Accutane lawsuits are defective drug cases in which Accutane users allege that they have been seriously injured as a result of taking the acne medication, Accutane (generically isotretinoin). Manufactured by Hoffman-LaRoche (now LaRoche Pharmaceuticals) in the U.S. and first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1982, Accutane is a potent acne medication that has been found to cause a range of serious, debilitating side effects, some of which may include:
- birth defects (in the event that a pregnant women is taking the drug)
- depression, suicidal thoughts, or suicidal behaviors
- inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- jaundice
- liver damage
- pancreatitis (infection or inflammation of the pancreas)
- severe allergic reaction
As an increasing amount of research confirmed these Accutane side effects, LaRoche Pharmaceuticals faced a growing number of Accutane lawsuits and, in 2009, finally recalled Accutane in U.S. markets. To date, LaRoche Pharmaceuticals is facing more than 5,000 Accutane lawsuits, and the drug maker has paid out more than $50 million in verdicts to injured Accutane patients.
The majority of this Accutane litigation is currently pending, and despite the fact that Accutane is no longer prescribed in the U.S., more Americans are expected to file Accutane lawsuits in the coming years, as some of these side effects can develop long after an individual has stopped taking Accutane.
How to Start an Accutane Lawsuit
Those who have taken Accutane and have been diagnosed with any serious Accutane side effects should:
- Seek emergency medical care to prevent worse, potentially fatal health complications from arising
- Once their health is no longer in danger, meet with a seasoned defective drug attorney at Chaffin Luhana LLP for a professional, comprehensive assessment of their case, along with expert advice regarding how to proceed in order to secure the compensation they deserve
Choosing to stand up for your legal rights and follow through with an Accutane lawsuit can help you or your loved one secure a settlement that compensates you for your outstanding medical bills, ongoing treatment costs, permanent disabilities, decreased quality of life, pain, and suffering. To alleviate the financial burdens that you or a loved one may face during such stressful times, Accutane lawyers at our firm do not charge for initial consultation, and all other legal fees will only be applied when and if we win your case at trial or through settlement.
