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When Accutane was first developed, it was used a chemotherapy drug used to treat serious illnesses such as pancreatic and brain cancers. In fact, it is still used for this purpose because it can quickly kill the rapidly dividing cancer cells. The original manufacturer of isotretinoin – the generic form of Accutane – discovered that it was also a very effective treatment for severe cases of acne that do not respond to traditional treatments. The type of acne that Accutane treats is known as cystic or nodular acne in which the acne develops into small cysts or lesions.

How It Works

Accutane is a very potent synthetic version of Vitamin A. It has been so successful in treating acne because it works on several of the problems that contribute to acne all at the same time:

• Accutane cuts down on the amount of oil that the sebaceous glands produce by shrinking the size of the glands. Significantly high amounts of this oil, called sebum, can result in severe acne.

• It reduces the build-up of cells that can lead to blackheads and whiteheads.

• It kills the bacteria that are found in the skin that leads to acne.

• Accutane also decreases the inflammation of acne.

After a patient completes the Accutane regimen, the skin’s normal production of oil will begin again and the sebaceous glands will also begin to grow, however they will not grow to the size that they were before treatment with Accutane.

Crohn's Disease

Crohn’s disease, along with ulcerative colitis, is a type of illness known as inflammatory bowel disease. With Crohn’s, the digestive tract becomes inflamed. It can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, which includes the mouth and the anus, but it usually manifests in the lower section of the small intestine. The inflammation and swelling reaches deeply into the lining of the organ that is affected. This swelling is painful and will normally result in diarrhea. Other symptoms of Crohn’s disease include vomiting and extreme weight loss.

While the symptoms of Crohn’s disease can be treated, there no known cure for it. By itself, Crohn’s is not fatal, but those who suffer from the disease have a decreased quality of life. Besides the pain, vomiting, and dangers of too much weight loss, the disease can lead to liver problems and arthritis. They are also at risk for developing colorectal cancer.

Accutane and Crohn’s Disease

A number of scientific studies, including one published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology in 2006, have established that taking Accutane increases the risk of contracting inflammatory bowel disease. The manufacturer of Accutane lists inflammatory bowel disease as one of the possible side effects of their product and Crohn’s is one of the main divisions of a group of conditions known as inflammatory bowel disease.

The published study mentioned above looked at all of the cases of IBD diseases like Crohn’s that were linked to Accutane and reported to the FDA. In a five-year period, 85 such cases were reported. In four of the cases it was determined that it was “highly probable” that Accutane was the cause and 58 cases were considered to be “probable”. The rest were deemed “possible.” None were give the determination of “doubtful.”

Legal Action Against Accutane

In the United States, there are three cases that have been adjudicated to this point, alleging that the defendants developed Crohn’s disease as a result of taking Accutane. In each case, the defendants were awarded several million dollars and there are currently around 425 cases still pending.

The manufacturer of Accutane, Roche Holding AG, recalled their acne medication in June of 2009. In a statement made at the time, they confirmed that they had paid out $33 million dollars as a result of lawsuits tied to irritable bowel disease-related claims.

If you or a loved one have experienced inflammatory bowel disease – including Chron’s Disease – or other health complications related to taking the prescription medication Accutane, then please fill out our case evaluation form on this site. Our experienced group of attorneys has experience in handling the problems caused by prescription health medications. We would consider it an honor to represent you.