Accutane came to the market as a medical miracle drug for sufferers of severe acne. The drug was available for both adolescent as well as adult acne sufferers and typically produces extraordinary results after a five month course on the medication, sometimes requiring a second five month regiment.
The FDA’s black box of warnings has soundly warned against a number of the known complications of Accutane usage and has severely warned against usage by pregnant women. Accutane (isotretinoin) is the first drug in the history of medicine for which a woman has to sign a consent to read the warnings.
Accutane comes with a laundry list of warnings and advisories against certain protected classes of users and the lists of potential side effects, which they claim are limited to an extremely small percentage of the population of expected users. Nevertheless, below is a list of some of the additional complications which have been known to arise from even a single trial period of the usage.
If you or someone you care for has been experiencing unusual side effects after taking Accutane you may want to consult with not only your physicians, but also the Fort Lauderdale Injury Lawyers to determine whether or not an action may exist for products liability. Generally speaking, in order for a the various drug manufacturers to be liable for your injuries there has to be a determination of either negligence on the part of the manufacturer or a justification for a finding of strict liability as defined by the Fort Lauderdale, Florida courts.
Only those Accutane users that have suffered serious unanticipated side effects should consider whether they have the right to bring a lawsuit against the manufacturer.
Common Reactions to Accutane
• Pain and swelling of the lips
• Severe itching
• Alopecia (hair-thinning/hair-loss/baldness)
• Fragile and weaker skin
• Vision problems
• Decreased night vision (onset may be sudden)
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• Contact lens intolerance
• Dry mucous membranes (dry nose, lungs, bladder, anus)
• Peeling skin on palms/soles
• Nail changes
• Nosebleeds
• Photosensitivity (sensitivity to light)
• Elevated triglycerides in the blood
• Elevated liver enzymes (indicating liver damage)
• Tinnitus (ringing in ears or buzzing in ears)
• Joint pain and muscle pain
• Back pain
• Depression
Serious Reactions to Accutane
• Depression
• Erectile dysfunction (difficulty in maintaining erection)
• Violent behavior/aggression
• Psychosis (seeing or hearing things that are not real)
• Suicidal ideation (rare)
• Suicide attempts
• Hearing impairment
• Pseudotumor cerebri (swelling pressure in the brain)
• Osteopenia/osteoporosis (loss in bone mass and strength/weak and fragile bones)
• Hepatotoxicity (liver damage)
• Anaphylaxis (rapid and deadly allergic reaction)
• Allergic vasculitis (inflammation and damage to blood vessels)
• Major birth defects
• Cataracts/corneal opacities (can cause a decrease in vision and lead to eventual blindness)
• Premature epiphyseal closure (short stature)
• Neutropenia (low white blood cell count, which makes the body vulnerable to bacterial and fungal infections)
• Agranulocytosis (a serious condition in which white blood cells decrease in number or disappear altogether) (rare)
• Rhabdomyolysis (potentially fatal disease that destroys skeletal muscle) (rare)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (inflammation of the intestine and resulting in abdominal cramping and persistent diarrhea)
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, an organ important in digestion)
• Vascular thrombosis (heart attack)
• Stroke
• Seizures
For further discussion regarding this topic please feel free to contact the Fort Lauderdale Accident Lawyers at 1-877-529-0444 or by email at info@www.schulaw.com
