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Drug Name: Accutane
Drug Maker: Hoffmann-LaRoche
Accutane Lawyer
Accutane, developed by Hoffmann-LaRoche to treat severe nodular acne, has been linked with serious side effects, including: Depression, Mental Problems and Suicide
Did you know?
Accutane, developed by Hoffmann-LaRoche to treat severe nodular acne, has been linked with serious side effects, including: Depression, Mental Problems and Suicide.
Accutane, developed by Hoffmann-LaRoche to treat severe nodular acne, has been linked with serious side effects, including: Depression, Mental Problems and Suicide . Depression is distinguished by symptoms of deep, unrelenting sadness, anxiety, loss of enjoyment from customary activities, and loss of energy. Accutane can furthermore initiate Pseudotumor Cerebri, a condition of increased stress on the brain. Symptoms include papilledema, headache, nausea and vomiting, and visual instability. Suicide accounts for over 30,000 American deaths every year, and is the third leading reason for death of people aged 15-24. Repetitively, teenagers and young adults in this age range are eager to do almost anything to relieve themselves of cases of acute acne, escalating their willingness to use Accutane in spite of warnings.
Individuals taking Accutane exhibit a higher than usual rate of suicide attempts, suicide, and destructive and/or violent behavior towards others. Even after discontinuing Accutane, these symptoms can resume and further assessment may be necessary.
Suicidal ideation is very hard to diagnose because the patient often deliberately hides it. Despite this, many patients experiencing suicidal thoughts send warning signals and all mentions of killing oneself should be treated very seriously.
Accutane Birth Defects
Accutane is capable of causing birth defects if taken during pregnancy. You should never use Accutane during your or if you are planning to become pregnant while on Accutane or within a month after being on Accutane. Accutane could also cause miscarriage, premature brith, or loss of the baby.
Female patients are required to have two negative pregnancy tests prior to receiving their first prescription of Accutane. Throughout each month of treatment female patients are required to have a negative pregnancy test and may not receive further medication until proof of this.
Accutane Organ Failure
Accutane has been connected to damages of the colon, liver, kidney, eyes, and skin. Accutane may also cause loss of bone density and difficulties hearing.
Nervousness, sadness, anger, irritability, loss of pleasure or interest in social activities, weight and or appetite changes, sleep related problems, drop in mental performance. These symptoms have been known to cause suicide in patients.
Nearly 66 cases of suicide and more than 1300 cases of psychiatric problems by Accutane users have been reported to the FDA as of December 2000. In 1986, Accutane's warning label stated some potential risk of depression linked to the drug but the US did not require US bottles to carry a suicide risk warning until 1999, as opposed to the French who required this as early as 1997.
In 2001, the FDA announced that new warning labels and consent forms would be required for Accutane users. The form urges patients to watch for signs.
Who is accountable?
The makers and distributors of Accutane, Hoffmann-LaRoche. To a certain degree Hoffmann-LaRoche knew some of the risks of depression caused by Accutane before the drug was released. Other information became apparent after the drug was released.
As uncovered by the Congressional Investigation on Accutane, Hoffmann-LaRoche attempted to suppress information about serious psychiatric risks of taking Accutane.
Additionally, record indicates that in 1997, an FDA memo detailing a teleconference call with representatives from Hoffmann-LaRoche agreed that there appeared to be a problem associated with Accutane and depression/suicide.
In regards to birth defects, Hoffmann-LaRoche and the FDA knew that retinoid medications have been associated with birth defects, miscarriages, and death of the baby.
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