Accutane Lawsuit Over Inflamattory Bowel Disease Results in $25M Verdict

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A New Jersey jury has awarded $25.16 million in damages in an Accutane lawsuit, which alleged that the acne drug caused the plaintiff to develop inflammatory bowel disease.

The verdict was handed down this week in a New Jersey Superior Court, following the retrial of a case brought by Andrew McCarrell, 38, of Birmingham, Alabama. McCarrell originally won a $2.62 million award against Roche in 2007, but the company got that verdict overturned and the case was sent back for a retrial.

Roche faces nearly 1,000 lawsuits over Accutane, which has been associated with bowel problems, depression and birth defects. All of the lawsuits include allegations that Roche failed to adequately warn users about potential Accutane side effects. The company has lost all six cases that have gone to trial so far, with verdicts totaling $56 million, according to a report by Bloomberg News. One of those verdicts, with a $7.2 million award, has been overturned by a Florida appeals court.

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McCarrell claimed that he contracted inflammatory bowel disease after taking the drug for acne in 1995. He underwent five surgeries and had his colon removed as a result, the lawsuit claimed. The jury awarded him $25 million for compensatory damages and $159,000 for medical expenses.

Roche has said they will appeal the verdict again, arguing that the drug carried a warning about the risk of inflammatory bowel disease. However, jurors told Bloomberg News after the verdict that the label warnings did not clearly indicate the risk.

Accutane has been used by more than 16 million people worldwide since it was first introduced in the early 1980s as a treatment for severe acne. An Accutane recall was issued by Roche in June 2009, citing the cost of defending Accutane injury suits as a factor in the decision to discontinue the medication in the United States.

Adding to the problems with Accutane, Health Canada issued a warning last week about reports of severe skin reactions, including sometimes fatal reaction known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome from Accutane. At least 66 reports of Accutane skin reactions were identified by Health Canada, including adults and children, with two of the cases resulting in death.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a severe skin reaction that occurs as a side effect of several medications. It is highly debilitating and causes the skin to burn from the inside out, producing blisters, severe rashes and the skin may begin to separate from the body. When the skin lesions affect more than 30% of the body, the condition is referred to as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). Treatment in a hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or Burn Unit is often required, and the conditions can be fatal in many cases.

Tags: Accutane, New Jersey, Personal Injury, Roche, Skin Reactions, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
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101 Comments

Jon
I took Accutane for 3 to 6 months (I’d have to look it up) when I was 14 (or 13, again have to check dates) for severe acne. I experienced extreme dryness of the skin, and bad joint pain which made athletics very difficult. I was warned about both symptoms by my dermatologist. I have, and still have, a very good dermatologist. When I was 16 I started noticing signs of depression and when I was 19 or 20 I had a severe manic episode and was diagnosed bipolar. A few years later I was diagnosed with IBS. I have a few friends who experienced severe mood swings while on the drug. Living with bipolar is, at times, very difficult and I can’t help but wonder if taking Accutane at such an early age caused these problems? The drug worked extremely well and I was warned that it was a powerful drug and while taking it I was monitored closely. I wonder how many users have developed bipolar?
Tim
I have had stomach problems since I was a junior in high school. I could never figure out why it started then. It got so bad that I was hospitalized for nearly a week when I was 18. They could never figure out what caused it and simply labeled it as IBS. Also around the same time I started having problems with my back. I continue to still be plagued by these same problems today at age 32. Except now the conditions have become more problematic. My digestive system is as bad as ever and the discs in my back are deteriorating like a 70 year old man’s. I am also having problems in my knees. These things are not commen for a 32 year old. With the stomach and back pain come small battles with depression. Is Accutane the cause? It sure would make sense. If anyone has any answers, Please Help!
