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Accutane Lawsuit Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that, along with a few other gastrointestinal disorders, has been related to Accutane, a medicine prescribed by doctors for severe nodular acne.

Ulcerative Colitis Information

Ulcers mostly found in the rectum and large intestine are often the result of Ulcerative colitis, along with an inflammation of the digestive tract lining. Severe pain and diarrhea both similarly come from this condition. As with alternative IBDs, these symptoms may end up being intensely disabling and a threat to a person's life. Some people have reported suffering from the symptoms of ulcerative colitis years after having taken Accutane, while others have reported contracting the disease immediately. There is no cure for ulcerative colitis, only various treatments.

Legal Ramifications

The firm that developed and sold Accutane is Hoffman-LaRoche, which has received approximately 5,000 claims for personal injury so far as a result of gastrointestinal disorders known to be caused by the medication. One woman contracted ulcerative colitis, and then presented a case against Roche claiming that the firm did not properly disclose such side effects resulting from the medication. She had her colon removed because of the severity of the disease, resulting in Roche paying her $10.5 million. Another case in 2010 resulted in an Alabama man receiving $25.16 million suit against Roche because he underwent multiple surgeries, among them having his colon taken out as a result of contracting the disease. Once again, the courts ruled that the side effects of the medication had not been properly disclosed by Roche Pharmaceuticals.

Types of Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis contains four varying sub-classifications, which depend on where the disease is found. All disease sub-types have differing and somewhat unique symptoms which make particular diagnosis easier. Ulcerative proctotis commonly includes rectal bleeding and pain symptoms, and it is found in the rectum. Left-sided colitis typically features abdominal bleeding and pain, along with weight loss, and rectum inflammation running up the person's left side to the colon. Pancolitis is the third form of ulcerative colitis, and it impacts the entire colon. It commonly leads to fatigue, blood-stained diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and night sweating. Fulminant colitis proves to be the final, most perilous type of the disease. As with pancolitis, it impacts the whole colon. Creating severe distension of the colon, this last type may cause colon rupturing, which would unleash numerous toxins into the human organism. Its symptoms are commonly intense diarrhea and pain, along with weight loss and sometimes dehydration, too.

Treatment for Ulcerative Colitis

Although there is still no cure found for ulcerative colitis, several therapies for treating the disease do exist now. Among them are anti-inflammatory medications like immune system suppressors such as mercaptopurine, corticosteroids, iron supplements, laxatives, and in severe cases of the disease, proctocolectomy surgery, during which the person's entire rectum and colon are taken out.

Living with Ulcerative Colitis

Should you prove to be an individual afflicted with symptoms or indications of ulcerative colitis or any alternative such gastrointestinal disease following a regimen of taking Accutane, be certain to get in touch with your medical provider in order for an exam to be scheduled to ascertain if you have indeed contracted the disease. This is important since ulcerative colitis, when not properly treated, does evolve into both a life threatening and fatal condition. It can cause a rupturing of the colon, along with internal bleeding, in a number of cases in the past. Such a disease is typically extremely painful as a result of the tissue's inflammation, along with the serious diarrhea from which most poor patients suffer.

If you fear that you or a loved one were prescribed and used Accutane and have since contracted ulcerative colitis or any alternative type of IBD, then you should contact an attorney immediately in order to obtain recompense for the costly medical treatments along with your personal pain and suffering.