Accutane Linked to Rare Disease?

Troutville, VADerrick was told by his high school friends that Accutane was the miracle drug: it would clear up his acne, and his doctor said as much. “Even if I did know of Accutane side effects 25 years ago, clearing up my skin and getting girls was top priority,” says Derrick. The lyrics of that famous song, ‘I was so much younger then, I’m older than that now,’ have come back to haunt me.” Derrick now suffers from Accutane Ulcerative Colitis and Behçet’s disease.

“In retrospect I was a bit suspicious of Accutane because my doctor ordered blood tests every month or so to check my liver - I remember that distinctly,” says Derrick, adding that he never had any health issues until his early 20s when he had stomach problems, including ulcers and a hernia.

“I wanted to drink with the guys but I couldn’t: I guess that was a good thing because it kept me out of trouble,” Derrick laughs.

His stomach problems were getting more frequent and more intense, but Derrick just chalked it up to a virus or food poisoning - he used to dine out a lot. By the time he was in his 30s, however, Derrick noticed blood in his stool: it was time to see a doctor.

“My doctor diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but told me that I would be fine if I was careful with my diet,” says Derrick. “He was being optimistic. About that time, I saw ads on TV about Accutane Ulcerative Colitis and Accutane lawsuits so I put two and two together and saw a few gastroenterologists. After my first colonoscopy, the specialist said Accutane was not to blame and more or less asked me why I was there. I told him that my doctor diagnosed IBS and he said that was a good possibility. He then took a biopsy (which showed nothing untoward) and removed a few polyps.

“I found the results hard to believe because my health was going downhill. I was spending more time on the toilet than the couch and more time in the bathroom than with my family.”

Derrick got a second opinion. Again the specialist didn’t think Accutane was linked to his bowel problems and prescribed some meds that helped somewhat. Derrick was going to the bathroom a few times a day rather than six or more times. Then something happened that gave him an answer to his bowel problems.

“In 2011, I had the opportunity to work for the postal service - I became a mailman but slipped down some steps and hurt my back,” Derrick explains. “I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t get any better. My lower back constantly hurt and I couldn’t do any physical labor - I definitely couldn’t carry a mailbag. I was finally diagnosed with Behçet’s disease, a rare and poorly understood condition that causes inflammation of the blood vessels.

“I saw a GI in NYC who has seen a few hundred people with this so-called ‘silk road disease.’ He told me that it came from Asia, but I have never been there. How in the world would I get something like that? I did find out that some Accutane attorneys have this disease linked to Accutane on their website. From what I understand, Accutane lawsuits only include plaintiffs suffering from Accutane Ulcerative Colitis and Accutane Crohns Disease, but maybe there are many other people suffering from Behçet’s. If so, I think the Accutane makers should be held responsible and accountable.”