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If you have been suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, including Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis due to taking the drug Accutane, you may be wondering what legal recourse you have.

Thousands of people are currently suffering from varying degrees of bowel related diseases from taking the acne drug Accutane. Hundreds of lawsuits are being filed against the drug’s manufacturer, La Roche Pharmaceuticals on the basis that the company did not adequately warn its consumers of the potential side effects of this drug. Still, there has been no class action lawsuits filed against the company to date.

There are two main types of irritable bowel disease, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD). Ulcerative colitis settles in the large intestine or colon, while Crohn’s disease can attack any part of the intestinal tract but often the small intestine. Both diseases have a pattern of flaring up and going into remission. This waxing and waning process can go on for years or decades.

Accutane IBD manifestations can take several forms. In the case of Accutane and Crohn’s disease, the sufferer will endure potentially devastating damage to their digestive system, including the intestines, mouth and everywhere in between. This disease is primarily known for attacking the tissues in the bowel. It causes severe pain, problems digesting, diarrhea and numerous other symptoms. It can also result in the creation of unnatural pathways between the intestines and other organs. This usually requires surgical intervention.

Accutane and ulcerative colitis are also linked. Ulcerative colitis attacks the lining of the intestines specifically, causing ulcerations that sometimes extend to the anus. This disease, like Crohn’s disease, is extremely painful and leads to many of the same symptoms, though the damage is more localized to the colon, in most cases. Neither of these conditions can be cured. Once you develop one of these Accutane side effects, they persist for life.

First, it is important to understand what a class action case is. A class action lawsuit is where multiple plaintiffs join together forming a group that is represented as a single plaintiff. A lawsuit is filed on behalf of all the plaintiffs involved.

In this instance, the symptoms and disorders that have arisen due to taking Accutane vary widely. Individuals that have an action against La Roche have filed their lawsuits individually. The cases have been consolidated in what is called “multi-district litigation.” The cases are separate, but common aspects of the case, such as discovery, are supervised by a single judge.

So far, these cases have been extremely successful. Seven of the last lawsuits filed against the company have been won by the plaintiffs, which totaled over $50 million dollars in judgments against La Roche.

It is important to note that some of these lawsuits have been filed many years after the individuals actually took the drug. If you are experiencing symptoms of bowel disease, and have take the drug Accutane in the past, contact a qualified Accutane lawyer to learn what recourse you may have. You deserve to be compensated for your pain and suffering.