Accutane Lawyers Answer Frequently Asked Questions
The acne medication Accutane can cause serious and permanent side effects, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Attorneys of Tracey Law Firm offer the following information to help you learn more about the connection between Accutane and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Why was Accutane recalled from the market?
What is inflammatory bowel disease?
What are the symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
What is the difference between Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis?
What is Accutane?
Accutane is a prescription medication that is used to treat severe cases of acne. Accutane, also called isotretinoin, does have generic forms such as: Ambesteem, Claravis and Soltret among others. It has long been linked to birth defects, but more recently has been linked to inflammatory bowel disease.
Why was Accutane recalled from the market?
Roche notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it was withdrawing Accutane after a "reevaluation" of its product lines showed it faced serious challenges from generic competitors, company officials said in a statement. "In addition, Roche has been faced with high costs from personal-injury lawsuits that the company continues to defend vigorously," according to the statement. About 13 million people have taken Accutane since it went on the market in 1982. The medication was Roche's second-biggest selling drug before the patent expired in 2002 and rivals started selling generic versions.
What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. Chronic means IBD won't go away. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most common forms of IBD. Left untreated, IBD can cause life-threatening symptoms. There is no cure, but treatments can help manage the symptoms of IBD.
What are the symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
Both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the stools, severe weight loss, fever, fatigue and symptoms outside of the intestinal tract, such as joint pain, skin problems, loss of bone density, mouth sores, kidney stones and other problems. Arthritis is also associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Diagnosis is generally by colonoscopy with biopsy of pathological lesions.
Major types of IBD.
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. It is a disease of the intestine, specifically the large intestine or colon, that includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores, in the colon. Because of the name, IBD is often confused with irritable bowel syndrome ("IBS"), a troublesome, but much less serious, condition. Ulcerative colitis is an intermittent disease, with periods of exacerbated symptoms, and periods that are relatively symptom-free. Although the symptoms of ulcerative colitis can sometimes diminish on their own, the disease usually requires treatment to go into remission.
Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory disease of the intestines that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus, causing a wide variety of symptoms. It primarily causes abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody), vomiting, or weight loss, but may also cause complications outside of the gastrointestinal tract such as skin rashes, arthritis, inflammation of the eye, tiredness, and lack of concentration. It can lead to several mechanical complications within the intestines, including obstruction, fistulae, and abscesses. Obstruction typically occurs from strictures or adhesions which narrow the lumen, blocking the passage of the intestinal contents. Abscesses are walled off collections of infection, which can occur in the abdomen or in the perianal area in Crohn's disease sufferers.
What is the difference between Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis?
The location of the inflammation is the main difference between the two conditions. Crohn's disease can occur anywhere in the intestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. Ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon, or large intestine.
How is IBD treated?
It is important for people with IBD to eat healthy foods and drink plenty of fluids. They should work with a doctor or a dietitian to come up with an eating plan that's best for their individual situation and symptoms. Medications ranging from over-the-counter remedies to prescription medications may help.
Other types of IBD
Proctitis
Proctitis is an inflammation of the anus and the lining of the rectum, affecting only the last 6 inches of the rectum. It is classified as an Inflammatory Bowel Disease such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Symptoms are ineffectual straining to empty the bowels, diarrhea, rectal bleeding and possible discharge, a feeling of not having adequately emptied the bowels, involuntary spasms and cramping during bowel movements, left-sided abdominal pain, passage of mucus through the rectum, and anorectal pain.
Ileitis
Ileitis is an inflammation of the ileum, a portion of the small intestine. Crohn's ileitis is a type of Crohn's disease affecting the ileum.
Pancolitis
Pancolitis is a type of inflammatory disorder that affects the entire inner lining of the colon. A person with pancolitis is likely to experience abdominal pain, frequent episodes of bloody diarrhea, and chronic fatigue.
Pouchitis
Pouchitis is an inflammatory complication of ileal pouch surgery. Patients with pouchitis typically present with bloody diarrhea, urgency in passing stools, or discomfort while passing stools. The loss of blood and/or dehydration resulting from the frequent stools will frequently result in nausea. In fewer cases, pain can occur with pouchitis. Crohn's disease of the pouch can develop in patients with a pre-operative diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis.
How can a law firm help?
Experienced Accutane lawyers can pursue financial compensation for damages caused by the negligence of the drug maker. If you developed symptoms of IBD after taking Accutane, please contact the defective drug attorneys of Tracey Law Firm by e-mail or call toll free 888-273-1659. From offices in Houston, we represent clients from Texas, the Gulf Coast and throughout the nation.
