Side effects of
Accutane, a popular acne medication that is
available as a generic, have been linked to increased risk of serious and
debilitating bowel problems, such as inflammatory bowel disease and accutane
ulcerative colitis.The ulcerative colitis
symptoms can come and go over time. It is an intermittent disease, which
typically has periods of execrated symptoms and periods of time where a user is
relatively free of symptoms after treatment to go into remission. Ulcerative
colitis can have a devastating impact on an individual’s quality of life.
Unfortunately, the manufacturers failed to adequately warn about the potential ulcerative colitis accutane side
effects. As a result, users diagnosed with this
condition may be entitled to compensation through an Accutane ulcerative colitis lawsuit.
Ulcerative colitis affects the inner lining of the colon and
rectum, causing them to become inflamed. There is no cure for either disease.
However medication and surgery are options which can be effective in treating
these ailments.Many former users of the
acne medication are participating in the accutane
lawsuit over ulcerative colitis. Complaints allege
that the drug maker failed to adequately research their medication or warn
about the risk of Accutane colitis. Information contained on the drug’s warning
label has been vague and confusing, leaving consumers and physicians unclear on
the extent of the risk of the impact ulcerative colitis from Accutane may have
on an individual for the rest of their life.
Juries in NJ and FL ordered
Roche to pay at least $75 million in damages; however, appeals courts later
threw out two of the verdicts, including a 2007 award of $7 million to a
Florida man who blamed the drug for his IBD and $25 million to a New Jersey man
who blamed the drug for his IBD as well. In November 2008, a New Jersey jury
ordered Roche to pay $13 million to three plaintiffs. The prior April, another
NJ jury awarded $10.5 million to a woman who blamed the drug for her ulcerative
colitis. In May 2007, a NJ trial resulted in an award of $2.62 million to a
patient requiring removal of his colon and most of his rectum after taking
Accutane.