Accutane Lawsuit

Accutane, — the FDA-approved medication for severe acne— has been linked to very serious side effects, including gastrointestinal injuries. In June 2009, Roche Holding AG (Roche), the manufacturer of Accutane, said it was no longer making the drug, due in large part to the increasing costs of defending Accutane lawsuits filed by injured consumers.

If you have been treated with Accutane and been diagnosed with irritable bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis, or other Accutane side effects, protect your right to a legal remedy. Contact Chaffin Luhana’s Accutane personal injury lawyers in Pittsburgh and schedule a no-cost consultation.

What is Accutane?

Originally, Accutane (Isotretinoin) was marketed and developed as a chemotherapy drug for certain types of cancer because of its ability to kill rapidly dividing cells. Oral isotretinoin was then found effective in combating severe or cystic acne and went on the market for dermatological use in 1982. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved Accutane only for the treatment of the most severe forms of acne. Physicians should only administer Accutane after other topical medications and antibiotics have been attempted. Despite these indications, Accutane became Roche’s second highest selling drug, with estimated annual sales of 1.2 billion and over one million prescriptions written each year in 80 different countries. Since Accutane’s patent expired in 2002, generic versions of the medication have infiltrated the market under several different names, including Amnesteem, Claravis and Sotret.

Accutane Side Effects

In 2004, Accutane was named by the FDA as one of the five most dangerous prescription drugs on the market. Then, on June 26, 2009, Roche announced a nationwide recall of Accutane after admitting that (at that time) they have awarded over $33 million in lawsuits related to Accutane bowel disease claims. The news corroborates what several scientific studies have found to be potentially dangerous gastrointestinal side effects of Accutane. These side effects include:

  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Rectal Bleeding
  • Abdominal Pain
  • Diarrhea

Accutane has further been linked to physical, psychological and gestational side effects. Some of these Accutane side effects include:

  • Severe depression/suicidal thoughts
  • Birth defects
  • Severe skin dryness
  • Hair loss

These side effects were thought by the FDA to be so severe that they necessitated an Accutane FDA Warning on the agency’s website regarding the risks of purchasing Accutane over the internet. Accutane has also been recalled in 11 other countries including Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Portugal, and Norway.

Accutane Lawsuits

Currently, there are over 1,000 defective drug claims against the manufacturers of Accutane with over 400 Accutane bowel injury lawsuits pending. Most recently, on February 16, 2010, an Alabama man was awarded $25.16 million by a New Jersey jury that concluded Roche’s failure to warn of the side effects of Accutane was responsible for his IBD, and ultimately the loss of his colon. The verdict was the largest awarded out of six Accutane injury trials. In total, Roche must pay $56 million to these victims. Accutane’s manufacturer may soon face a class action lawsuit and have to offer settlements to thousands of similar claims.

An Accutane Lawyer to Obtain a Remedy

At Chaffin Luhana, we strive to obtain a proper legal remedy for each of our clients. This remedy includes potential financial compensation for damages incurred including:

  • Medical bills for the diagnosis/treatment of Accutane side effects
  • Permanent disability and/or disfigurement
  • Loss of past or future income
  • Emotional suffering and/or loss of consortium

Our Accutane lawyers are experience and trial-ready. We encourage individuals and families who have been harmed by Accutane side effects to contact our offices today, toll-free, at 888-480-1123, or via email.