Accutane was originally only prescribed to patients with severe acne that did not respond to other forms of acne treatments. However, over the past 25 years Accutane has gained in popularity and is being prescribed not only more frequently, but also for less severe acne. This practice is controversial because Accutane increases a patient’s risk of developing serious side effects such as Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Accutane Symptoms: Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease of the intestines that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, causing a wide variety of symptoms. Crohn’s disease primarily causes abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody), vomiting, or weight loss, but may also cause complications outside of the gastrointestinal tract such as skin rashes, arthritis, inflammation of the eye, tiredness, and lack of concentration.

Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune disease, in which the body’s immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract, causing inflammation; it is classified as a type of inflammatory bowel disease. There has been evidence of a genetic link to Crohn’s disease, putting individuals with siblings afflicted with the disease at higher risk. It is understood to have a large environmental component as evidenced by the higher number of cases in western industrialized nations. Males and females are equally affected. Smokers are three times more likely to develop Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease affects between 400,000 and 600,000 people in North America. Crohn’s disease tends to present initially in the teens and twenties, with another peak incidence in the fifties to seventies, although the disease can occur at any age.

There is no known pharmaceutical or surgical cure for Crohn’s disease. Treatment options are restricted to controlling symptoms, maintaining remission and preventing relapse.

Speak to an Accutane Lawyer

If you took Accutane and developed Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we encourage you to contact an Accutane litigation attorney at our law firm immediately. It may be too late to recover from the debilitating effects of Accutane, but an experienced product liability attorney can assist you in a legal action against the makers of Accutane, Roche Laboratories. You are not alone. Join other Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) victims and their families in fighting for their legal rights.

Please fill out our free legal evaluation form on the far right and we will call or e-mail you back within 24 hours. Please keep in mind that certain states have a statute of limitations that limits the amount of time you have to file an Accutane lawsuit or seek legal action. Contact our law firm in Houston, Texas immediately so we may explain the rights and options available to you and your family.