IBD Caused by Roche Acne Drug Accutane

Accutane Side Effects: Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Millions of people around the world suffer from severe cases of acne, which is a condition that attacks the face and the neck. This unsightly condition not only harms the self esteem of those who suffer from it, but it also leaves someone with acne in a state of pain and discomfort. As a result of the prevalence of acne, several pharmaceutical companies began to formulate medications designed to treat this condition aggressively.

One of those companies, Roche AG, eventually formulated a drug known as Accutane. Accutane was seen initially as a highly promising medication that seemed to be quite effective in its fight against acne. Unfortunately, after some years on the market, reports of serious Accutane side effects began to surface. One of those Accutane side effects is known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD. Below you’ll find an overview of IBD and how you should proceed if you have contracted this condition as a result of using Accutane.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease – A Brief Overview

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a condition that’s known in the medical community as idiopathic. This term means that medical science has not yet determined a root cause for the development of this condition. Basically, IBD begins because of some unknown trigger in the body that activates the immune system.

This activation of the immune system leads to an inflammation of the intestinal tract. Unlike other, more common inflammations of this area of the body, IBD persists for long periods of time and can be extremely painful. Physically, the inner walls of the intestines become swollen and turn red, much like any sore or injury that occurs on the outside of the body.

Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

IBD presents relatively specific symptoms as the inner wall of the intestines becomes inflamed and swollen. Generally, common symptoms of IBD include:

• Abdominal cramps
• General abdominal pain and discomfort
• Diarrhea which can be bloody
• Fever
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Uncontrolled and severe urges to complete a bowel movement
• Anemia

In addition to the symptoms directly associated with IBD, other complications can arise if the condition persists and is not treated. The most common example of a secondary condition caused by IBD is arthritis.

Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The treatment of IBD can involve several steps. Generally, the first step requires the use of several different medications that are designed to reverse the inflammatory process that’s proceeding and persisting within the intestines. Doctors will generally start with a relatively benign medication before moving onto powerful antibiotic prescriptions if the inflammation is not curbed initially.

If medications are not allowing the patient to progress beyond the symptoms mentioned above, it’s possible that the patient will have to undergo some sort of surgery in an attempt to correct the problem directly. These surgeries can involve procedures that are as invasive as removing the portion of the intestine that is inflamed and putting the remaining portion of the intestine back together. This is not only extremely invasive surgery, but it is also extremely painful and can involve a long recovery process.

Potential Long-Term Problems Associated with IBD

One of the most dangerous long-term problems associated with IBD is that those who have had it during their lifetimes tend to show a much higher risk of ultimately developing intestinal cancer. This is an extremely painful and dangerous condition that must be treated with the utmost in aggression and can involve a high mortality rate. If you have used Accutane and suffered from Accutane side effects that include IBD, you’ll need to be wary of any abdominal discomfort for the rest of your life and get it checked by a doctor immediately.

As mentioned above, one of the most common secondary conditions associated with IBD is arthritis. Arthritis itself is extremely painful, but later in life, those who have suffered from IBD may also face the prospect of the loss of bone density and ultimately severe cases of osteoporosis.

Ultimately, anyone who has suffered from IBD as an Accutane side effect faces years of regular follow-up care to watch closely for the development of the potentially deadly conditions mentioned above and several others. These follow-up care strategies can include scans, colon examinations and other painful and discomforting procedures.

How an Accutane Side Effects Lawyer Can Help

If you have taken Accutane and suffer from Accutane side effects that include IBD, you have suffered an undeserved result from merely wanting to treat acne. As such, you need to take action to protect your legal rights. Contact an experienced Accutane side effects lawyer today to schedule a free initial consultation.