Took accutane in mid 90’s and diagnosed with Crohn’s disease late 90’s. since then 2 operations, multiple ER visits.

Hi Team Has any one engaged a Australian law firm for victims? I can see few people talking about it but no mention of firms??? please help as i suffer from taking roaccutane.

I have been diagnosed with Bipolar Manic Depressive Dissorder. I was prescribed Accutane while serving in the military for severe cystic acne. I remember the major who prescribed this to me as stating “I’m going to place you on a treatment of accutane” this should clear up the acne. He never stated the possibility nor did the pharmacist of the possible phychiatric sideaffects. My life is a constant battle. Ever since taking Accutane, I have been plagued with numerous battles of depression, thoughts of suicide, experimented with several types of medication and have been hospitalized on three separate occasions. I would give anything to not have this mental crutch looming over my life. To me, a mental disorder is worse than having a limb removed. I told my mother the other day that if I have another episode(mental break down) I will have to check out. They took my life from me only to increase their net worth. These pharmaceudical giants have only one thing in mind, get a drug on the market as quickly as possible, make a few billion and pay the law suits on down the road. Oh, I almost for got, buy tons of shares in the phychiatric pharmaceudicals such as depakote, seraquil and lithium because these are going to be in dire need once their drug Accutane reaches its full potential. Just curious out of the 16million people world wide that have been prescribed accutane, how many people were diagnosed with having bipolar disease.

Accutane did not help my skin, it made it worse – was taken off mid-course due to serious medical complications (including, but not limited to, visual disturbances, dehydration, heart palpitations…) Now I get hard, cystic, painful, itchy acne – re-occuring. I’ve been highly susceptible to panic attacks since the medication. I’ve had digestive issues resulting in abnormal BM’s – hard, small pellets until recently (probably due to many years of improving health through diet as my digestive issues are one of the reasons I strived to learn more about nutrition and health and eventually became a dietitian). I’ve also experienced mild back pain, lower sacral pain, and inflammation in various parts of my body from time to time. Lately I’ve been feeling very sad. Could these recurring issues still be due to a drug I took over 10 years ago?

There are no words to describe the pain, suffering and years lost due to ulcerative colitis. I took roaccutane at the age of 16 iAustralia. There is no support, no class actions and this hopelessness is unbearable. I lost my teenage years, my college years, relationships and the understanding from my own family. I cannot afford private insurance to cover my hospital costs. I am being spat out into a public system to face another decade of invasive dehumanising treatments. This pain I cannot bare anymore. Where is justice? To all those wanting flawless skin, the price you may pay may well be your dreams, your love, your hope, your life.

I took Roaccutane in 1991 for the 3 month course….al the usual things Dry Skin, Bleeding Nose..etc etc……It worked and got rid of the Acne on my shoulders …I was working in a Mechanic work shop I was 20 – 21 at the time…….2001 Diagnosed with Chrohns and it is getting worse. No one in my family has it. I just happened to Google the 2 together and cannot believe that there is a connection. Chrohns may not be Cancer but it can lead into it be a pre curser. I cannot find anyone in Sydney (lawyer) who will look at this….

My son took Accutane in 2007 for a few months as a senior in high school. Several months later, he developed his first episode of PANCREATITIS and has had 19 hospitalizations (episodes) since in the past four years with no known cause. He has been tested by the best and they conclude now that he has autoimmune pancreatitis, treated with prednisone, so far unsuccessfully. Does anyone know of a connection between Accutane and PANCREATITIS.

Hi I’m also from Perth, Australia. I was on roaccutaine for about a total of 12 months through my later years of high school and was taken off it by my doctor after I suffered from rectal bleeding for about 9 months. Being too ashamed that I was bleeding, it took me a while to come forward. After a liver function test it was the best action to hault taking the drug and a colonoscopy was to follow. I was diagnosed with Chron’s Disease. I’m one of the lucky ones that haven’t had any operations yet. It is clear that the Roaccutane is the cause of this IBS. Heed the warnings of this forum. Compensation is in order!

Hi I’m from Perth Australia.. I have chrones disease as a result of taken roaccutaine, I felt it rip my insides apart and take ova my mind.. I just thought it waz only me till I meet a friend who took this medication and now has chrones disease. It waz weird we both had the same intuition and strongly felt this waz the acne cure that cleared our skin, but has cursed us for Eva.. I bet it would be in the tens of thousand in Australia that haven’t put to and to together. No one would have taken this path is they new the consqunce.. I believe this company has destroyed my life and many others.. I’d like to think the media should let the victims know the truth and is the Australian government responsible for letting these life destroying drugs into our country. Duity of care , just greed.. Shame on you puppet Julia gulliard. Our freek of a so called president..