Cory
I took the medicine during the late 90’s and had a lot of bad side effects, massive drying of the skin and lips. I have constant pain in my stomach, but up to this point doctors have not been able to figure out what it is. I also have gotten mulitple yeast infections, which is suprising because I am a dude and clean myself pretty well. Thirdly, I have recurring joint problems in my elbows, shoulders and knees which I have never been able to figure out. I am not sure if these are all linked to Accutane, but all I know is that what I have experienced since taking it sounds very similar to everyone else that had bad experiences. As for the post by Ryan on the 25th of june 2010, how you can proclaim it a miracle drug, having never taken it, is beyond me. Have fun with the mood swings, and other immediate side effects. Try not to assume that drug companies and have your health in mind when they push a drug through testing.
Kevin
I took Acutane around 1985 for 6 months ( I was 19) and it cleared my skin from the cystic acne that I had. I had tried everything else there was at the time and nothing worked. I did not like giving blood once a week but it was worth it. I did have a few of the problems like dry lips while taking the drug but nothing extreme like some of the others here. But around 3 years ago, I started to throw up after a meal about 2 times a month. At first I thought nothing of it but after the 25th! time, I started to worry and have made a doctors appointment to see if I am just the unluckiest person in the world for food poisoning or if there is something else going on. A lot of the meals I ate with other people and they did not get sick. I do not know if it is related at all with me taking accutane 25 years ago but will tell my doctor to see if it is related.
Ryan
I don’t know what is going on here, but it is ridiculous. It is obviously the same person making most of these claims as there are similarities between all the comments and the same problems are repeated over and over in the same format. Stop trying to scare people off accutane, it is a miracle drug. I am going to start taking it in about a week.
Heather W.
I was on Accutane for 7 months. I experienced a majority of the symptoms that the company and the doctor clearly explained to me prior to treatment. I also spent endless hours doing research on my own. I am fine and even when I’m not, my ailments do not lead me back to Accutane. Is anyone even considering that age, poor diet, lack of exercise, an already depressive personality, heredity, unknown environmental factors and lack of education about ones own body factor into these hundreds of medical complaints. The need to blame one for the other is clearly going on in most of the comments. So be proactive and not the victim. Come on, now we have someone commenting on this site who is wondering if her bowels acting up are a result of handling the medication (wearing gloves I’m sure) and never have ingesting it. Do the math. And don’t take my word, I only used it for 7 months, but did I mention that I work for a very successful dermatology office that prescribes Isotretinoin to hundreds of patients a year?? And has been for 17 years. Yes, maybe a handful have discontinued the treatment because it did not suit them. There are also a handful who chose to do a second course of therapy. And there are DOZENS who are happy with the results. I can tell you that the phones are not ringing everyday with patients complaining of an aching back or a hemrhoid and wondering how it is connected to the Accutane they took 10 years ago.
Susan
I took Accutane in the mid-eighties when I was in my 20s. I had the usual dry-skin side effects, but didn’t care because it cleared up my skin and I felt very happy. Now in my late 40s I do have intestinal problems and occasional severe depression, but who knows why. I eat super-healthy foods and exercise a lot, so it’s not due to lifestyle. It could be due to pre-menopause, but now I’m wondering if the Accutane had anything to do with it. I wonder how this can even be proven.
