Saw This Lawsuit Commercial

I saw one of those lawsuit commercials just now saying that if you suffer from IBS, Crohns or Ulcerative Colitis and have ever taken the acne drug Accutane, you may be entitled to compansation. Aparently they're stating that this drug can cause all 3 conditions. Anyone heard of this before?

I know Peety took Accutane and believes it caused her UC, and there are other members who have used it as well, I think.

I took Accutane and I have UC....saw this commercial last week and it made me think that if they can narrow it down to a sort of medication as a link to the disease then why the heck can't they find the daggon cure already???

Yes. I've heard this many times. Surprisingly given my skin, which is prone to infections and inflammations, I have never taken Accutane. I can't take strict forms of birth control; and Accutane is known to cause birth defects. In fact, even one dose of Accutane during pregnancy can cause major birth defects.

I took antibiotics instead. Less risky; however, they too have done their damage over the long run.

My son who is 36 and lives in Cleveland has begun participating in this lawsuit. He took Accutane when he was about 15 years old. The documentation he needs to provide is:

1. When he first saw his doctor for symptoms of acne
2. When his doctor diagnosed him with acne
3. When his doctor prescribed the drug Accutane as a remedy for acne
4. The dosage, duration and specifically last day of use of Accutane
5. When he first saw a doctor for symptoms of bowel trouble
6. When he was referred to a GI
7. When he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis

It's a lot of documentation to dig up 20 years later. I'm not even sure his doctor in Canada will help him out. The funny thing is his cousin and I have Colitis and neither of us took Accutane.

I took accutane in the 1980s. It is hard to google info because half the law firms in the country are fishing for clients. It would be nice if the FDA would tell us if the charges are true. Some cases have already been won.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120890352155036159.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/29/AR2007052901946.html

**just made the links active

Post Edited By Moderator (Lonie) : 5/20/2010 3:29:55 PM (GMT-6)

I tried calling the 800 # from the commercial and it does not work from my canadian calling area. Which probably means they do not take on canadian clients.

I was on a low dose of accutane for many years for my rosacea, and now have UC.. I also quit smoking 6 months prior to UC though, so am not sure what caused what to be honest.

Please let me know if you hear we can participate in the lawsuit, I will try calling them from a US number and inquire more

Hanz

If you took Accutane you should definitely consider signing up with one of the law firms "fishing for clients." You fill out a form and they take it from there. A couple of cases have gone to court with verdicts in the millions. Eventually (maybe already?) there will be a class action and settlement by the drug company, when they get tired of paying these multi-million dollar judgments, and you need to be signed up with one of the law firms to be part of it. Try to determine if they are one of the firms that is part of the group working together with other nationwide.

I tried, but I cannot join the litigation because my medical records showing I took accutane were destroyed long ago (they only have to keep them 10 years) so I can't prove I took it. The law firms would not take my case, they are trying to keep it pure with cases that can be won. I could hire my own lawyer and do it myself...and they actually encouraged me to do it...maybe some day but I know not having records is a big obstable. I went looking for them, they are definitely gone.

I was diagnosed with UC shortly after I took accutane. Textbook case. Accutane is like a very strong antibiotic with the same problem for us: in killing the acne it killed good stuff too and let the bad stuff take over.

More: Do online research to find out what law firm represented those who won the verdicts. Then you know you are starting in the right place. I had contacted a firm called Ennis and Ennis in Florida and they were very professional.

Funny...I was going to post this subject myself after seeing this ad on TV.   I haven't ever taken Accutane either.  

It makes me wonder if some folks began taking Accutane because of a skin inflammation problem that was reallly only the beginning of other Ulcerative Colitis symptoms and now they're blaming it on the medication.  Just thinking.  What do you think?

hoogie leeken said...
Funny...I was going to post this subject myself after seeing this ad on TV. I haven't ever taken Accutane either.



It makes me wonder if some folks began taking Accutane because of a skin inflammation problem that was reallly only the beginning of other Ulcerative Colitis symptoms and now they're blaming it on the medication. Just thinking. What do you think?

I don't think so. Otherwise, we would have suits over Retin-A, which is another very popular medicine that treats skin inflammations.

I've never taken Accutane either, but I know that antibiotics slowly messed up my system.

AZYooper said...
So what do you specifically do you need as proof and how do you tell if the law firm is any good?

I have an empty pill bottle and my doctors name. No bills or anything. Not sure if I can get anything else. I think he would be pretty old if alive.

I took the drug in 86 0r 87.

I really do think it is a dangerous drug and should not have been handed out like candy as it was when I got it. Really don't care if I get money but would like to see the drug company punished.

Ask how many users they are representing. Trust your instincts in regard to how they treat you and how professional they are and how knowledgeable they are about the litigation. Ask what to expect (they should not over-promise). They will tell you what you need as proof.