Accutane Class Action Lawsuits Accutane Class Action Lawsuits Information

Accutane Class Action Lawsuits

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Accutane Class Action Lawsuits Information

Accutane has been a controversial acne medication because of the serious risk of side effects and suicides attributed to it. The FDA warned physicians prescribing the acne medication to be aware of any signs of depression their patients might display. Accutane manufacturer, Hoffman-LaRoche did not warn patients and healthcare professionals of the potential risks involved with Accutane until after the FDA made this advisement.

In October 2001, Congressman Bart Stupak expressed his concerns about Accutane following the suicide of his son who happened to be taking Accutane. Accutane manufacturer has warned physicians that the acne drug can possibly cause "depression, psychotic symptoms, and rarely suicide attempts", but still the company maintains they believe the drug is safe. In addition, Accutane carries high risk of serious birth defects, including deformed babies, miscarriage, premature birth, or death of the baby.

Instances of individuals and teenager's parents describing observations of serious feelings of depression while taking Accutane have continued to be made. In the U.S. congressional hearings on the controversy of Accutane has been surrounding the acne drug. The manufacturer believes that there is no evidence showing Accutane is responsible for feelings of depression or suicidal tendencies, but the death toll has continued to rise despite this.

Since 1982, there have been 142 suicides involving Accutane. The FDA has required that doctors and patients sign a lengthy consent form prior to beginning Accutane therapy acknowledging they have been informed of the dangers. Other side effects of Accutane include brain problems, abdomen problems, bone and muscle problems, hearing problems, vision problems, lipids or fats and cholesterol in blood problems, and allergic reactions.

Accutane is intended to treat the most severe form of acne that has been unresponsive to any other type of acne treatment. The FDA's implementation of the consent form was due to the claims of patients that claimed they had suffered serious side effects that they were unaware of the risks involved with the medication when beginning treatment.

Accutane Side Effects

Accutane side effects have been a cause for controversy over the years. Associated to extremely dangerous effects, Accutane side effects include significant potential risks, including birth defects and even fetal death. Due to the severity of Accutane side effects, women wishing to begin Accutane treatment must have first failed to adequately respond to other acne medications.

If being considered for Accutane, women will need to fill out a consent form and have the physician sign it as well, acknowledging the dangerous Accutane side effects that can occur. In addition, since the serious Accutane side effects cause birth defects, women must first test negative on a couple of pregnancy tests and begin a birth control regimen. It is important to first assess Accutane side effects prior to considering if the drug treatment is right for you.

More Accutane Information

There is a wealth of information on Accutane available due to its controversial nature. Linked to extremely dangerous side effects, especially in pregnant women, information on Accutane was not always readily available. Health officials have recently made it a priority for Accutane patients to receive complete information on Accutane before being considered for the acne medication.

The information on Accutane shows the risk of Accutane and birth defects and fetal death that have occurred in pregnant women using the medication. It has become much harder for women to be prescribed Accutane and the FDA has now developed a program that allows physicians and patients to verify that information on Accutane has been received. In addition to links to birth defects, information on Accutane shows there may be a risk for suicidal behavior while on the acne medication. Although a direct link between Accutane and mental depression has not yet been established, information on Accutane shows that 142 suicides have been associated to Accutane since 1982.

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