Julie
I am very disappointed at all the negative comments posted here regarding Accutane. What is missing from all these anecdotes is how it has saved many people from the horrible and debilitating effects of acne. I know because I was one of them. A very kind and compassionate dermatologist finally ended my 11 years of acne misery with a 4 month course of Accutane. Of course I had dry lips and dry sensitive skin, that is expected and NOT an adverse effect. Did I get depressed? Absolutely not, in fact quite the opposite. I was ecstatic because finally my face was clearing up. Many people make the inference that Accutane causes depression, but they also lack information regarding how most people who are on accutane has failed all other types of acne therapies, have severe cystic acne, or even have severe scarring and because of that hese people already have an underlying depression even before starting the accutane. Regarding the irritable bowel syndrome, anyone can have bouts of having to go to the bathroom more frequently, abdominal pain… I am not dismissing the true legitimate cases, but also realize that there is no study that shows that Accutane directly causes IBD. In fact the incidences of developing IBD while on accutane is about 1.1%. That’s a 99.9% chance that you will not. Let’s not forget that the birth control efficacy rate is 99.7% and we rely on that without question. Lastly, Accutane is does NOT cure acne. It puts the acne in remission kind of like how chemo does for cancer. So when you hear of people taking multiple courses of accutane, it is not because it didn’t work, but because that was the length of the remission. I took my first course of accutane at 23 and then again at 31. I hope this last course will give me a remission that outlives the course of my acne. If it does not, I will have no problems taking this medication again. It is a wonder drug that has helped out so many people. Please do not dismiss the idea of accutane entirely because you have heard negative things about it. There are so many more positive and happy stories that just don’t get posted on the web
Debi
I have been on accutane twice. I was a bit older in life (early to mid 30’s and tired of dealing with acne and the embarrasment that came with it) – the first time was for 5 months – the second for 4 months. I live with serious stomach problems and like many of you, I have constant bowel issues. I recently found out from my daughter about the lawsuit. All these years I have tried to understand what was causing my stomach/bowel issues. I had a colonoscopy and they could not find a reason for my pain. IBS and Bypolar Disorder is the Dr.’s answer for everything these days. I suffer from constant leg pain and my immune system is low and I get sick very easily as well. I cannot enjoy dining out my fear of the bowel problems I seem to suffer from. I’m not so sure it was a fair trade for looking better. I was never told from my DR.’s about the bowel and/or stomach issues that could be associated with this drug. They did specifically mention the dry mouth, dry eyes, possible joint pain that was associated with it though of which they said all go away within weeks of going off the medication. It is not unusual that people would take drugs knowing there are possible side effects. Unfortunately they want to believe that their probability is in the lower percentile of possibilities. When you see high percentages of people having serious side effects from a drug it is time to take action. The FDA should never have allowed this drug to be on the market let alone stay on the market as long as they did with the increased incidents of depression and suicide rates as high as they were with teens on this medication. Was the research sufficient to justify it’s original FDA approval??!! Any medicines that can cause mongoloid babies, serious birth defects, suicide, and depression should never be approved for children or teens.
debbie
I took accutane in the 80’s. I was told that I had Ibs for many years and then told that I have chrons disease a few years ago.I refused to take their meds and I suffer with the effects of it every day.
Michael
I took Claravis (Accutane) for 8 months, I had all the normal side effects like nose bleeds, dry skin/lips, and i have had no problems ever since
Richard
I took accutane for my acne when I was 20 in 1990 for three months. I experienced bloody noses mulitple times a day going into the third month. At that time I stopped under orders of the doctor. It worked exceptionally well, however, I seem to sweat uncontrollably whenever it is warm an also have gastrointestinal problems. To top it off, i was diagnosed with Testes Cancer in October 2008. Just the other day i heard of this lawsuit and then found hundreds of others with medical problems. I honestly wish the best to everyone who has experienced and is dealing with the side effects of this drug.
