Accutane tied to IBD

A New Jersey jury recently awarded three plaintiffs a total of $12.9 million dollars over allegations that the acne drug Accutane caused them to contract IBD. Roche, the maker of the drug originally advised doctors of a possible association between Accutane and IBD in 1984. During the course of the trail it was uncovered that subsequent data demonstrating that Accutane was actually inducing IBD was known by Roche, but they did not communicate this elevated risk to patients or doctors.

Link to article.

New finding shows promise for diagnosing pediatric Crohn’s.

Link to press release.

Study: Old remedies for IBS better than new drugs.

A recent study funded by the American College of Gastroenterology finds that the older remedies like peppermint oil and fiber are more effect in treating IBS than the newer drugs. Quoting Dr. Alexander C. Ford, MD, researcher in this study,

“Most of the treatments we examined have fallen out of clinical favor,” he says. “But they work, they are cheap, and they’re far less toxic than some of the newer drugs.”

Perhaps the peppermint oil could be helpful for people on the SCD who are struggling with diarrhea.