The prescription acne medication Accutane®, the brand name of Isotretinoin, has been linked to severe side effects, including, among others, skin reactions, such as the Stevens-Johnson Syndorome, that may be serious enough to cause hospitalization, disability and even death; severe birth defects, including mental retardation and death; and psychological side effects, including depression and suicidal ideation.

Recently, Accutane® has also been linked to an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – a group of conditions, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, that occur in the colon and the large intestine. Symptoms of IBD include pain, cramping, diarrhea, jaundice, weight loss and bleeding, as well as chronically red and swollen intestines. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease that will affect a patient throughout life, and will often necessitate serious surgery, including the removal of the patient’s colon. Crohn's disease generally tends to involve the entire bowel wall, whereas ulcerative colitis affects only the lining of the bowel. Testing for IBD is characterized by screening of the colon, including a biopsy. The American Cancer Society also recommends periodic follow-up tests, such as a colonoscopy, due to the high correlation between ulcerative colitis and colon cancer.

These catastrophic side effects have led to numerous lawsuits. To date, Accutane® has been named in more than 5,000 lawsuits. Recently, several plaintiffs in Accutane® IBD lawsuits have won significant jury awards. In June 2009, Roche Laboratories decided to remove Accutane® from the market, citing loss of market share. However, the company also acknowledged that it was incurring increasing costs because of the Accutane® litigation. Accutane is still being sold generically as isotretinoin and also under the names of Amnesteem, Claravis and Sotret.

If you or your loved one have taken Accutane or other isotretinoin-containing drugs and suffered side effects, please contact the lawyers of The Ferraro Law Firm at 1-800-275-3332 or via email for a Free Case Evaluation.

Our offices are conveniently located for clients in Miami, Florida,Washington DC and New York City, NY. We also serve clients nationwide and regularly travel to our clients’ homes and offices.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

• FDA – Drug Details
• Mayo Clinic - Isotretinoin Drug Information
• FDA - Concerns Regarding Accutane (isotretinoin)
• FDA Warning: Don’t Buy Accutane Over the Internet
• Information for Healthcare Professionals: Isotretinoin (marketed as Accutane)
• USA Today: Drugmaker rebuffed call to monitor users