james
I TOOK ACCUTANE WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD.IT DRIED MY MOUTH AND EYES OUT.IT DID GET RID OF MY ACNE.THIS WAS IN 1984-1985.THE MEDICINE WAS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR MY PARENTS TO HAVE TO BUY.I HAVE ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO 6-8 BOWEL MOVEMENTS A DAY. I CAN EAT A SMALL PIECE OF BREAD AND HAVE TO HAVE A BOWEL MOVEMENT.ITS VERY AGGREVATING.AT THE AGE OF 20,I HAD TO HAVE MY GAUL BLADDER REMOVED.MY DR SAID I HAVE IBS.I STAY TIRED ALL OF THE TIME,AND HAVE DEVELOPED A MUSCLE DISORDER CALLED MYOPATHY WITH TUBULAR AGGREGATES,IN WHICH IS DEPLETING MY IMUNE SYSTEM.MY MUSCLES AND BONES ACHE ALL OF THE TIME TO THE POINT TO WHERE I CANT STAND TO EVEN MOVE AT TIMES. I DONT RECALL THE DR THAT PRESCRIBED IT TO ME TELL MYSELF OR MY PARENTS ABOUT ANY SIDE EFFECTS EXCEPT FOR THE DRY MOUTH AND EYES.THE DR TOOK A BEFORE PICTURE AND AN AFTER PICTURE.THE MEDICINE DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE AND HELPED RAISE MY SELF ESTEEM DURING HIGH SCHOOL.I SURE COULD DO WITHOUT THE PROBLEMS IM HAVING WITH MY BOWELS AND ESPECIALLY IF ITS CONNECTED TO MY MUSCLE DISORDER.MY DR ALSO TOLD ME MY MUSCLE DISORDER COULD EVEN CAUSE PARALYSIS,IN MY LEGGS AND ARMS. IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IVE BEEN HAVING RECTAL BLEEDING.COLONOSCOPYS HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
Joey
Uhhhh….dude…you’re not supposed to be on accutane for longer than 6 months at a time. How are you on it for 8 months straight?! Get off of it NOW. Your body needs a break in between treatments. Your going to screw up your liver. Seriously. Even 6 months at a time is pushing it.
biron
I took accutane for severe acne problem and it solved the problem because my acne is no more bleeding or swelling but the professor-doctor told me accutane gives you 25% of the chances to have a sick baby. It’s seems to be a dangerous drug, is it?
John
I took accutane four different times in the 80’s and 90’s. I worked great but now in my 40”s i’ve been sick with all types of stomach issues. I have been out of work several different times. Doctor’s gave me alot of pain pills and flora-Q. My bowel movements have been messed up for several years. The emergency room once told me that I have damage in a small part of my colon!
Sheyla
I have a 2006 2.7L Dodge Stratus and since the day I bought it, it had a weird knocking sound to it, and when I took it to the dealership I bought it from, they told me that it was normal for it to sound like that. Now after owning it for almost 4 yrs it shot down on me while driving home from my 3yr old daughters dance recital and won’t start up, and I’m still paying it off. Now I’m stuck fixing it, or paying it off and just letting it sit there, cause I really don’t have the money to put in to it to get fixed,
Trent
This has been almost unbearable to read the comment after comment that are my exact words. I was on accutane for 3-6 months in 2001 for treatment of acne. Around the end of 2003 I noticed a small amount (2 drops) of blood in my increasing stool movements. I was afraid to make a Dr appointment and I figured It couldn’t be that big of thing I was 24yrs old. I finally went to the emergency room after I lost so much blood in a work place porta-potty I had to be helped out and required help just to walk from the truck to the hospital. I have lived that day over in my head for years, I was diognosed with ulcertive colitis, an unexplained and a hopeful at best drug treatment plan, sickness that took everything away from me. My question to the Doctor was if at least I would die from the disease because the symptoms were getting more out of control by the day. I was stuffed full to the gills with my first dose of steriods,prednisone was like gaining all the side effects of roids without any muscles, did I mention they forgot to tell me to take a calcium & vitamin D supplement, did’nt have a clue till bones creeked and crackad. I apolagize about the noval but I don’t discuss my UC w/ anyone any more and I can barely hold back the tears- partly for an answer to why the hell this happened and alot, well lets just say my hands are shaking thinking about my life for last 6yrs in every way imaginable, literally down the toilet. Thanks for the hope, I’ll take it in moderation, but will pray for best. Stay strong UC and Chrons victims, life has to be out there.
Jen
I sound like a lot of you. I have had numerous problems including minor issues with my bowels, joint pain, fatigue, upper respiratory, reproductive organs, and tons of yeast infections. No doctor could figure out a cause or effective treatment for all of my issues. On my own, I Found that I had a huge problem with yeast production and leaky gut syndrome that let the yeast spread to multiple systems. I did a yeast detox diet and took some yeast killing antibiotics. Now, all of my symptoms have gone away. I read that there is a link between acutane and yeast problems. I highly recommend googling candida albicans and reading research by Dr. Crook. The Yeast Connection website/book was great. I feel better than I have since I was a teen on acutane and i’m in my 30’s. It’s worth a try for some you with symptoms that are annoying but not as severe as others. We should all form a support group!
vegan
i used accutane for about 6 months about 15 years ago. i have never experienced ANY of these side effects during or since treatment. AND my skin is still great. no complaints whatsoever. people, you need to eat better and treat your bodies better and you will not develop these issues.
