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Steven Johnson syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are rare, but potentially fatal, drug-induced complications known as mucocutaneous (relating to the mucous membranes) reactions.
Both SJS and TEN are characterized by fever, malaise, facial puffiness, mucous membrane eruptions, skin lesions, vomiting, and skin eruptions, and in adults have been linked to the anti-seizure medication Dilantin (phenytoin) and Phenytek, Dilantin’s bioequivalent, commonly used to treat epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition affecting the nervous system that is manifested by seizures. It is typically diagnosed after a person has had at least two seizures, separated by at least 24 hours, which were not caused by some known medical condition.
The Epilepsy Foundation defines epilepsy as a condition in which there is a disruption of the electrical communication between neurons, resulting in seizures.
Worldwide, 65 million people suffer from epilepsy, and more than 2 million of them in the United States. There are 150,000 new cases of epilepsy diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.
According to a 2013 article published by the National Institutes of Health, a case-control study found that of 73 patients taking anti-epileptic drugs, 14 reported suffering Stevens Johnson Syndrome.
Phenytoin is the most commonly prescribed anti-epileptic drug for adults. In 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning that Dilantin (phenytoin) and Phenytek carried an increased risk of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a reaction that is precipitated by flu-like symptoms which are followed by a potentially life-threatening skin disease with a rash similar to a burn, open sores and skin peeling.
Other warning signs of Stevens Johnson Syndrome include painful blisters of the mucous membranes; blisters on the eyes, nose, mouth, and genitals; sloughing off of skin in large patches; joint and muscle pain; a burning sensation all over the body; and a purplish rash that spreads.
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) is an even more dangerous form of SJS that is characterized by blisters that meld into one another, covering a substantial portion of the body. The skin sloughs off in sheets and the exposed under layer of the skin, known as the dermis, is red and looks like it was scalded. There is no cure for either disease.
Between 5 percent and 15 percent of SJS patients die from the side effects, while about up to 40 percent of TEN patients succumb to the reaction. Those who survive face a number of residual medical problems including a secondary skin infection (cellulitis), sepsis, blindness, internal organ damage and permanent skin damage.
A study of 15 burn centers across the United States concluded that Dilantin side effects may have been the cause of more than 20 percent of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis cases, 25 percent of which resulted in death.
At least 100 people have filed Dilantin lawsuits claiming that the drug caused SJS or TEN.
In 2010, Pfizer, the manufacturer of Dilantin, settled for $3.78 million with the family of a 9-year-old New York girl who died in 2004 after suffering drug-induced Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis after taking Dilantin and another Pfizer drug, Flagyl, an anti-fungal medication.
All of the girl’s skin peeled off her body, resulting in her death. When the skin blisters and later peels off the body in large swaths, sepsis (blood infection) and cellulitis (secondary skin infection) become much more likely.
Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The SJS attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or Dilantin class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, Dilantin lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.
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Help for Victims of Stevens Johnson Syndrome
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) after taking a prescribed or over-the-counter medication, you may be eligible to take legal action against the drug’s manufacturer. Filing an SJS lawsuit or class action lawsuit may help you obtain compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages. Obtain a free and confidential review of your case by filling out the form below.
An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you.
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