Accutane Litigation at The Lanier Law Firm
Accutane (Isotretinoin) was approved by the Food & Drug Administration in May 1982, to combat severe forms of acne. In 1998, the FDA advised doctors who prescribed Accutane to watch their patients for signs of depression. Thereafter, Hoffman-LaRoche, the manufacturer of Accutane, notified doctors that the drug "may cause depression, psychosis, and on rare occasions suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and suicide."
Accutane and its potential dangers became widely known when U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak announced that his 17-year-old son's suicide may have been linked to the popular acne medicine. Bart Stupak Jr., known as "B.J.", was a popular student and athlete who shot himself in the head after a prom-night party.
According to USA Today, as of December 2000, the FDA received reports of 66 suicides and 1,373 cases of psychiatric problems among Accutane users. Accutane's package warning first stated a potential relationship between Accutane and depression in 1986. Although French officials required that Hoffman-LaRoche add the risk of suicide to the package insert of the European version of Accutane in March 1997, the FDA did not require such a change in the United States until 1999.
On November 18, 2004, FDA researcher Dr. David Graham testified before Congress that Accutane should be scrutinized to determine whether the drug should continue to be on the market in the United States.
In addition to psychiatric problems, Accutane has been associated with the following side effects and physical dysfunctions: Inflammatory Bowel Disease; Premature Closure of Growth Plates; Ulcerative Colitis; Crohn's Disease; Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome; Rectal Bleeding; Birth Defects; Abdominal Pain; Central Nervous System Injuries; Bone and Muscle Loss; Cardiovascular Injuries; Liver and Kidney Damage; Pancreatitis; and Immune System Disorder.
If you or a loved one has taken Accutane and suffered any side effects, please contact our office for a free evaluation.
Please be advised, our office is not handling Accutane-Related birth defects at this time.
Suggested Accutane Information Links:
1998 Accutane Dear Doctor Warning Letter
2002 Accutane Dear Doctor Warning Letter (Psychiatric Disorders)