Defective Drugs Lawyers Fight for Victims of Accutane

Acne is a condition that may seem to many like it’s minor, but that’s simply not the case for the millions of people who suffer from it and face a lifetime of pain, discomfort and disfigurement as a result. Based on the need that arose with the number of acne cases in the United States, several companies formulated medications designed to help fight this condition.

One of the market leaders in terms of acne medication is known as Accutane. Unfortunately for too many people, reports of Accutane side effects eventually began to surface, giving rise to the need for defective drugs lawyers. Below you’ll find information regarding what Accutane is intended to treat, the types of Accutane side effects that were reported, the result of these reports of Accutane side effects and ultimately how you should proceed if you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of using this medication.

Accutane – A Brief Overview

Accutane was manufactured by the pharmaceutical giant Roche, and it was originally approved for use in the United States in 1982. It soon grew prominent in treatments of two specific types of acne, which are described below:

Nodular Acne

Nodular acne is sometimes known as nodule acne, and it features the formation of enormous cysts that penetrate deep into the skin tissue of the patient. The patient will experience months of pain and discomfort as the cysts form what appear to be bumps on the skin and can ultimately destroy the skin tissue it attacks.

Cystic Acne

Cystic acne often occurs at the same time as nodular acne, and like nodular acne it can last for months at a time. It also leaves a patient in pain and discomfort, but unlike nodular acne cystic acne tends to lead to cysts that are filled with white blood cells, dead skin tissue and bacteria. These substances usually combine to form what’s commonly known as puss.

Accutane was formulated to attack these forms of acne by working from the base of the cysts and removing the infections that tend to be the underlying cause of the formation of the visible and painful cysts. Basically, Accutane served as a deep cleanser and disinfectant that killed the acne-causing bacteria before it had a chance to spread and develop.

Accutane Side Effects Reports

Unfortunately, after a few years on the market reports of Accutane side effects began to arise around the United States. Below is a list of these Accutane side effects, all of which are extremely serious and dangerous.

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a painful condition to endure. This disease involves the severe inflammation of the interior wall of the large intestine due to the development of ulcers that attach in this location. Ultimately, ulcerative colitis as an Accutane side effect can lead to permanent damage to the large intestine and create painful diarrhea and other problems with and near the patient’s rectum.

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s Disease is basically a more advanced form of ulcerative colitis. It still features the development of ulcers inside the intestinal wall, but these ulcers are not limited to the wall of the large intestine and can develop almost anywhere in this area of the body. Crohn’s Disease can also lead to permanent damage of the bowel wall and make life miserable for anyone who contracts it.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease can be a difficult condition to handle for many reasons. Basically, inflammatory bowel disease involves severe inflammation of the intestines, and it can occur almost anywhere within this system of the body. The unfortunate results of inflammatory bowel disease include constant and severe pain and discomfort and the need to discharge the bowels with little or even no notice quite often.

Government Reaction to Reports of Accutane Side Effects

Ultimately, the high number of reports of Accutane side effects led to the involvement of the FDA. In 2009, Roche announced that it was initiating a full voluntary recall of Accutane in response to the growing number of Accutane side effects. Even though the company stated that the reason for the recall was because of growing competition from generic equivalents to Accutane, additional reports surfaced that the company had paid out close to $35 million in response to a high number of lawsuits that had been filed against Roche.

How an Accutane Side Effects Lawyer Can Help

If you or someone you love has been harmed by Accutane side effects, you need to take action to protect your legal rights. Contact the Accutane side effects lawyers at Phillips & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation, as the firm has many years of experience in holding large drug companies accountable for the harm they have caused.