Accutane Recall

Accutane (isotretinoin), a popular acne medication introduced in the early 1980s, has an extensive history of dangerous side effects and public scrutiny. While Accutane has been touted by some as a miracle drug for those with severe acne, a growing body of evidence has shown the drug's potential to cause several serious effects including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), birth defects and suicide, among others.

Accutane's Withdrawal from the U.S. Market

In light of these findings, Accutane's questionable safety profile has drawn a great deal of criticism from lawmakers, health care professionals and the general public.

In response to this mounting bad press, the maker of the drug, Roche Pharmaceuticals, quietly pulled Accutane from the U.S. market and those of 11 other countries in 2009. The company did not cite the medication's side effects as the reason for the discontinuation, but instead maintained the withdrawal was initiated because of growing competition from generics and the mounting number of Accutane lawsuits against the company.

If you have experienced serious side effects following the use of Accutane, you may have legal options to seek compensation to cover the cost of medical expenses, pain and suffering. For additional information about Accutane lawsuits, please call 1-800-439-8180 or fill out the form on this page.

Ongoing Public Action Against Accutane

Despite Accutane's removal from the U.S. market, many consumer advocates have criticized Roche Pharmaceuticals and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for not doing enough to warn and protect patients from the drug's dangerous side effects.

Critics also maintain that widespread use of Accutane further accentuates the potential breadth of Accutane's negative effects. During the more than 25 years that Accutane was sold in the U.S., more than 13 million patients were prescribed the medication. Many consumer advocates criticize the fact that Accutane continues to remain in use in Canada and a number of other countries throughout the world. The medication is also still available in the United States in certain generic versions.

Accutane opponents have lobbied Congress and stressed the need for stronger consumer protection measures to keep patients informed about the dangerous side effects of many pharmaceutical drugs. Many patients who believe they have suffered unjustly because of Accutane have also sought legal recourse with an Accutane lawyer.