Accutane, known generically as isotretinoin, is a prescription medication used to treat severe nodular and cystic acne that has not responded to other treatments such as topical creams or antibiotics. Nodular or cystic acne is a disfiguring form of acne that causes multiple inflamed cysts and scarring.

Accutane was developed and marketed by Roche Pharmaceuticals, a division of Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., and approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1982. It works on the oil glands within the skin, shrinking them and diminishing their output. Accutane is taken by mouth everyday for four to five months and then treatment is stopped. The anti-acne effect produced by Accutane can last a year or more after finishing a course of medication.

Despite its lasting positive effect on acne, Accutane has a number of mild to serious and possibly life-threatening side effects:

• Chapped Lips
  
• Itchy, Dry Skin
  
• Nasal Gland Dryness
  
• Mild to severe Nosebleeds
  
• Joint & Muscle Pain
  
• Temporary Hair Thinning
  
• Rash
  
• Intestinal and Urinary Complications
  
• Headache
  
• Increase Sensitivity to Sun
  
• Decreased Night Vision
  
• Mild Depression
  
• Severe Depression, with thoughts of Suicide
  
• Birth Defects
  

The most damaging side effect of Accutane is serious birth defects (fetal malformations) if taken during pregnancy. It is critically important for women not to take Accutane while pregnant, and not to become pregnant while under treatment. A woman who does get pregnant while taking Accutane may be forced to have an abortion and may also be required to state this in writing before many physicians will prescribe Accutane. It is not currently known whether Accutane taken by men can cause birth defects.

Birth defects associated with Accutane include:

• Hydrocephaly - enlargement of the fluid-filled spaces in the brain
  
• Microcephaly - abnormally small head
  
• Mental Retardation
  
• Ear and Eye Abnormalities
  
• Cleft Lip and Palate
  
• Facial Abnormalities
  
• Heart Defects
  

Accutane can cause these birth defects in the early weeks after conception when a woman often is unaware of her pregnancy. Even babies without obvious birth defects may have mental retardation and learning disabilities. Accutane also increases the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and infant deaths.

If you took Accutane during pregnancy and gave birth to a child with birth defects, or are currently taking Accutane and are pregnant, contact a medical malpractice attorney today. An experienced attorney who specializes in Accutane cases can help recover damages.

Additional severe and life-threatening side effects can occur with Accutane usage among any patient. They include:

• Neurological: pseudotumor cerebri, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, insomnia, lethargy, malaise, nervousness, paresthesias, seizures, stroke, weakness
  
• Psychiatric: suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, suicide, depression, psychosis, emotional instability
  

Of the patients reporting depression, many report that the depression subsides with the discontinuation of therapy. However, symptoms can reoccur with reinstitution of therapy.

If you or a loved one suffers from any of the many dangerous side effects of Accutane usage, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney today. An experienced attorney can recover damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other effects of Accutane treatment.

ACCUTANE FAQ'S

1. What is Accutane?

Accutane, known generically as isotretinoin, is a prescription medication used to treat severe nodular and cystic acne that has not responded to other treatments such as topical creams or antibiotics.

Accutane was developed and marketed by Roche Pharmaceuticals, a division of Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., and approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1982. It works on the oil glands within the skin, shrinking them and diminishing their output. Accutane is taken by mouth everyday for four to five months and then treatment is stopped. The anti-acne effect produced by Accutane can last a year or more after finishing a course of medication.

Despite its lasting positive effect on acne, Accutane has a number of mild to serious and possibly life-threatening side effects.

2. What are the side effects of Accutane?

Side effects of Accutane can range from minor, to severe and sometimes can be life-threatening.

Minor discomfort from:

More Accutane and Personal Injury FAQs >>