Different medications are prescribed to Americans every single day. From treating migraine headaches to medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney disease, it seems there’s a pill for everything. And while we’ve all cringed at the laundry list of side effects spouted during a TV commercial, most of us don’t think about how serious the consequences of these drug interactions can be.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a potential side effect of many different over-the-counter drugs and prescription medications. However, most people have never heard of this rare skin condition. For that reason, many people are unaware of how to treat this condition. SJS and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are both very serious skin conditions that happen as side effects of various medications.

What is SJS?

Although rare, SJS is often deadly or carries long-term side effects. A catastrophic allergic reaction, SJS affects the mucous membrane, essentially resulting in the body burning from the inside out. Depending on the person and how severe of a case it is, the skin may blister and even peel off in sheets. Because of this, burn units often treat SJS victims.

What are the symptoms of SJS?

The first signs of SJS are usually found around the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, eyelids, and genital regions. Consequently, people will develop dark lesions on the skin, which often turn into painful blisters. Some of the other side effects of SJS include:

• Widespread rash
• Blisters or red lesions on the skin
• Blisters around the mouth, eyes, ears, nose, or genitals
• Swelling of the eyelids
• Fever and other flu-like symptoms

SJS is often misdiagnosed as the flu, which is extremely dangerous because SJS must be caught early if the patient is going to make a full recovery.

What Drugs Cause SJS?

The most common cause of SJS is an allergic reaction to a certain medication. Unfortunately, more than 200 medications link back to SJS. Here is a look at some of the over-the-counter drugs and prescription drugs that are most commonly associated with SJS and TEN:

• Penicillin, amoxicillin, and other antibiotics
• Sulfa drugs
• Medication prescribed for acne, such as Tetracycline and Accutane
• Anti-seizure medications
• Gout medications
• Herbal supplements with Ginseng
• Lamotrigine

Some drug manufacturers offer warnings, but the majority fail to even include the slightest warning about the potential risk of SJS. Drug companies have a duty to inform and protect consumers from the known adverse reactions of certain medications. When they fail to do so, they should be held accountable.

If you have been diagnosed with SJS after taking a prescription drug or over-the-counter medication, please contact the Stevens-Johnson Syndrome lawyers at Wormington & Bollinger today. Similarly, if your doctor failed to diagnose SJS or misdiagnosed your condition altogether, you may have a medical malpractice lawsuit on your hands. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.