I have taken 2 full treatments of Roaccutane for cystic acne and now couldn’t really care less about living or dying,i have always blamed taking the drug depression is an understetement.

I went on Roaccutone as it is known in Australia when i was between the ages of 14-15 i can’t specifically remember the age it was around that time, it cleared up my acne well, but with a cost. I am 19 years old I now have very very red irratable flakey,freckley and sensitive skin which i never had before I took the medication. My diet is pretty much flawless which is pretty sad while i watch my mates go out and experience a normal teenagehood, I haveto watch what i eat, I don’t drink as much as them and Im always getting hot flushes when i am in public so i can’t even enjoy nights out, even though I have a great sense of humour and im a pretty popular guy this drug has fucked me up. It is very hard for me to sustain any job as i have left school because I couldn’t cope with the physical flushing and mental problems, I tried my hardest but I just couldn’t stick it out. My family are now in the process of kicking me out of home because they think that despite everything i have suffered I should just “get over it”. They don’t realise that once you have bad side effects and it ruins your skin forever, you haveto make it your life to fix your skin and eat well otherwise you will have discomfort and probably be humilaited in public.

Does anyone know if there are any class actions occurring in Australia? I have recently been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and am certain it was caused by Roaccutane.

i went on accutane when i was 22, because i had always had SEVERE cystic acne, on my face, and especially my back…i dealt with it, tried every prescription cream (even one i had to keep in the fridge that burned like hell when i put it on), and every pill besides accutane since i was 15, and the ONLY thing that worked was for me to go to the dermatologist and get an injection directly into the cystic pimple (it would clear up about 24 hours after the injection…i have NO idea what was in it, but i BEGGED my derma to let me take a few injections home). without the injection, i had cystic pimples that would last OVER a year, ON MY FACE. i made it through highschool, and college, with this disfigurement, and my mother, despite having taken accutane herself, would not allow me to take it when i was under 18, and i didnt have insurance that would cover it until i graduated college at 22 and started wrking. About 4 months into my job, my boss sent me home because the cystic pimple i had gotten in the middle of my forehead (from wearing a headband and playing basketball) was SO BAD, she couldn’t look at me, and said it looked too painful. I immediately went onto Accutane. I got the disclosed side effects (chapped lips, chafing and irritated skin, depression, suicidal thoughts [though i had also just learned my girlfriend of 4 years had been cheating on me…which may have contributed to my suicidal and homicidal thoughts], etc.) i was on it through some of the winter months so the “drying” side-effects were definitely exaggerated; but i lasted 4 of my 6 month presription (had my blood tested every month), when in February of 2003, i woke up in the middle of the night with the worst pain on the side of my back ive ever experienced. Luckily, a buddy was crashing on my couch and basically carried me to his car and drove me to the hospital. KIDNEY STONE. i passed it in 2 days, came off the Acutane the next day (2 months before my script was supposed to end), and have NEVER gotten a SINGLE pimple since…and im telling you, my acne was BAD (so was my moms…and she took acutane…which is why i was SO PISSED she wouldnt let me take it). I have not had a single problem since, besides 4 desicated discs in my spine from the 7 car acidents ive been in (not related to ANY drugs…never mind accutane). So i dont understand all these people having their colons removed, and developing IBS, NOR do i understand these people who have to do 2 courses, when 4/6ths of my course CURED ME from the worst cystc acne anyone has ever seen (my boss sent me home from work for a ZIT!!!!). And now, as the managing partner of a PLaintiff’s litigation firm, trying to get my wife pregnant…MY BIGGEST FEAR: my kid will inherit my acne, and accutane wont be available. As a Plaintiff’s lawyer for as long as ive been doing it, i can tell you UNEQUIVICOBLY), accutane is probably responsible for 2% of the cases they are suing over…people WANT someone to blame for their misfortune, and a multi-billion dollar pharma co., with a greedy lawyer whispering in your ear…starts to sound like the OBVIOUS EXPLANATION…id be the entire accutane causes IBS and Crohn’s concept was inveted by a lawyer…not a doctor. as a mater of fact…im gonna sart a class action against that “restless leg syndrome” medication…just for the fact that i think its dumb, and that they invented the edication…then invented the syndrome…to those of you blaming the miracle cure for acne for every health issue you can tink of (so you shit 6 times a day…eat better foods), cut it out…because i want my kid to have the same chance at a normal life i got…

I agree with James, brian.. Just shut it when you don’t understand the pain and torture others have gone through.. You are acting all professional and involved with medical industry. But doesn’t make you right in anyway. For your information, NO ONE, ever warned me about long term side effects, only short term. And how are we meant to know that we are given CHEMOTHERAPY tablets to get rid of acne. You really think someone would risk their health if they really knew that this tablet wasn’t really made for acne?

