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Accutane and Crohns Disease

Accutane is a powerful medication that has been used to treat severe acne in extreme cases. Doctors are usually reticent to prescribe Accutane, and it is highly regulated during the brief dosage period. The use of Accutane has been linked to several illnesses, including Crohn's disease. Cases concerning the dangerous effects of Accutane are currently pending in the United States court system.

Accutane's Original Purpose

Originally, Accutane was developed to be used as a part of the chemotherapy regimen for people who suffer from pancreatic cancer or brain cancer. It is still used in that capacity, though the medical uses have expanded to treatment of other ailments as well. Accutane is effective against pancreatic and brain cancer because it attacks and kills cancer cells as they divide. Since pancreatic and brain cancer tend to develop very quickly, Accutane's powerful and fast method of attacking the cancerous cells has made it a popular chemotherapy tool.

Accutane as an Acne Treatment

Accutane has also been found to be very effective in treating certain forms of severe acne. When acne forms cysts and lesions it usually ceases to respond to traditional acne treatments. Accutane drastically reduces the amount of oil that is created by the facial glands, thus reducing the number of pimples that form. It also reduces inflammation and cuts down on the amount of excess dry skin that can lead to pimple formation. Accutane is only used for cases of acne that are extremely severe because it can cause uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous side effects in many patients. Once a patient stops using Accutane the skin will begin to produce oils naturally again, but the oil producing glands will not grow back to their former size.

General Side Effects of Accutane

The most common side effects of using Accutane are lightheadedness and skin sensitivity. The reduction of oils in the skin removes much of the body's protection against ultraviolet sunlight. The skin and lips may also become extremely dry and chap more easily. They drying agents in Accutane can lead to digestive problems as well. Most doctors use Accutane as a last resort in the battle against severe acne because of the possibility of side effects. They tend to give patients shorter prescriptions and require that the prescriptions be used within a certain amount of time.

Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is a painful inflammation that can impact any area of the digestive system. It usually manifests in the lower regions of the small intestine. Patients who suffer from Crohn's disease usually have symptoms such as heavy diarrhea, severe weight loss, and vomiting. Crohn's is a chronic disease that has no permanent cure. Though it is controllable through several types of treatments, it can have a dramatic impact on the quality of life of the sufferer. Crohn's can cause damage to the liver and pancreas, and has been known to contribute to the development of colon cancer.

Accutane and Crohn's Disease

Accutane manufacturers list inflammatory bowel disease as a recognized possible side effect of using Accutane. Crohn's disease falls under the category of inflammatory bowel disease, which makes it a possible direct result of using Accutane for any purpose. The FDA has performed extensive research of the link between Accutane and Crohn's disease, with results that show there could be a definitive link. Over a 5 year period, Accutane was listed as the probable cause of over 50 cases of Crohn's. It was categorized as a highly probable cause of 4 cases of Crohn's Disease.

Lawsuits Against Accutane

There are over 400 pending cases against the manufacturers of Accutane regarding its link to Crohn's Disease today. Three cases have already found in favor of the consumers, who were awarded settlements of millions of dollars. Accutane was removed from distribution in 2009 after the manufacturer paid out over $30 million dollars in settlements that were brought by sufferers of inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's Disease.