The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers about the possibility of developing Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) as a serious side effect of Onfi, a popular anti-seizure medication. Used to treat the childhood-onset epilepsy known as Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS), Onfi now carries a strict warning on its label cautioning patients of the risk of a rare, yet dangerous, allergic skin reaction referred to as SJS. According to the FDA, Onfi SJS may occur at any time but is most likely to develop within the first eight weeks of taking the drug.

What is Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome?

More than 30,000 Americans suffer from the epileptic condition LGS, which is known to cause “debilitating seizures.” LGS is particularly dangerous to young children who appear to be developing normally, but gradually start to lose motor skills, resulting in frequent falls and uncontrollable seizures. An LGS prognosis may come as a result of brain injuries at birth or brain infections, but in as many as 30 percent of the cases, physicians can find no cause as to why a patient develops the epileptic condition.

While there is no known cure for LGS, physicians have used Onfi in conjunction with other drugs to treat the condition. A medication that now comes with a revised FDA warning to Onfi patients encouraging them to seek immediate medical attention if they start seeing SJS side effects.

Onfi SJS Symptoms

Onfi Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a life-threatening dermatological condition that spreads quickly across the body. The initial symptoms of Onfi SJS mimic the flu, featuring chills and body aches. Subsequently, a red or purple rash begins to appear on the skin and mucous membranes, followed by skin blisters eventually causing the top layer of the skin to die and shed.

Onfi SJS is an allergic skin reaction that covers 10 to 30 percent of the body. When the rash covers more than 30 percent of the body, the condition is then referred to as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). In both disorders, hospitalization is required because SJS and TEN are similar to fire burns and can take months to treat.

SJS and TEN treatments require doctors to focus their efforts to find out what medication is causing the dermatological condition in order to control the symptoms. Onfi SJS requires a permanent avoidance of the drug. Stevens-Johnson Syndrome has a 15 percent mortality rate, while a TEN diagnosis results in 40 percent fatalities.

Onfi SJS Lawsuits

Onfi lawsuits allege the drug’s manufacturer Lundbeck LLC failed to warn consumers about the serious SJS risks linked with taking the medication. Plaintiffs are seeking compensation for the high medical costs as well as pain and suffering associated with suffering from Onfi SJS. Lundbeck LLC is also being accused of negligence and product liability for not fully disclosing to the medical community or to consumers about the risk of developing SJS as a side effect of the drug.

If you have suffered from Onfi side effects you may be able to join a SJS class action lawsuit.