With James Marshall’s high-profile Accutane trial, the world has gained a rare view into what it is like to live with the side effects of this drug including Accutaneinflammatory bowel diseaseslike Accutane ulcerative colitisand Accutane Crohn’s disease.
But what’s the difference between the two Accutane IBDs?
It turns out the difference is mostly a matter of location. Accutane ulcerative colitis typically affects the large intestine or colon, whereas Accutane Crohn’s disease can cause lesions anywhere along the digestive tract from the throat to the anus.
Neither Accutane bowel disease is a pleasant affliction. Both can result in lifelong health problems that can break the bank with high treatment costs.
That has been true for the three plaintiffs involved in the James Marshall trial. All are asking for damages to cover not only past medical expenses but a lifetime of future treatment.
Accutane Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis – both can be devastating
Accutane Crohn’s and Accutane ulcerative colitis aren’t easily distinguishable. Sometimes a doctor misdiagnoses a patient at first, but accurately diagnoses him or her only after an “episode” allows for a more specific determination of the cause of a patient’s problems.
The symptoms of both Accutane inflammatory bowel diseases are similar. But patients afflicted with Accutane ulcerative colitis often experience pain in the lower left of the abdomen and experience rectal bleeding during bowel movements.
Bleeding is less prevalent among those who have Crohn’s.
Another main difference in the two Accutane inflammatory bowel diseases is the pattern of inflammation. In Crohns disease, inflammation usually occurs in patches throughout the digestive tract. In Accutane ulcerative colitis inflammation is generally localized.
No known cure for either of these Accutane Inflamatory Bowel Diseases
There is no cure for either of the conditions. A patient can only hope to mitigate the painful symptoms. In most cases, patients afflicted with both Accutane IBDs are prescribed medications such as corticosteroids. Sometimes surgery is necessary, as is the case for James Marshall. His entire colon was removed following 2 courses of Accutane.
It is unclear exactly how Accutane causes these inflammatory bowel diseases and although the connection seems well established, Roche continues to maintain that the link between IBD and Accutane has not been conclusively proven and that warnings provided regarding the risks associated with Accutane inflammatory bowel disease were adequate.
Source: accutanelawsuit-info.com