Accutane
Accutane is a prescription drug used to treat severe forms of acne that do not respond well to topical treatments or other drug regimens. Acne strikes virtually everyone at some point in their lives, so there is an enormous market for drugs like Accutane. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1982, but by 1998 the FDA started to advise doctors of potentially dangerous suicidal depression in patients who took Accutane. Regardless, Accutane remains one of the most prescribed drugs in America.
According to a report in USA Today, there have been 66 suicides and 1,373 incidents of severe psychiatric disturbances as of December 2000. Although the packaging for Accutane warned of a potential link between the drug and depression, it was not until 1999 that the packaging reflected the potentially suicidal nature of this condition.
Furthermore, Accutane is well known to cause severe birth defects. So potent is this drug that women of childbearing age are usually prescribed birth control in conjunction with Accutane to reduce the likelihood of conceiving a severely disabled child. Women who take Accutane are often counseled to wait a year before trying to conceive a child in order to reduce the risk of any amount of risk that a small amount of the drug remains in their system.
Accutane Side Effects
Accutane is one of the most potent and dangerous prescription drugs on the market today. It is designed to treat embarrassing and potentially disfiguring chronic acne by eliminating excess oil production that clogs pores.
Unfortunately, the drug is so potent that women who take it must also use two forms of birth control. Tragically, even with this precaution, the drug can stay in their systems long after treatment and can potentially cause permanent damage to unborn babies.
Accutane News
While Accutane is a noted anti-acne drug, it is also known to cause terrible mental and physical problems in a broad cross section of patients who take it. In one instance, a 15 year-old student pilot crashed his training aircraft into a building in Tampa, Florida in 2002. His family alleged that the acute psychosis brought on by Accutane usage and resulting disassociation from reality contributed to this tragedy. Accutane is also suspected to be directly involved with the suicide of Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak's son hours before his prom in the year 2000.
The most widely publicized criticism stems from Accutane use among women of childbearing age. Accutane is widely recognized for allegedly causing severe birth defects in some of the children of women who took Accutane. Studies of children born between 1982 and 2003 show that 160 babies born to these women suffered severe birth defects. Although doctors mandate women must take birth control while on the drug, there have been no sufficient tests to study how long the drug remains in the system.
If you believe you suffer from the after effects of Accutane treatment, you need to contact a lawyer immediately. You may be able to collect damages based on your suffering. Severe consequences such as birth defects and psychological troubles can impact one's life forever. Do not hesitate to discuss your case with an experienced and caring lawyer who can advise you on the legal action you can take to obtain justice.
Other Defective Drug Topics
- Accutane
- Actavis
- ACE Inhibitors
- Ambien
- Anesthetic Creams
- Aranesp
- Aredia
- Avandia
- Bard Avaulta Mesh
- Bayer Diabetes Care Contour Test Strips
- Botox
- Byetta
- Carbamazepine
- Cefepime
- Celebrex
- Cialis
- Cipro
- Children's Cough and Cold Medication
- Colchicine
- Crestor
- Cytotec
- Depakote
- Dietary Supplements
- Digitek
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