“Comment by Brian on 8 July 2010: This is the reason people should critically review the medications and procedures their doctors prescribe for them. We can blame the makers of this drug all day but the bottom line is that any drug has the potential to do harm. I work in the healthcare industry and my philosophy about drugs has always been to consider how bad my problem requiring the medication is and how long the drug has been on the market for the age group prescribed. For example, Lipitor is for 50 somethings and any side-effects should show up within 30 – 40 years if the drug has been out that long because that is the typical life-span. Further, if I’m prescribed this same drug in my teens or twenties, I have to consider that I am probably going to have to live with some detrimental health consequences later on since this medication has never been tested for this extended life-span. People need to wake up to the reality that we are ulitmately responsible for our own health. I’m just glad that drug companies are now required to list out all the side-effects of a drug during television commercials. My sympathy to those who have been affected by this drug and I hope that you receive a reasonable compensation for your injury before the lawyers and the “compensatory damages” put Roche out of business.” Thanks for the lecture, Brian. But until you’ve lived through the pain and humiliation of Ulcerative Colitis (as I have) or Crohn’s, or had your entire colon removed and worn a colostomy bag, all because of pharmaceutical negligence, you should probably STFU.

I took accutane in 2001 for 6-12 months, 4 years later I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (CNS issue). No family history of the MS disease, anyone with more information on MS & Accutane please contact me.

I’m 47 and was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondolitis at the age of 21. I took Accutane when I was 18. AS is in the same family as Colitis, so when I heard about the claims, I looked for more information. AS is very rare and 90% of the people who get it are men, so there is a good chance Accutane triggered it. I have been on several medications for over 25 years and now I have bleeding ulcers from the medications, as well as intense daily pain.

I was on accutane for about 7 months and now I have bowel and stomach problems

I took Accutane when I was 40 I am 67 now and need to use the john about 12 times a day. I plan around it daily It steals my time and makes me unpredictable/unreliable if i gets any worse i will be forced to use the A word

I had Roaccutane prescribed to me in the mid 80’s by a skin specialist and was just told to keep out of the sun. Nothing said about mental health problems. I am now in my 40’s and have suffered mental illness ever since taking Roaccutane. Bipolar disorder, and Chronic depression, Manic episodes and psychotic episodes. Didn’t link it all up until recently. No family history of mental illness and it has made my life hell. Lucky to still be alive, Have had many times of homelessness and failed relationships due to my mental health. I was a healthy teen with acne and was given this to take by a professional and have paid severely. Why is this happening?? Can anyone help me?

I have had severe acne since I was nine years old, and was put on Accutane when I was around twelve, I had the normal side effects; dry mouth, chapped lips, and dry skin, but after a few months on the drug I noticed that my fore arms had a very painful rash, so my mom took me off Accutane. Since then I have developed problems with bleeding from my rectum, although it isn’t severe, it is certainly scary! I am also tired a lot, and have had people ask me if I have MONO because I sleep so much. I realize that my minor problems may be associated with other things, but there are a lot of symptoms I have that are similar, though minor to symptoms listed here. I’m not sure what to do, but I will be watching to make sure they don’t get worse!!

I took Accutane for 9 months when I was approximately 42yrs old. I am now 56. I was extremely depressed because of my adult onset of cystic acne . I didn’t even want to look in the mirror. I went to my doctor and as a last resort, she prescribed Accutane. Prior to that I was getting injections in the cyst sites. I was told of birth defects so I got my “tubes tied”. After treatment I was very happy with the skin results. However, I started and still do get terrible bouts of IBS and leg pain. The doctors can not figure out why. I was never aware of this lawsuit and I was not aware of these side effects. I am saddened that the medication could have done this to me. I have depression also and have been on anti-depressants for 10 years. I now know I am not crazy and these things happening to me are real!!

hey, im brad and im 17 and im takeing Accutane and i just saw the commercial on the TV for this, and im kinda scared out of my mind. what should i do????????

