-WFTV News

02/15/2010 - The family of an Apopka boy is in the process of filing suit against the maker of the prescription drug, Accutane. It's a medication that treats severe acne.

Accutane has been involved in hundreds of lawsuits because of its sometimes deadly side effects.

One 17-year-old boy says the drug made him so sick for so long that he can't attend school.

Zachary MacLoed says he's been dealing with acne for several years. His dermatologist prescribed several different medications, but nothing seemed to work so he started taking Accutane.

“After a couple of months I started having more side effects like that and I started having problems in the bathroom; having to go the bathroom much more frequently,” he said.

MacLoed estimates he was on the acne medication for about six months and now, one year later, he was diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel disease also known as IBD.

“It’s bad. It's sever pain and it becomes debilitating. I can’t stay away from the bathroom the entire day sometimes,” MacLoed said.

It's so bad, MacLoed can't go to school and is now home-schooled.

A spokesperson for Accutane says the company is currently defending more than 600 claims for personal injuries due to Accutane, including IBD.

MacLoed says his doctor told him the drug was linked to birth defects and suicides, but never told him about IBD.

“If you don’t give someone all the information that you have and allow them to take medication knowing full well what can happen to their bodies, that negligence,” MacLoeds attorney said.

Accutane claims there has been a warning about IBD for more than 20 years. Last June, the company stopped manufacturing the drug because of business reasons and not because of safety.

MacLoed says if he knew about IBD, he probably would have thought twice before taking the drug.

“It has completely changed my life,” he said.

Accutane has been at the center of several lawsuits. The acne medication’s manufacturer, Roche Pharmaceuticals, has been hit with more than $33 million in damages because of the controversial drug's side effects.

In addition to bowel problems, Accutane is known to cause severe depression, suicidal thoughts, birth defects and liver damage.

Accutane Side Effects

Accutane as well as other brands Sotret, Isotretinoin, Roaccutane, Claravis and Amnesteem have been known to cause serious side effects such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease also known as IBD, Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease. Why these drugs cause the above side effects is not fully known but if you have experienced stomach issues or rectal bleeding you should consult with your physician.

Accutane Class Action Lawsuit Information