Accutane Lawsuit Ulcerative Colitis
Accutane can cause inflammatory bowel disease, which is a gastrointestinal disorder. It refers to two chronic diseases that cause inflammation of the intestines: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Treatment is available for Accutane inflammatory bowel disease, though there is no known cure. Please contact us for the latest Accutane lawsuit ulcerative colitis news and information.
o Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the digestive tract accompanied by ulcers on the lining of the large intestine and rectum. Ulcerative colitis is often the most severe in the rectal area, and causes frequent diarrhea. Some people have reported an immediate onset of symptoms, while others developed ulcerative colitis months or even years after Accutane treatment was stopped.
o Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease most commonly affects the last part of the small intestine (the terminal ileum) and parts of the large intestine. However, it isn’t confined to these areas and it can attack any part of the digestive track. Crohn’s disease causes inflammation that extends far deeper into the layers of the intestine wall and generally involves the entire bowel wall, whereas ulcerative colitis affects the bowel lining.
What is Accutane and how does it work?
Accutane is a prescription for acne. It was created by Hoffmann-La Roche, a United States drug manufacturer. Accutane was introduced in 1982 and has treated over 13 million patients. Accutane was initially prescribed for people with serious acne that did not respond to other treatments, but it has been more frequently prescribed in the last 25 years for less severe acne. This practice has been criticized because it has caused serious side effects, including inflammatory bowel disease. In 2009, Hoffman-La Roche discontinued manufacturing Accutane because of that company’s dwindling market share.
Accutane comes in pill form and is a Vitamin A derivative. It is administered for 15 to 20 weeks and then stopped. Accutane stops acne by affecting the ways it develops. First it dramatically reduces the size of the skin’s oil glands from 25% to over 55%, and even more dramatically reduces the amount of oil the skin produces by about 80%. Accutane also reduces the amount of acne bacteria that lives in skin oil, since it reduces the amount of the skin oil. Third, it reduces the speed at which the skin produces skin cells inside the pore, which helps the pores from becoming clogged. Finally, it has anti-inflammatory properties. Accutane boasts that it achieves partial or complete clearance of acne in about 95% of patients who complete a cycle. However, it has also caused serious health problems which have, in some cases, lead to Accutane inflammatory bowel disease problems.