I took accutane when I was in high school and for the past 15 years my bowls have been a mess. I can’t eat dinner without having to have a BM within 5 minutes! Its really affected my job and social life! Not sure if it wa worth the time and money I’ve lost over the years!

I took Accutane for a few months oh about 13 yrs ago, then I was off it when the acne cleared. Then the acne returned, I was put on ‘generic’ accutane, during both treatments I had all the ‘normal’ side effects. After the second treatment I started getting SEVERE pain the center of my brain, it got worse the longer I was on it, one day it hurt so bad I decided to stop the accutane, the pains dispated after a while, but who knows what irreversable damage was caused. Now 26, I have not had a solid bowl movement in YEARS, I didn’t know why, I have to visit the bathroom at least 6 times just in the early morning, before the day starts, accompanied by lots of cramping. Rectal bleeding isn’t uncommon. Every once in a while I get this wierd ‘twitch’ or sensation, from my brain where the pain was, sometimes I feel like I’m going to have a seisure or something. Hooray “modern medicine” (laughing inside)

Who was this guy’s Lawyer who won $26 million?? I want to hire him, today. I’ve paid dearly for using Accutane, I lost my entire colon last summer. Someone please let me know….Thanks!

Accutane is a miracle drug. As far as side effects, what normal teenager doesn’t have some depression. This web site and claims made have no scientific evidence to link this drug with any of these symptoms. Saying I had a hangnail in 2005 doesn’t mean Accutane caused it. I agree with Julie’s comments.

I took accutane back in 2005. I didn’t have a severe case of acne, but I wanted it gone because I had been on all types of other medications and nothing was helping. I was on the 6 month dosage, but was released from taking it after 4 months because it cleared up so quickly with such a heavy dose. My face has been clear ever since, but I am pretty sure I am having some IBS. I haven’t been to the doctor because I thought it might just be from not eating right, but looking at other side effects, I have more than one. I plan on going to the doctor this week and seeing what is going on. Could I still be affected from accutane eventhough it has been 5 years?

For those of you that Accutane helped- that is great. For those of you that have obvious problems from it- I wish you the best and hope that you are compensated- But I do agee with another poster- Studies on the drugs that we consume are not long term… We all take a risk when we consume any medication- as we never know how OUR body may interact with it. All we have to go off are the studies that have been done. The point is that doctors weren’t even sure WHY Accutane helped acne- just as a lot of doctors aren’t sure WHY Humira helps RA patients when it was originally used for Cancer patients- We all take a risk- and unfortunately the side effects are devastating- but does that mean that the drug company is to blame? I wish everyone the best of luck- but please don’t reach for a connection if it really isn’t there- then you are not helping the case of the persons who truly do need compensation.

Also, cystic acne is pretty much an autoimmune disease. Your body is overly attacking hair follicles and minor zits- and produced an abnormal amount of white blood cells (which form pus) to take care of it. People who already have one autoimmune disease- tend to have others. I was diagnosed with RA last year (and am 24). Do I attempt to link this to my Accutne use or do I accept the fact that I am prone to autoimmune diseases (although no one i my immediate family had cystic acne or RA)? Persons in my immediate family did have psoriasis, multiple chemical sensitivities, firbromyalgia, and severe allergies- which pretty much have an autoimmune basis. I have also been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder- which occured around the same time that my cystic acne did. Wow. Is it odd that persons in there teens and 20’s go through periods of anxiety? Half the people I know are on some sort of psychotropic medication- Accutane or not. From reading these comments- I do believe there are some very clear cut cases where obviously some persons had a sever reaction from this medication (the cases I’m referring to would be the ones who consumed the medication- and 6 months later had IBS or some form- and these persons families had no history of this illness). Now- you took it when you were 20, now you are 40 and you have difficult bowels… I want to know what percentage of 40 year olds have bowel problems.

