Accutane Side Effects Long Term

by admin on August 1st, 2010

News about Accutane side effects long term is striking a chord with users of this prescription medication. Accutane, also known generically as isotretinoin, has been used to help fight serious cases of acne, but it can also cause dangerous inflammatory bowel disease side effects.

Accutane was first introduced to the market in 1982. It was a type of medicine called a Retinoid, meaning that it was a derivative of vitamin A. It worked by altering the cell growth and differentiation, and helped change the production of natural substances in the skin that caused pimples to form.

For many people this was looked at as a miracle. While acne may be the bane of many teenagers’ existence, for some, acne wasn’t just an inconvenience or mild source of embarrassment. People with nodular or cystic acne could develop large pustules under the skin, which are painful and can leave lasting scars. When traditional forms of treatment, including antibiotics were ineffective, doctors prescribed Accutane.

Patients took an oral pill during a prescribed period, and many saw marked improvement in their skin. Accutane, which was also used as an anti-cancer chemotherapy treatment, did not come without some significant side effects.

Birth Defects

Accutane was known to cause severe, life-threatening birth defects. When women took Accutane while pregnant, they had a higher risk of their babies having developmental issues including hydrocephaly, microcephaly, mental retardation and heart defects. This risk is so great that women who were of childbearing age were warned that they needed to use both a primary and a secondary method of birth control to ensure pregnancy prevention.

Depression

Another one of the Accutane long-term side effects was an increased risk of depression and suicidal behavior. Scientists believe that Accutane may reduce the presence of the chemical serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is believed to be instrumental in creating a positive mood. After numerous reports of depression and suicide after taking Accutane, doctors were instructed to warn patients of the dangerous side effects of this drug.

Accutane Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

The Accutane long term side effects of birth defects and depression have been well documented. But another side effect that is becoming increasingly recognized is the increased risk of developing Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

IBD is an incurable, chronic inflammation that affects the gastrointestinal tract. It may occur in the mouth, intestines, anus, or anywhere in between. IBD falls under two main conditions: Crohn’s Disease and Accutane ulcerative colitis. In both cases, the repeated inflammations can cause ulcers to form in the gastrointestinal tract. Over time, these ulcers may create perforations, or openings in the tissue wall, allowing contents from one area to enter another. An ulcer in the intestine, for example, can develop into a bowel perforation. Fistulas, or abnormal openings from one organ to another can also occur. Additionally, the repeated infections can result in scar tissue, and that, along with inflammation, can cause blockages in the intestine.

IBD typically occurs in flare-ups, and when this happens, doctors try to manage the symptoms. Unfortunately, due to the damage that the disease does, at least one quarter of IBD patients have some part of their intestine removed because of irreversible injury.

If you have questions about the Accutane side effects years later, we encourage you to contact us. We are currently working with people who have been diagnosed with IBD after taking Accutane. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your individual situation and determine your legal options including filing an Accutane lawsuit.