Acutane Related Legal Claims

It recent years it has come to light that there were a lot of undisclosed side effects related to the use of this acne prevention product.

Warnings about Accutane

Accutane was introduced to the market in about 1982.  It was thought of as a miracle cure for teenage acne.  Clearly there were significant warnings as to pregnancy.  Girls had to be tested, and were not prescribed Accutane if they were pregnant, and were given warnings as to the potential side effects if they became pregnant while using Accutane. Birth defects were noted, among other problems.

Side Effects of Accutane

In the ensuing years, more side effects were noted, such as depression, and suicides.  Finally in about 2009, Accutane was pulled from the market.  It was thought that it was pulled because of the growing number of lawsuits that were being lost by the maker, Hoffman LaRoche.

Doctors prescribing for mild cases of acne

In about 2002, the generic form of this drug came into use, and Hoffman LaRoche’s market share has been dropping steadily ever since.  Although Accutane was designed for severe cases of acne, and scar forming and disfiguring nodular acne, many doctors were prescribing it for mild cases of acne.  This is in spite of the fact that it’s FDA approval was for the most severe form of acne.

Accutane linked to gastrointestinal disorders

Recently it has become known that Accutane has been linked to a number of gastrointestinal disorders.  These include, but are not limited to, ulcerative colitis (a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and Crohn’s Disease.  There are a number of other serious health problems associated with the use of this drug.

Inadequate warnings lead to serious health problems

As noted, there have in recent years been a number of lawsuits filed against the maker of Accutane.  In general the theory against the maker is the inadequate warnings that were given to the user, and/or the doctor that prescribed the medication.  Some of the more serious health problems linked to Accutane, aside from birth defects, and depression (often leading to suicide) were the gastrointestinal problems.  People have had to have portions of their colon removed, and/or their intestines.  They have had to live with a colostomy bag for the rest of their lives.

Consult Mr. Morrell if you or a loved one has experienced the harmful effects related to Accutane

Juries have been very generous in the awards, and it is not unusual to see verdicts into the millions of dollars.  There are legal defenses to be sure.  There are statute of limitations issues as well.