Accutane Side Effects Lawsuit Attorney
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Accutane Side Effects Lawsuit Attorney
Hoffman-La Roche’s Accutane is used to treat nodular acne. It is usually advised after other acne medicines or antibiotics fail to show any effect. However, the drug has severe temporary and permanent side effects that cause serious health problems. In October 2010, the FDA made an appeal to the people not to buy Accutane on the Internet. It asked users of the drug to look for prescriber and pharmacist certification and properly read the safe use documentations before buying the same. A number of common and rare side effects of the drug were also mentioned in the warning. The FDA has been receiving several reports linking Accutane to suicide attempts and harmful effects on fetus since 2007.Health Problems Posed by Accutane Side Effects
Common Accutane side effects observed in users include higher Vitamin A toxicity, severe acne flare, skin and lip dryness and cracking, allergies, cuticles infection, dryness and irritation in eyes, reduced tolerance to contact lenses, increased liver enzymes, permanent thin skin and hair, and back pain. A study conducted in Mexico found patients using the drug suffering from raised blood glucose level and erectile dysfunction. Accutane in rare cases is found to have caused impaired night vision, cataracts, inflammatory bowel disease, weight loss, edema, and skeletal hyperostosis. Hair loss, degenerative disc disease, and bone disease are some of the permanent side effects of the drug.
Cardiovascular Side Effects Lawsuit
There are reports of young men suffering from symptomatic heart palpitations within three to four weeks of taking Accutane. The drug also causes vascular thrombotic disease, inflammation of blood vessel, heart stroke, and
irregular heartbeat that often crosses 100 beats per minute.
Endocrine or Metabolic Disorders
Accutane side effects can cause alterations in the sugar level and rise in triglyceride level in the blood. Decrease in high-density lipoprotein levels and serum cholesterol and emergence of latent autoimmune diabetes in human body is also linked to the drug.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects Lawsuit
There are numerous reports blaming Accutane for inflammatory bowel disease and colitis in users. Inflammation of the pancreas with abdominal pain, bleeding in the gums, esophageal ulceration, inflammation of the ileum, and nausea are common among Accutane users. Many of these people also complain about loss of taste.
Hematologic Disorders
Anemia, increase in red blood cell sedimentation rate, abnormal lowering of the white blood cells, decrease in platelets, neutropenia, and reports of agranulocytosis are hematologic side effects found in Accutane users.
Musculoskeletal Problems
Accutane can cause skeletal hyperostosis, decrease in bone mineral density, calcification in tendons and ligaments, premature epiphyseal closure, back pain, muscle pain, and joint pain. There are also reports of chest pain, arthritis, tendonitis, and bone abnormalities in many of the Accutane users.
Neurological Side Effects
In many cases, the drug is linked to drowsiness, headache, insomnia, abnormal skin sensation, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and cerebral tumor in young patients. There is one instance where the Accutane user was diagnosed with cerebral ischemia. Life-threatening areflexic tetraparesis is also caused by this drug. Many patients had to be put on ventilator support after using the drug, as they experienced intense lethargy, nose bleeding, cough, joint pains, and influenza-like symptoms.
Depression and Psychiatric Problems
Aggressive behavior, violent mindset, depression, and emotional instability in young people are also attributed to Accutane use. Since the 1980s, research reports have been suggesting a possible relationship between the drug and psychological disorders. A study in 2006 demonstrated that suicidal ideation and depression occurred in patients receiving the drug for acne treatment.
Respiratory Problems
As the drug shuts down the oil glands in the body, its drying side effects may lead to bronchospasms, respiratory infection, and exacerbation of preexisting asthma.
Side Effects on Skin and Appendages
Accutane is also linked to acne fulminans, hormonal imbalance leading to hair loss, dry lips, mouth, skin, and nose, appearance of yellow nodules on the eyelids and neck, flushing, fragility of skin, unusual skin color changes, and urticaria in patients. Isotretinoin in the drug prevents proper functioning of collagenase enzyme. It leads to formation of abnormally large scars and keloids.
Accutane Eye side effects
A number of ocular side effects are associated with Accutane. Common side effects of the drug on eye include cataracts, dryness and irritation in eyes, conjunctivitis, eyelid inflammation, cornea inflammation, photophobia, and visual disturbances. Corneal opacities, decreased night vision, transient myopia, and blurred vision are some of the serious side effects of the drug. Accutane also alters function and structure of meibomian gland leading to destabilization of tear-film.
Accutane Stunted Growth Side Effects
According to the FDA medication guide for Accutane, the drug affects the growth of teenagers. Several studies have linked the drug to premature epiphyseal closure in young acne patients. As it stops long bone growths, teenagers using it likely to suffers from growth problems. Many in their late teens reportedly had decelerating growth and gray zone problem after using Accutane.
Accutane Birth Defects Lawsuit
Isotretinoin, the prime component of Accutane, is a teratogen. It enhances the risk of birth defects if one takes the drug during pregnancy. It can cause hearing and visual impairment, malformed earlobes, and mental retardation in the newborn. The FDA has placed the drug in Pregnancy Category X and ADEC Category X, which prohibits use during pregnancy. In the United States, about 160 babies born with various birth defects and several miscarriages reported between 1982 and 2003 are attributed to Accutane use by pregnant women.
Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Accutane manufacturers are facing around 425 cases filed in the court linking the drug to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in users. In the recent past, three judgments resulted in multi-million dollar compensation for patients.
Other Adverse Effects
Research and medical reports also link the drug to cholesterol problems, abnormal blood sugar, decrease in platelet counts, and white cells in the urine. Accutane can cause hepatitis and liver function problems. Many teenagers using it show hypersensitivity side effects, such as allergic reactions, systemic hypersensitivity, and various anaphylactic reactions.
Accutane Side Effect Lawsuits
More than 3,100 lawsuits have been filed against Accutane side effects in the New Jersey Superior Court, Atlantic City. In 2004, a Florida court certified a collective litigation for all Accutane plaintiffs, who had approached federal courts throughout the country. More than $45 million in compensation has been awarded to people suffering from serious health problems due to Accutane side effects. This includes $25 million in damages awarded to an Alabama man Andrew McCarrell in 2010. The victim lost his colon because of Accutane side effects. Earlier this year a New Jersey court ordered $2 million to compensate a woman Gillian Gaghan who developed ulcerative colitis in 1998 after using Accutane. Another Accutane lawsuit trial in New Jersey is set for May 2011. The court will decide on the appeal against a $10.5 million verdict favoring Kamie Kendall, who was forced to remove her colon due to Accutane side effects.