Accutane Recall: Crohn's Disease, UC, IBD

JUNE 2009 - Accutane Pulled from the Market

In June of 2009, the makers of Accutane announced that they were pulling the drug from the market in the United States and in 11 other countries. Most believed that the millions of dollars in legal liability had been the main factor in this decision. However, Roche AG stated that the reason for this decision was related to economic concerns, specifically in regards to the growing number of generic equivalents to the drug that had hit the market in recent years.

Whether someone believes the reasoning of Roche AG or not is irrelevant. What is relevant is that Accutane side effects have harmed a large number of people and led to the deaths of others. If you or someone you love has used Accutane and suffered from any Accutane side effects, you need to take action by contacting an Accutane side effects lawyer as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.

Accutane is a drug that's manufactured by Roche AG, a true giant of the pharmaceutical drug industry. Accutane was used for decades by people who wanted help fighting acute forms of acne, which was a problem for some that simply could not be curtailed without the use of powerful medications.

Unfortunately for many people, a large number of reports of Accutane side effects began to emerge, and even though the company cited different reasons than these Accutane side effects, the drug was pulled from the market in June of 2009. Below you'll find an overview of this issue, including the history of Accutane side effects, the most recent Accutane side effects, the legal problems faced by the manufacturers of Accutane and finally how you should proceed if you need help from an Accutane side effects lawyer.

A Brief History of Accutane Side Effects

Accutane was originally approved for marketing, sale and distribution in the United States by the FDA in 1982. For a few years, the drug enjoyed a large degree of success as it penetrated and eventually dominated the market of acne medication. However, by the time the late 1980's rolled around, the first reports of serious Accutane side effects began to surface.

These early Accutane side effects included:

• Severe birth defects
• Psychiatric problems
• Liver problems
• Kidney problems
• Central nervous system damage
• Pancreas problems
• Auto-immune deficiencies
• Cardiovascular issues

All of these Accutane side effects were severe, and perhaps the most noteworthy of the initial Accutane side effects were reports that hundreds of people had experienced psychiatric problems so severe that they eventually committed suicide. Unfortunately, these were not the last reports of Accutane side effects, as more recent problems have arisen.

Severe Side Effects of Accutane

In recent years, reports once again began to surface regarding Accutane side effects, although these conditions were different than the initial reports generated years earlier. These more recent Accutane side effects included:

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Crohn's disease
• Ulcerative colitis

Each of these Accutane side effects is quite severe, and in some cases they can prove to be fatal. It's also noteworthy that the more recent Accutane side effects seemed to have attacked the colon, intestines and the bowels of those who suffered as a result of using this medication.

Legal Problems for Roche and Accutane

As a result of these more recent Accutane side effects, Roche AG began to experience a whole host of legal problems from different directions. First, the FDA stepped in before Accutane was eventually pulled from the market and ordered Roche AG to attach a clear and stern warning to all labels of Accutane that clearly defined the risks of Accutane side effects that had been linked to the drug.

In addition, as many as 5,000 Accutane lawsuits have been filed against Roche AG from around the United States. These lawsuits have led to what's estimated to be more than $30 million in settlements for consumers harmed by this drug, and several enormous verdicts have also been returned for consumers that held Roche AG liable for the injuries they suffered. A few examples appear below:

• $13 million verdict in New Jersey awarded to three Accutane users who had developed inflammatory bowel disease
• $10.5 million verdict to a woman in New Jersey who had developed ulcerative colitis
• $2.62 million verdict to a New Jersey plaintiff who lost his colon and most of his rectum after using Accutane
• $7 million verdict to a Florida plaintiff who developed inflammatory bowel disease after using Accutane

These Accutane settlements and verdicts obviously cast a negative light on Roche AG and signaled the possibility that additional Accutane lawsuits could arise given the high number of people who had used the drug over the years.