Ulcerative Colitis Caused by Taking Accutane

Accutane Side Effects - Ulcerative Colitis

Roche AG is one of the true giants of the pharmaceutical drug industry, and in 1982 the company obtained approval from the FDA to market, sell and distribute a drug known as Accutane. Accutane was formulated to help millions of people deal with acute forms of acne, which can be a painful condition that leaves behind horrific scarring if it isn’t treated aggressively in certain situations.

Unfortunately for an untold number of people, reports of Accutane side effects eventually began to surface, and many of these Accutane side effects were not only dangerous but deadly. One of the most common Accutane side effects to surface was a condition known as ulcerative colitis. Below you’ll find information regarding the nature of ulcerative colitis, the symptoms of this condition, the treatment for ulcerative colitis, the potential long-term risks posed by this condition and finally how you should proceed if you or someone you love has been harmed and you need the help of an experienced Accutane side effects lawyer.

The Nature of Ulcerative Colitis

The Accutane side effect known as ulcerative colitis is an otherwise relatively rare condition that attacks the lining of the rectum and the colon. When this condition strikes, it leads to inflammation that kills the cells that generally line the colon and protect it from dangerous objects and toxins.

When these cells are killed, ulcers tend to form in their place as a result of this ongoing inflammation. When the ulcers form, they eventually begin to bleed and to produce puss as any infection would. As a result of the presence of these ulcers, this condition can be extremely painful and can lead to patients enduring long-term battles with diarrhea and the need to discharge the colon frequently.

Accutane and Ulcerative Colitis

The symptoms of ulcerative colitis are somewhat similar to the symptoms experienced by those who suffer from other common Accutane side effects including Crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. Ulcerative colitis symptoms include:

• Rectal bleeding
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Anemia
• Loss of appetite
• Joint pain
• Lack of nutrients being absorbed in the body
• Skin lesions

Some, but not all patients who suffer from ulcerative colitis have other symptoms that include bloody diarrhea, fevers, nausea and abdominal pain.

Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

As is the case with the other common Accutane side effects mentioned above, the normal course of treatment for ulcerative colitis usually begins with strong medications. These medications include anti-inflammatory prescriptions, steroids for those who do not respond positively to anti-inflammatory drugs and medications intended to boost the immune system in an effort to help the body naturally fight this condition.

What’s perhaps most troubling for patients of ulcerative colitis is that estimates indicate that almost half of them will ultimately require surgery to deal with this condition. Surgery for ulcerative colitis can be extremely invasive and painful for the patient, and the initial procedure is usually one that removes the colon and rectum.

Following the removal of the colon and rectum, patients will generally need additional surgeries to construct an alternate path for waste to exit the body through the intestine and out a small hole in the abdomen or a procedure known as an ileoanal anastomosis, where doctors attempt to basically reconstruct the path provided by the colon and the rectum to allow for the natural flow of waste through the body without having to use the abdominal pathway method previously mentioned.

Potential Long-Term Problems with Ulcerative Colitis

In addition to the obvious pain and suffering detailed above, ulcerative colitis is an Accutane side effect that can lead to long-term problems. These problems are also serious and can include:

• Arthritis
• Eye inflammation
• Osteoporosis
• Liver disease

Each and every one of these long-term results of ulcerative colitis brings pain, suffering, discomfort and even tangible health risks to any patient who suffers from them, and estimates have also indicated that almost 10 percent of those who have had ulcerative colitis will develop some form of colon cancer later on in life.

Accutane Lawyer | Accutane Attorney

Clearly, ulcerative colitis is an Accutane side effect that leads to an enormous amount of pain and suffering for anyone who contracts it. No one who agrees to use medication for the treatment of acne would envision the possibility of having their colons and rectums removed or facing other long-term and dangerous health problems.

As a result of all of these reports of Accutane side effects, the drug was pulled from the market in 2009. However, Roche AG claimed that this decision was made because of increased competition from generic drugs even though the company paid millions of dollars in settlements and judgments to people who suffered from Accutane side effects. If you or someone you love has suffered as a result of using this medication, you need to contact an Accutane side effects lawyer immediately to schedule a free initial consultation.