Researchers looked at data from 87 health insurance providers and found more than 8,000 people had been diagnosed with IBD. The data also showed that people taking Accutane were four times more likely to develop ulcerative colitis, and that a person’s risk of developing the disorder increased in relation to the size of the Accutane dose they were taking.

Roche is facing hundreds of lawsuits from people who say they were not adequately warned of side effects of the drug, claiming they suffered from a host of problems including bowel problems, depression and birth defects. To date, Roche has lost all six cases that have gone to trial, with jury awards totaling $56 million. Accutane is used by more than 16 million people worldwide since it was first introduced in the 1980s as a treatment for severe acne. Last June, Roche discontinued Accutane in the United States, citing mounting legal costs as the reason for the recall.

Earlier this year, Health Canada issued a warning about the safety of Accutane, saying it had received 66 reports of a rare but life-threatening allergic reaction known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) in people who used Accutane. The reports involved both children and adults, and resulted in two deaths.

SOURCE: Stevens Johnson Syndrome › Accutane linked to bowel problem, serious skin condition

The study is the largest conducted to-date focusing on Latino patients with the hepatitis C virus. The virus is a blood-borne infectious disease of the liver that can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and the need for liver transplants. Hepatitis C is reported to affect Latino patients differently than non-Latino patients. The Latino population is the largest-growing minority in the United States and has a higher prevalence of hepatitis C. The virus also has a faster progression and a much higher mortality among Latinos than non-Latinos.

PEGASYS is produced by New Jersey-based Hoffman-La Roche Inc. It can be used alone or in combination with COPEGUS, for the treatment of adults with chronic hepatitis C who have compensated liver disease. The medication was found most effective in patients with compensated liver disease and histological evidence of cirrhosis.

However, erythema multiforme major, also known as SJS, was reported among the serious adverse events that occurred during post-approval use of PEGASYS therapy. SJS is a rare but life-threatening reaction to medication that begins as a rash that blisters over, causing the skin to peel off in sheets. It also affects the mucus membranes, such as eyes, mouth and vagina, which can blister over and lead to dehydration, infection and serious eye problems such as blindness. More than 200 medications have been linked to SJS.

If you experience a rash or blistering while taking PEGASYS or any other medication, healthcare officials advise you contact your doctor and go to the emergency room.

SOURCE: Stevens Johnson Syndrome › Hepatitis C treatment proven effective but linked to SJS