History and Background About Accutane

The information on this page includes research information about the development and history of Accutane, a prescription medication prescribed to patients with severe acne.

Weitz & Luxenberg has provided information about the history of accutane use to assist Accutane patients who develop these gastrointestinal diseases: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease.

Prior to the development of Accutane, the mainstay treatment of severe acne was oral antibiotics such as the tetracyclines and erythromycin. While these drugs have proven efficacy, they worked against only one contributing factor of acne, Propionibacterium acnes bacteria. The antibiotics gradually became less effective over time as more resistant strains of the bacterium became prominent.

An early, effective treatment of acne was high doses of the fat soluble vitamin A. At these dose levels (sometimes 500,000 IU per day) effects such as reduced production of sebum and dry hair could be noticed. However the vitamin also had many other prominent side effects which inhibited its widespread use.

The development of the derivative of retinoic acid, isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid), AKA Accutane, and its release in 1982 by Hoffmann-La Roche was a great step forward in the treatment of acne. The synthetic compound provided better therapeutic benefit than vitamin A, while also producing less side effects. In February 2002 Roche's patents for isotretinoin expired, there are now many other companies selling cheaper generic versions of Accutane.

Today isotretinoin is usually prescribed after other acne treatments have failed to produce results. The treatment of acne usually begins with topicals, moves onto oral antibiotics (or a combination) and finally isotretinoin therapy. This is because other treatments, while less effective than isotretinoin, produce far fewer side effects.

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If you or a loved one was treated with Accutane and was subsequently diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis or inflammatory bowel disease, our lawyers may be able to help you seek compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering and obtain other financial compensation.

Please complete the form on this page for a confidential review of your potential lawsuit. A Weitz & Luxenberg representative will contact you as soon as possible.

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see also:

History History of the acne drug Accutane | Weitz & Luxenberg attorneys
Accutane users with a history of Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis or inflammatory bowel disease can get a free lawsuit review.

Information Accutane information | Weitz & Luxenberg
Get information, help and a free Accutane gastrointestinal disease lawsuit review from a Weitz & Luxenberg attorney

Learn More Accutane lawsuit information | Weitz & Luxenberg lawyers
Accutane patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Crohn's Disease can obtain a free legal case review from our lawyers.