Liver Damage/Hepatitis/Hepatoxicity
Liver Damage, including elevated liver enzymes and Clinical Hepatitis are among the known Accutane side effects. Most unfortunately, if liver problems develop, they do not necessarily go away once Accutane is discontinued.
The liver is a critical organ as it is the main filter in the body. A diseased or malfunctioning liver is a serious health condition that requires immediate medical attention.
From the Accutane Medication Guide:
Certain symptoms may mean that your internal organs are being damaged. These organs include the liver, pancreas, bowel (intestines), and esophagus (connection between mouth and stomach). If your organs are damaged, they may not get better even after you stop taking Accutane. Stop taking Accutane and call your prescriber if you get severe stomach, chest or bowel pain, trouble swallowing or painful swallowing, new or worsening heartburn, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, yellowing of your skin or eyes, or dark urine.
From the current Accutane Product Label:
Clinical hepatitis considered to be possibly or probably related to Accutane therapy has been reported. Additionally, mild to moderate elevations of liver enzymes have been observed in approximately 15% of individuals treated during clinical trials, some of which normalized with dosage reduction or continued administration of the drug. If normalization does not readily occur or if hepatitis is suspected during treatment with Accutane, the drug should be discontinued and the etiology further investigated.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the liver caused by infectious or toxic agents. Untreated hepatitis can result in permanent liver damage, liver failure, liver cancer and death. Hepatitis takes many different forms. For more information about Hepatitis, there are excellent resources available on the web. A good source is MedlinePlus sponsored by the National Institutes of Health
Hepatotoxicity
Hepatotoxicity is a term that refers to chemically-driven liver damage, most often a side effect of medication. The definition of hepatotoxicity means a toxic (or poisoned) liver.
Symptoms
Symptoms of liver disease include: jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes); fever, liver enlargement; abdominal pain, dark or discolored urine; pale stools; malaise or fatigue; loss of appetite; distended abdominal region; unexplained itching, nausea, vomiting and weight loss; and elevated liver enzymes. Seek immediate medical attention if you have used Accutane and are experiencing any of these symptoms.
If you or a loved one has suffered liver damage or complications from taking Accutane, please call or e-mail today and we will evaluate your Accutane claim for free.