pregnant, you may be eligible for compensation. According to a number of Accutane case reports and literature reviews, patients taking isotretinoin may experience serious side effects including mood swings and suicidal thoughts, with a possibility of self-harm.
In fact, the iPledge Program provides both patient and provider information highlighting the mental health risks associated with the drug.
Confusingly, some studies actually show a decrease in depressive symptoms after Accutane treatment. Most researchers attribute the conflicting information to a population subset with a predisposition to the possible negative mental health effects of isotretinoin. Your doctor should discuss all the risks of Accutane with you and evaluate your mood during each visit of your treatment period.
If your doctor fails to inform you of this risk, you may be able to seek legal recourse if you experience mental health side effects. As of , there are two major groups of Accutane-related lawsuits. One group was assigned to the U.
No class action lawsuits against Accutane have been filed. Most Accutane lawsuits were handled in the state court system of New Jersey.
Some of the 5, cases filed in NJ courts went to trial, while many others were dismissed after years of litigation. In July an appeals court reinstated more than 2, lawsuits, giving plaintiffs another chance to make their case. More than 16 million people were prescribed Accutane over a year period, and thousands of people have suffered health issues related to the popular medication.
Accutane has caused so many serious side effects that Roche Pharmaceuticals was forced to stop production of the drug in the United States in June of because of the millions of dollars in damages the company had to pay to former users of the drug.
Generic forms of the drug are still manufactured by various companies, but they are only prescribed under very strict circumstances and supervision.
There are also claims that Accutane was prescribed in doses that were too high when lower doses would have been just as effective.
There are hundreds of lawsuits against Roche Pharmaceuticals currently pending. If you or someone you know has suffered serious harm due to Accutane use, you could be entitled to compensation. A monetary settlement could help with excessive medical costs, lost wages, and any other harms and losses you have suffered, including pain and anguish. Money will not make up for all that you have been through, but it can serve as acknowledgement that you suffered an injustice.
It also provides drug manufacturers with the necessary incentive to report the potential dangers of their products. If you have suffered serious health effects as the result of taking Accutane the name brand medication, not a generic alternative , you may be entitled to damages.
0コメント