Accutane Lawsuits Lawyer & Attorneys
Accutane Lawsuits & Claims
The makers of Accutane stopped selling the drug in June 2009 stating increased competition of generics and the cost of defending itself from other lawsuits. This was the sixth largest Accutane lawsuit and so far the total amount of awards to Accutane users is $56 million.
If you believe you suffer from the after effects of Accutane treatment, and are seeking information on anAccutane Lawsuit you need to contact our Accutane lawyers immediately. You may be able to collect from a class action lawsuit.
Severe consequences such as birth defects and psychological troubles can impact one's life forever. Do not hesitate to discuss your Accutane lawsuit case with an experienced and caring Accutane lawyer who can advise you on the legal action you can take to obtain justice.
What is 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.
Accutane and the iPledge Program.
Accutane has been linked in government and private studies to a host of serious side effects, including birth defects, mental health problems, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and other medical conditions. In regards to women and their pregnancies the manufacturer of the drug came up with what is called the iPledge Program.
In it, the manufacturer warns women who want to use the drug of the dangers of birth defects and tells them the risks of a miscarriage are high. Then, the women must agree to use two forms of birth control while taking the drug and warned not to get pregnant for at least one month after ending their treatment program.
The iPledge program also includes a lengthy discourse about the drug and its effects and a list of requirements that must be followed before the drug can be taken. It all reads like a legal document that appears to be designed to protect the manufacturer from lawsuits.
Statistics on Accutane Use
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. This action may have lead to some Accutane lawsuits.
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
Severe side effects of Accutane may include:
- Ulcerative colitis - A form of inflammatory bowel disease, this is a chronic inflammation of the digestive tract accompanied by ulcers on the lining of the large intestine and rectum.
- Crohn's Disease - a chronic illness that affects the digestive tract.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Severe depression
- Suicidal thoughts
- Birth defects
- Liver damage, with symptoms of nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, and jaundice Allergic reaction to isotretinoin, resulting in liver disease and other health complications
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 and potential lawsuits 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.
Other Defective Drug Topics
- Accutane
- Actavis
- Actos
- 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
- Dostinex
- Ephedra
- Epogen
- Femara
- Fen Phen
- Fentanyl Patches
- Fluorquinolone
- Fosamax
- Gadolinium
- Gardasil
- Heparin
- Januvia
- Ketek
- Kugel Mesh Patch
- Lamisil
- Leukine
- Levitra
- Meridia
- Mesothelioma Lawyer
- Metabolife
- Mifeprex
- Mirapex
- Mobic
- Multaq
- OB Tape
- Ortho Evra
- Paxil Lawsuit
- Phenergan
- Prempro
- Procrit
- Propecia
- Proton Pump Inhibitors
- Provigil
- Prozac
- Quinine
- Raptiva
- Reglan