Ashlee
I worked in a pharmacy for 8 years and distributed accutane many times. I have had Crohn’s disease for years and wonder if this is a connection or if the product has to be in your body to cause, damage as there are some drugs that are potent enough to get in the body by touching them.
David
I feel lucky that I have not experienced some of the more extreme side effects since I used Accutane in 1989 for a few months. I do have unexplainable bowel issues (serious irritation after BMs) since 2006, however, and will be contacting an attorney.
Liz
My son took accutane for a few months and it cleared his face great, then he developed horrible stomach issues towards the end of treatment , eventually diagnosed with eosinnophyllic gastroenteritis. He missed all of high school and finised homeschool. He is in second year of college and still fights it. We stopped going to the doctor because they didnt have any help for him other than hydrocodone or steriods. He just tries to manage with diet and rest. It has totally altered his life. He has improved to the point he can attend school, but still has to push through many days of sickness. I would be interested also to know if there is any way to prove it or have recourse. He never was able to work during highschool and can’t handle full work schedule. We have also been concerned what this will do long term when he has to provide for a family and work full time. I hate to think this will continue, but it has.
Mark
I took Accutane for three months in my 20’s. Normal side effects, dry nose, dry lips, and dry skin. It knocked out my ache problem – for good. Mid 40’s, no ache and no side effects – except those with growing older. FYI – my face looks great – no scars (thanks Retinol!) – people think I’m in my early 30’s.
Travis
Same story. Accutane during 8th grade. Diagnosed with chrons disease in 9th grade. Recently, my diagnosis was changed to ulcerative colitis. Thanks, Accutane! A life time of disease for few less zits.
Alina
I am currently on accutane, and I have been for over a year. I had severe acne on my back. My senior year in high school was painful because of it. I cringed everytime I put on my backback or a bra. I hated taking showers and I got all my polos bloody. Accutane has saved me. This process was very very hard. I had high cholesterol and the doctor refused to put me on it for a full year. I went to three different doctors from moving around and ALL of them warned me about the risks of accutane. They are very thourough, but not once had I heard about the colon/bowel issues. Honestly, it freaks me out, but I am not sure I can believe it until I see the statistics. How many people who take accutane develop this disease? and compared to the amount of people who dont take accutane but still get it. I don’t think any one should start pointing fingers until someone does the math because this is only going to cause panic to the people who are on it or have currently taken it. Prove it, please.
Chris
Well, Well. No wonder I have not had a decent bowel movement in years. I took Accutane FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES starting in the early 80’s through the end of that decade. My doctor was a good man and probably did not know the long-term effects. I just wanted to get rid of the awful cystic acne that has disfigured me to this day. I have terrible stomach and bowel problems, and respiratory/allergy problems from the leaky bowel I have probably due to this crap. F-ing bastards need to be put out of business and put in jail.
Michael
I took accutane a few years back for my acne. I took it for about 8 months. For the last four years, i have now had severe depression and multiple suicidal thoughts. I have tried multiple anti depressants, and none seem to work. During my treatment, i also developed HUGE blistering cysts on my chest and shoulders. These continued for years after treatment. My chest is now SEVERELY scarred to the point that i am more than embarrassed to take off my shirt for even my doctors. Also, i have read some of these testimonies saying things about bowel problems, and i have noticed that for the last few years i have been having bowel movements 6 to 8 times a day. Does anyone think this can be caused by the accutane???
Melanie
i took accutane for 8 months and a year later had internal bleeding in my stomach and colon. After a month of tests, I was told it wasn’t Crohn’s Disease even though I have every symptom… later found out they had no explanation for my internal bleeding and swollen stomach and colon. Told me it was IBS from stress from college…… Its now a year and a half later and I still have bleeding and severe pain.
