Accutane is a medication prescribed to patients suffering from cystic acne, a particularly severe form of acne whereby bright red cysts form on the skin of the sufferer. Generally, the blemishes form due to hormonal changes during youth and are sometimes unavoidable, even with excellent hygiene. Accutane is typically reserved for these very severe cases of cystic acne, though there have been recent reports that in the more than 25 years the drug was offered, it was overprescribed. This led to the unnecessary exposure of millions of people to the extremely serious side effects of Accutane.

One such Accutane side effect that has been discussed is an increase in triglycerides and cholesterol. Though this side effect does not typically remain after the Accutane treatment is completed, it is something that people who take the drug should be aware of. Increased triglycerides and cholesterol levels can lead to hypertension and drastically increase the risk of the sufferer developing heart disease.

Yet another temporary Accutane's effect is hair loss. The inflammation of the blood vessels surrounding the hair follicles often causes hair to fall out of patients who are taking Accutane. Though there have been some reports on patients who suffered permanent hair loss, most of the time the hair will resume its normal growth after Accutane treatment has ceased.

One of the more serious Accutane side effects is Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). SJS is a rare side effect that leads to a serious skin reaction whereby a severe rash forms. In more serious cases, the skin blisters and burns from the inside out. In these more serious cases of SJS, the patient must seek out intensive care to treat the issue or it may become fatal. Anyone with a history of taking Accutane who notices a strange rash or blister should have it immediately checked out by a medical professional.

The most common serious Accutane side effect, of course, is inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS). One recent study indicated that people who take Accutane are four times more likely to develop some forms of IBS. IBS is a serious, debilitating condition that affects the digestive tract. In the most serious cases, the sufferer has no option but to have his colon surgically removed. This has led to a wave of Accutane IBS lawsuits.

If you have a history of taking Accutane and have suffered adverse side effects, you might qualify to bring an Accutane lawsuit. The lawyers of the Rottenstein Law Group have been serving their clients' interests in civil litigation for over 25 years