I have been reading over these comments and for some reason feel I should add my two cents (although no one is responding to any post or questions from others). First off, I would like to say that when I took Accutane (and I believe there were actually 3 different brands and I took all of them over the course of the two separate times I was on the medication), my doctors were very informative and the process to even get the medication was like getting into Harvard. Now I know that most likely in the 80’s and 90’s this wasn’t the case, but in 2004 and 2008 when I was on it for 6 months a piece (I understood you couldn’t be on it longer- and I also understood you could not take it more than twice in your life)- it was very difficult to get the medication. You had to take blood tests every month (pregnancy- for girls, and cholesterol levels) and had to answer questions over the phone or online before they would fill your meds. All the side effects were gone over wih me- and the doctors told me- you will be constipated, have dry skin, your nose will bleed, etc…and I had those side effects each time. I do not have the horrible cystic acne I did have- although I still have very small cysts that pop up on occasion- it is better than the huge eggs I woluld get on my face, chest, and buttocks.

I took Acutane when I was about 15. I went through depression, severe dry skin, and blisters on my mouth. Now I’m in my 20’s and it has me wondering if some things are linked to this drug. I now have issues similar to what was posted here. What can I do to move forward if it is related?

I was skeptical of accutane because of childbirth defects (even for men). Once I cleared that, I started using it. In the first week, i started to read the reviews. I could not continue it after see the horrible review of join pains for life. I stopped it immediatly knowing that I can live with acnes but not with joint pains. My acnes got better any how now ( I am using proactive). At one point my skin became super clean. I think this med needs to given very cautiosly. Equally are to blame are the doctors who so easily give accutane if your acne is not cured by other meds. This is one horrible med if you see its side affects.

I took Accutane in the 1980’s for severe cystic acne, i was on this for about 6 months the first time. i had nose bleeding, dry lips, rectal bleeding and stomach pain. It did clear up my acne eventually, however about 5 years later I went back on the drug because of breaking out. The second round was for about 3 months. I now have what is diagnosed as Chrones Disease and have fought this awterrible disease for the past 8 years or so. Dailey medicine is 6 pills of Asacol in order to control the diarrhea. I also have terrible joint pain, and also am on anti-depression medicine. I still have Acne after all this B.S!

All drugs have severie side effects in one patient or another, all side effects are listed on this drug before you take it, even penicillin which is widely used across america has major bad effects. ALL PEOPLE you must relise all drugs effect diffrent people diffrently. When u took this drug it was because your acne was awfull and you were just ready to make it stop. Sueing drug manufactures is not going to make you better, its just going to make more drug companies affried to sell us things that will make us better. If your intirelly afriad of drugs side effects or not ready to deal with reprocusions you should revaluwate why you are taking drugs and if it is worth it. I took acututane, my acne never coming back exept one or two zits everyone once in a while. Iam sorry for all those who had a bad experience or who are trying to pin point acutane as there major problem. Those of us who were hurt by this drug should try to removate our passion against this drug and try to warn others of drugs and there long term side effects. No one should have an excuss as it being acutanes fault with it warning of causing birth defects people you should have relized this stuff was serious and my have side effects, Good luck i hope those sueing acutane get what they want thouygh i dont see how loads of money will help if the side effects were all that traumitizing.

I took Accutane when i was in high school. I had to stop taking it about half way through the treatment because It dried my throat out so badly that I was coughing up blood. I then resumed treatment. I also became half deaf in one of my ears because of accutane. The drug cleared my skin up for about one month and then went back to how it originally was. About six years after my Accutane treatment I started having bowel problems with severe pain. I’ve sought the help of several gastroenteroligists (even one of the best in the country) and they could not figure out what was wrong besides some form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. I live with not knowing when or where I will have abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constiation. I sympothize with anyone having to deal with medical problems because of wanting clear skin.

I have severe undiagnosed joint pain. I’ve been to a rheumatologist who couldnt find anything. I took accutane when I was around 15 years old and started getting the pain in my early 20s. Accutane is the only drug I’ve ever taken (besides antibiotics), and I’m in my 30s now. I’ll take the zits back TYVM, my joints suck now!

My son Michael (35 years old) took two doses of Accutane for severe acne 20 years ago. He received 1/2 dose at first because he is a dwarf. The acne cleared but recurred so he was give another 1/2 dose over the course of a year or so (this was so long ago I don’t remember the exact time frame). He has had minor bowel problems but this past year his problems became severe. He had a colonoscopy that showed tumors on the colon. He underwent surgery and the tumors were found to be malignant cancer. He is now undergoing chemotherapy and has been contacted to take part in a class action suit. This scares me to death, and makes me, his mother, feel terrible about his taking Accutane in the first place.

