BOWEL DISEASE AND ACCUTANE
For years, Accutane (generic: iSotretinoin) was being prescribed as a “drug of choice” for such diverse conditions as cancer and acne. Although approved by the FDA, a flood of lawsuits and verdicts in favor of victims aggregating in the tens of millions of dollars, caused the manufacturer Roche Holding AG to issue a recall alert on June 26, 2009. These lawsuits maintained that the drug was directly related to bowel disease.
The Philadelphia drug injury lawyers at Pomerantz Perlberger & Lewis have long taken on prescription drug companies for the harm caused by victims who were taking them for their prescribed purposes only to find that they were being harmed, sometimes fatally. Settlements and verdicts have been reached against these giant corporations all the while asserting that their drugs were safe.
What kind of signature diseases and conditions are known to be associated with the use of Accutane? Most commonly successful claims have been maintained for plaintiffs who suffered drug-induced ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s Disease and other inflammatory bowel disorders. Although these conditions can be treated successfully in cases of mild or moderate disease, they are, in advanced form, life-threatening. Other related side effects that may be actionable include birth or growth defects, bone and muscle loss, central nervous and cardiovascular diseases, pancreatitis, lupus and thyroid disorders.