Cara
I have been on accutane (second time) for 6 months. Will it matter after this long if I do one more month?
James
I took Accutane for about 6 months in 1989, during my senior year in high school. Shortly after ending treatment (which cleared up my severe cystic acne), I began having the most frequent and agonizing stomach cramps that kept me doubled over for hours on end. And then the blood in my stool started. I was eventually diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, and spent four years on various treatments, including multiple colonoscopies. I also went through many, many years of severe, and sometimes uncontrollable, mood swings, and was diagnosed four years ago with bipolar disorder. Strangely, I had no idea that Accutane had been removed from the market, or that there were multiple lawsuits going on pertaining to IBS or depression, until my mother read an article and contacted me. I’m now seriously considering contacting a lawyer.
C.J.
I took Accutane for approximately 6 months and several months later there was rectal bleeding , which was linked to Hiatal Hernea,, now I have joint pain in one wrist only .. Im not sure the connection, But I agree with the other comments . I will keep a few pimples then all these side affects
Julie
I took Accutane for 6mth to get rid of my acne which it did a great job of. I recall having IBS much in Jr. High and especially in High School. Severe tiredness. Diagnosed with Ultracitive Colitis when I was 23 then a year later re-diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. I have severe depression at times, joint pain, hair loss, and of course all the pains and problems associated with Crohn’s Disease and the medicines that treat CD. Now almost 29 and my body feels like I’m 50 because of how tired, exhausted I get even while eating right and exercising regularly.
Kathryn
I was given this medication when I was 16 years old to treat acne. I don’t recall having significant problems with it at the time, and was only on it for 3 months, but I have suffered from Crohn’s Disease since I was 18. If there is any connection between this medication and the disease that has ruined my life and something could have been done to stop it, I will be mad as hell. I have lived with pain, and a lot of it all of my adult life, and it looks like I have my acne treatment to thank. I remember being warned over and over again, and having to go on the pill despite the fact that I wasn’t sexually active, but I don’t remember hearing a word about IBD. The fact that they are more than willing to keep a drug to treat a cosmetic problem that causes only minor discomfort on the market, despite the fact that it can cause a lifetime of debilitating illness is very frustrating. Nothing, with the exception of life saving drugs should be allowed on the market if it causes a disease as serious as Crohn’s or UC. I have spent years wondering why the disease struck me, and have done what I can to make the best of my situation. Just now finding out that it may well have been preventable is frustrating. They should have had just as much warning and consultation regarding IBD as they did regarding birth control and the possibility of birth defects caused by the meds.
Brandy
I took Accutane for about 6 months. I had all of the normal side effects and then after my 6 months was up, my skin was absolutely perfect. It is VERY sensitive though. I cannot use any perfumed type of cleansing agent or I break out in a rash. About a year ago I started experiencing gastro-abdominal issues and have since gained about 20 pounds all in the abdominal area. I have nto changed eating habits or anything. I have a lot of issues with my bladder as well that i did not have prior to the medicine. i am scheduled to see a gastrointerologist in the coming weeks to determine what is going on.
carrie
I remember taking acne medication when I was a teen. Then for years I was having horrible stomach pains and doctors couldn’t figure it out. After about 4 years I got kidney stones and then shortly after a colonoscopy was diagnosed with Severe Crohn’s Disease-Colitis. No one in my family has had it and no one can tell me what caused it! I went from about 105 lbs down to 80 lbs my senior year of high school. Those years are supposed to be the best years of you life and I was miserable, fragile, and couldn’t keep any food in me and enduring the pain when I ate was unimaginable… After a year of many different pills, even at one point taking 16 pills a day I now have injections and they hurt very bad and cause joint pain and weight gain.. It’s the strongest thing that I can be on with my severe condition and people with rheumatoid arthritis also take it… This is a serious disease and if acne medicine caused it then atleast that would give closure to the “WHY ME”…
Blake
I took accutane for over a year, 5 years later I was diagnosed will ulcertive colitis. I loke a total or 50 pounds and was have more then 10 bowl movements a day. It had been a very depressing and awful experience for me.
