The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, went on record in 1982 as approving the use by Americans of a new “wonder drug” as an acne medication called Accutane. Soon the acne treatment became wildly popular, with millions of users, or customers. And soon Roche Pharmaceuticals, which produced and sold Accutane, profited by billions of dollars.
But also soon, Americans began suffering at-first baffling digestive disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. An IBD such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, even could necessitate a victim having his or her colon removed. And all because of a pimple treatment.
At first these victims had no reason to suspect that the acne drug they’d taken, Accutane, was responsible for their gastrointestinal problems. But it’s clear now: Accutane causes IBD and other ailments, and Roche is to blame. Of course, so is the FDA, win a way, since it not only approved Accutane’s use in 1982 but also hasn’t demanded oday, even after years of suffering by users.
The FDA has warned about Accutane, giving it a so-called “category X” designation for potentially dangerous drugs. But it hasn’t called for the acne drug’s removal from the market. Rather, Swiss-based Roche itself recalled its Accutane products last year, but only in the face of increased competition from generic Accutane, and increased Accutane lawsuits prevailing in American courts.
Besides that, the early warnings for Accutane use didn’t even involve bowel diseases. Rather, they concerned such things as risks to the unborn babies of pregnant women who took the drug (taken orally and prescribed by a physician). Accutane, it seems, could cause spontaneous abortions, spur suicidal impulses and spark other health maladies.
In fact, the FDA even gave Accutane a “fast-track approval,” making the United States the first nation in the world to approve the drug. Roche wasn’t even ready to sell it yet when the FDA got on board.
Since then, virtually all the FDA has done is to add warnings to Accutane’s packaging. It never forced a removal of the drug by the market -- a removal which Roche did voluntarily as it faced increased competition and increased lawsiits. And even so, generic Accutane remains available form other suppliers, under such names as Amnesteem, Sotret and Claravis.
Each features the same active ingredient as Accutane. That’s Isotretinoin, which can trigger various health ailments.
Besides the U.S., Roche has removed Accutane from 11 other countries. But it still sells the drug in many more.
Galling, isn’t it? But victims can fight back, and they can do so with an Accutane lawsuit from Accutane-Lawsuit-Layer.com, a national group of lawyers and attorneys who fight for victims’ rights in Accutane side effects injury cases.
You, too, can seek such justice. To start, simply fill out and submit the free case review form on this Web page, or call toll-free to 1-800-339-0606. But don’t delay. Your state’s statute of limitations may come into play, and waiting won’t help you. Rather, alert a defective drug lawyer or attorney today with Accutane-Lawsuit-Lawyer.com.