Prior to being pulled from the market in 2009, Accutane was a popular medication, prescribed by doctors to treat patients with severe acne. Introduced in the 1980s, Accutane was manufactured by Roche Pharmaceuticals and prescribed to more than 13 million people.
Today the medication is linked to the development of serious side effects, including gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis. The onset of these adverse reactions has prompted many patients to utilize an
Accutane lawyer to file a lawsuit against the Roche Pharmaceuticals to seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering.
Following treatment with Accutane, a number of patients have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the digestive tract. Patients with ulcerative colitis experience swelling and ulcers, typically in the linking of the colon and rectum. Symptoms of the condition may include abdominal pain, rectal pain, rectal bleeding, severe diarrhea, fever and a feeling of urgency or an inability to have a bowel movement, despite the urge to do so.
In March 2010, a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology noted a strong association between previous exposure to isotretinoin (the generic version of Accutane) and the development of ulcerative colitis. The study found that the use of Accutane may nearly quadruple a patient's risk of developing ulcerative colitis. The risk of developing ulcerative colitis was most prominent in patients who used the medication for more than two months.
Once a patient is diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a doctor will recommend a course of treatment, which often includes medications prescribed to control symptoms of the condition. In 25 to 40 percent of all cases, surgery involving the removal of the colon is required.