Rhonda
My son is 16 and was on Accutane for 6 weeks. We noticed he would just fall asleep suddenly and was tired all the time. My son fell asleep in the bathtub for two hours in the middle of the night and almost drowned. Our home was flooded, there were no side effects listed for causing patients to become very sleepy. My son is no longer using this drug.
Nicole
I’m incredibly disturbed. I took accutane for five months, suffered the usual side effects- dry mouth, bloody noses, aching joints, etc. Stuck it out as this was the only thing that helped with my severe acne. This was in my 20s. I’d have to really think about the year.. after a couple of years it no longer worked and I broke out worse than before. I never put the two together. I got really sick, had to have my gallbladder removed as it just stopped working. I have had inflammation of my intestines before and since. I have multiple other problems that my doctor can’t really pinpoint. I’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, raynaud’s and neuropathy. I have completely fallen apart and it affects my every day living- I got a job working from home to help with all my sick time. Is there seriously a connection????? On a different note- I tried proactiv and have been blemish free ever since. Wish I had known about proactiv way back when.
Karen
My daughter took this drug and complained of her back hurting her. Later we realized her spine had twisted pulling up one hip. The drug does state bone problems may occur. We contacted a lawyer who poo pooed the idea.
Lisa
My son went on Accutane when he was 14 years old and a freshman in High School. He was 6′ and 220lbs. He did 5 months of Accutane. He has since lost 75lbs and was just diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. We have no family history of IBD or autoimmune diseases. This has just broken my heart!
cynthia
I took accutane in my 20″s. In my 40″s,I began having what was diagnosed as IBS. I went from 174 to 120lbs. My weight has stabalized but I continue to this day with IBS. No social life either. Work is about all I can do! ( around a bathroom ) !
charlene
My son took accutane when he was 14. He was a healthy, happy boy. But his health took a turn for the worse and he wound up with ulcerative colitis, terrible weight loss (6’1″ tall and 115 lbs.) and osteoperosis. He’s had kidney stones and, even though they now have the colitis somewhat under control, it’s hard for him to work and he has very little social life. I’m mad as hell that the pharmaceutical company ruined my son’s life. We have had to help him financially at times when he was really sick so it’s put a strain on everyone in the family. The victims deserve compensation for thier suffering, my son being one of them.
stephanie
My son was on accutane for only three months for a severe case of acne. He did get the dry skin and mouth part however he was checked once a month and only took it for a short time he did not get sick. It actually helped him a lot. He had a low self esteem being a teenager and now is getting much better.
Jorge
I took Accutane during 1995 for my severe acne problem. I read the side affects as I do w/ every medicine I take. Well, I got the dry skin, extra pink skin especially out in the sun, some rectal bleeding and my lips just cracked like crazy, So, after 3 months of dealing w/ all the side affects, I figured having acne was not all that bad, so I quit accutane and switched over to a snake soap. One month later I was free of ALL acne except one pimple on my forehead and I had no side affects. Plus, Accutane was expensive ass hell.
Sis
My brother took Accutane for about 6 months too and then got very sick and was diagnosed with ulcerative colotis. He has lost a lot of weight!
jessica
i have the same problems where i can’t stop going to the bathroom at night. i hate it
Dave
I was on Accutane for about 8 months and now I have intestinal problems, joint pain, and depression. I would like to know more about the link between Accutane and gastrointestinal problems like IBS and joint problems.
isabel
i took 6 month accutane, but know i have symptoms of depression, anxiety, and my urinary bladder is giving me many problems , i cannot stop going to the restroom during the night, its so uncomfortable.
David S.
You can view free video clips from the trial AND the original re-trial at the Courtroom View Network blog, which has pretty great coverage of the case. http://info.courtroomview.com/Blog/bid/33780/25M-Verdict-in-Accutane-Trial
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