I was prescribed Accutane in my 20’s around the late 90’s. I had severe acne and was on the drug for 6 months. My acne problem went away and I thought nothing more of it. But, this past weekend I had lunch with my sister, and as always, I had to go to the restroom multiple times in a row. She told me that she had heard there was an Accutane lawsuit. So, I looked online and I could not believe what I was reading. I had the answer finally. I have had a history of problems (after taking Accutane) and I could not understand why. Around 1998 or so I started have bowel problems. And in 1999 I had my gall bladder removed. In 2001 I had a miscarrage. It was like one thing after another. The biggest issue was the bowel problem. I would eat and 5 minutes later I was in the restroom. And I would go at least 5 times in a row and would experience severe abdominal pain as well. I never had any issus growing up with my bowels. I could not understand why I was having this problem. I am not one to go to the doctor very much, so I just dealt with it. I did start loosing weight around 2004. I could not figure out why so I went to the doctor and I told him about my bowel issues and he did a colon exam and said that my colon was irritated and inflammed. My concern at the time was colon cancer. Since that wasn’t the case, I just didn’t go back to get anything checked out further. The bowel problem has ruled my life. I am a field tech and travel daily for my job. It is sad because I know where every bathroom is on the road. I dread going anywhere with family or friends. I really wish I would have never used Accutane. I had no idea a drug could cause a life time of problems.

You know what link there is between accutane and colitis? People who are young (13-21) tend to have acne, and colitis normally presents in people in their late teens. Nothing more. If you want to help scam the companies who are also trying to cure/treat our disease (colitis), please participate in this lawsuit.

In Europe they called it RoAccutane a few years ago – when I took it. I think that was about 12-15 years ago.I am 35 yo now, so I took it when I was in my 20s. I first took it for 6 months as prescribed. My skin cleared completely, no acne at all after the treatment. I had most of the side effects mentioned: dry skin, very depressed, crying most of the time for no reason, my lips were bleeding when talking/smiling because of extreme dryness(it was very painful!), I had to put cream on them constantly, dry eyes-I was using eye drops all day long. I also lost a lot of hair during the treatment and it got very fine. At that time I did not know it was from the Roaccutane, this was not mentioned in the prospect (the hair problems). In about a year my acne was back, not as bad though. I took Roaccutane for another 6 months even though -as far as I remember- this was not recommended (to repeat the treatment so soon). I took this drug for the acne I had on my back/shoulders/upper arms. After repeating the treatment all was fine for about a year. After that, the acne was back reall-really bad for about 2-3 years. After that it was just coming and going, I never got rid of it completely, but it is not as bad as it was 10-15 years ago. What I know is that now I have joint pain, most of my joints hurt especially my knees. I also have rectal bleeding sometimes, but I don’t know if it’s associated with the Roaccutane treatment. What does annoy me the most is that my hair is very fine now, and my skin is very sensitive. I don’t know how to explain this, but my skin “hurts” when touched or easily pinched, especially before and after my periods. When I read the comments on this website, I recognize many symptoms I have, though not as bad. I will go to the doctor if they get worse. It is very hard to say if all these things are side effects of taking Roaccutane 15 years ago. I’ll keep an eye on what they say about this drug.

I guess using Accutane is a case using a chainsaw when you just need a scalpel. Acne should be treated at the source. All I have is acne on my face… no need to seriously alter my entire body’s functioning and risking such a horrible thing as Crohn’s. I’ll stick with soap and time. Thanks.

I was given Accutane when I was in high school (early 80’s) as a “precautionary measure” because my big brother had such bad cystic acne. Within a couple of years, my abdominal symptoms were so horrible that I would even black out in pain. I was diagnosed with both IBS and ulcerative colitis. I spent my teen years and early 20’s near restrooms, taking colitis medicines, and bleeding in toilets. I also developed horrible joint problems then frequent urination. In 2008, I has to have my right kidney removed, and the doctors said it had been dead for about 20 years. The timeline is very clear that Accutane caused these issues. I want to be compensated for my horrific pain and suffering, hideous bouts of depression, and general loss of a fulfilling life.

This is the reason people should critically review the medications and procedures their doctors prescribe for them. We can blame the makers of this drug all day but the bottom line is that any drug has the potential to do harm. I work in the healthcare industry and my philosophy about drugs has always been to consider how bad my problem requiring the medication is and how long the drug has been on the market for the age group prescribed. For example, Lipitor is for 50 somethings and any side-effects should show up within 30 – 40 years if the drug has been out that long because that is the typical life-span. Further, if I’m prescribed this same drug in my teens or twenties, I have to consider that I am probably going to have to live with some detrimental health consequences later on since this medication has never been tested for this extended life-span. People need to wake up to the reality that we are ulitmately responsible for our own health. I’m just glad that drug companies are now required to list out all the side-effects of a drug during television commercials. My sympathy to those who have been affected by this drug and I hope that you receive a reasonable compensation for your injury before the lawyers and the “compensatory damages” put Roche out of business.

