Inflammatory bowel disease or IBD is the name of a group of disorders that can cause the intestines to become severely inflamed. Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are both considered to be Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Crohn’s Disease can affect any area from the mouth to the anus but often affects the lower part of the small intestine called the ileum. Ulcerative Colitis causes ulcers in the lining of the rectum and colon where inflammation has killed the cells that usually line the colon. Accutane has been linked to Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Severe diarrhea or rectal urgency is often the first noticeable symptom of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. . Some people may have diarrhea 10 to 20 times per day. Rectal bleeding is also a common symptom of these conditions. You should consult your doctor if you are experiencing any of the following conditions:
Based on your symptoms, your doctor may suspect that you have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. A gastroenterologist will probably order a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy to look inside your intestines. Your doctor may also test your bowel movements for bacteria and blood to help make a diagnosis
If you are diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis it is essential to eat well. It may also be helpful to reduce the amount of fiber and dairy products in your diet. It is also vital that you get enough rest and learn to manage stress. Lack of sleep and stress can cause your intestinal problems to get worse.
Many different medications are commonly used to reduce inflammation associated with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
Anti-Inflammatory Drugs:
Azulfidine (sulfasalazine)
Asacol (mesalamine)
Dipentum (olsalazine)
Pentasa (mesalamine)
Rowasa (mesalamine rectal suspension enema)
Corticosteroids:
Deltasone (prednisone)
Liquid Pred (prednisone)
Meticorten (prednisone)
Orasone (prednisone)
Prednicen-M (prednisone)
Sterapred (prednisone)
Sterapred DS (prednisone)
Immunosuppressants:
Imuran (azathioprine)
Purinethol (mercaptopurine)
Antibiotics:
Flagyl (metronidazole)
Cipro (ciprofloxacin)
Biologics:
Remicade (infliximab)
Humira (adalimumab)
There are typically two reasons why surgery would be recommended to a patient with ulcerative colitis. First, if the patient is unresponsive to medications then surgery may be recommended. Second, patients with ulcerative colitis have a higher risk of developing colon cancer so careful monitoring of the colon by colonoscopy is recommended. If tests reveal cancerous or precancerous changes in the colon surgery will be required.
Up to 70% of patients with Crohn's disease require surgery at some point in the course of their disease. However, surgery is not successful in Crohn’s Disease patients as it is in Ulcerative Colitis patients. The risk of having Crohn's disease return after surgery is approximately 70-85% within 10-15 years after surgery. Surgery in Crohn’s disease patients is typically performed if the patient is not responding to or is intolerant of the medications.
If you or a loved one was prescribed Accutane or a generic version of Isotretinoin, and developed Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Collitis you have legal rights. Contact Mark & Associates, P.C. today for a free Accutane lawsuit consultation. You can request a free consultation by calling 1-866-50-RIGHTS (1-866-507-4448) or by completing a case evaluation form on the right side of this page.