I took accutane in the late ’80s when I was 28 and again in the ’90s, about 4 months each time. I had the usual side effects — dry lips, etc., — but haven’t noticed anything else I would attribute to the drug. I now very rarely have cystic acne but had to use proactive for years to .stay clear. However, prior to my second round of accutane I was prescribed the antibiotic minocyline. (Doctors are required to try other treatments before prescribing accutane.) That made me so dizzy and sick I couldn’t get out of bed, but it took several weeks to figure out the drug was the cause. I called the doctor and described the problems and they told me to keep taking it. I saw another doctor about my symptoms, told her I was taking minocycline, but she didn’t see it as a problem and sent me for a round of expensive tests for Lupus and other problems. I finally stopped taking it and was fine, but I’ve since heard of others who took this drug for their skin and had lasting problems with dizziness. I mention this because, like accutane, most people don’t have any problem with minocycline, but for the person who does, the problems can be severe. Maybe the answer is better screening and monitoring?

Took Accutane for 6-8 months when I was 15. Began to suffer from extreme dry skin, chapped/cracked lips, and a skin rash/itch on my forearms…this continues to this day. I have been to numerous dermos and docs and NONE can figure out the skin rash. The rest they tell me to hydrate more. Then this past year my colon ruptured. No warning. By the time all the tests were run and I was rushed to ER, I was about to go septic. I am 29. I am extremly healthy, eat fiber, don’t drink/smoke. My gastro doc is one of the best in the state and statated numerous times “someone of your age and health SHOULD NOT have had this happen. It’s extremly rare and we don’t know what caused the rupture.” After reading account after account of these stories, I am seriously wondering if this was caused by the accutane. It worries me about my future health and life. I know that when I was 15, the ONLY serious side effect that was stressed was the birth defects. My parents would NOT have put me on a medicine that would lead to severe bowl issues in my future…all for the sake of a clear face. I’m angry, upset, and this needs to be figured out by the pharm. company.

I took accutane as a teenager. I encountered hallucinations, lack of coordination, depression and sucidial thougts. Since then I have had 5 surgeries, constant pain and suffering. Countless visits to doctors. I have seen general surgeons to gastro doctors. I am tired of suffering. Dam you ACCUTANE!!!!

I took accutane years ago as a teenager, back in the 80’s. I have had a lot of problems these last few years with kidney stones and last year had my gall bladder removed and have a lot of problems with my bowels. I was wondering if what is goind on with accutane leaves long lasting affects that could be affecting me now in my older years?

My son took Accutane for severe cystic acne at the age of 14. Within 3 months, he couldn’t walk. He experienced severe muscle aches and also pain in his tailbone and hips. I informed the doctor I was taking him off the medication immediately. She said the muscle pain would go away soon after going off the medicine. It never did. I began taking him to Rheumatologists and they told him to take ibuprofen. Didn’t touch the pain. It even hurt him to sneeze. The pain radiating down his arm. The leg aches were unbearable. He would also throw up after eating and had bouts of diarrhea.. But the doctors wouldn’t admit it was related to Accutane. When he moved to another State and had to find a new doctor, the doctors said it was definitely Accutane that cause his genetic make up to change and he was finally diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis and IBD. He now has to take biolgic meds which he injects weekly into his thigh muscle. This keeps him from going into a “flare” which causes his hips to fuse. What a nightmare this has been. It’s time we see an attorney. So if you have muscle pain and joint pain, don’t ignore it. Go to a Rheumatologist. Get xrayed. Don’t give up. The doctors may have missed the diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis.

I took Accutane in my early 20’s I am now in my 40’s. I suffer from IBS to the point there are times that I really don’t want to leave the house. It has gradually gotten worse over time. Depression? Yeah, depressed I can’t lead a normal life and eat out without spending 2 hours in a public restroom. One guys comment above was that he goes to work but he works near a bathroom…everywhere I go, that is the 1st thing I do…look to see where the bathroom is. Did Accutane do this? I wish I knew, because I’d rather have had the pimples than this problem.