Most people think that when taken in accordance with the directions on the label, over-the-counter drugs are the safest.

However, this simply isn’t the case, and over-the-counter medications can cause any number of deleterious side effects in the individuals taking them.

One such medication that seems relatively inert is acetaminophen, name brand Tylenol. Tylenol side effects can be so severe, they may even cause death.

Tylenol Side Effects Include Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Many people may have heard that Tylenol is hard on the liver, and that care should be taken in using the drug.

Others may have heard that taking just one dose of Tylenol can deplete the body’s reserves of glutathione, the body’s master antioxidant.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is perhaps the most severe of Tylenol side effects, as it can be fatal.

The symptoms of Stevens Johnson Syndrome often start out resembling the flu. Individuals may have sore throat, fever, body aches, chills, malaise and more.

Many may think that these symptoms are related to the original problems that caused them to seek relief in the first place.

It is usually only when the characteristic Stevens Johnson Syndrome rash develops that patients begin to question their symptoms.

The rash associated with Stevens Johnson Syndrome consists of purple or red blisters which can appear anywhere on the body and are often found in the mucous membranes.

These blisters cause the skin cells to die and flake off of the body, exposing the more delicate layers of skin beneath the surface. Patients affected by SJS often look like a burn victims due to the damage caused by the rash.

The rash can quickly spread and can cover a small amount of the body or even up to more than 90% of the body in certain situations.

Typically, if 10% or less of the body is affected by the rash, Stevens Johnson Syndrome is diagnosed. When more than 30% is affected by the rash, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, a more severe form of SJS, is diagnosed. Between 10 and 30% of the skin covered by the rash is considered overlap.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome can develop at any time a medication is taken. While many individuals may experience an SJS reaction the first time taking Tylenol or another drug, it is also not uncommon to have had no prior problems with the drug for months or years of having taken it, and SJS seems to appear apparently out of nowhere.

There is no cure for Stevens Johnson Syndrome. Patients must stop using the offending medication that was responsible for their reaction and emergency medical help and hospitalization must be secured. Patients are often treated in the hospital’s burn unit or in the intensive care unit.

Treatment is given to stabilize the patient, including wound care, pain management, hydration and nutrition and other interventions are undertaken to keep patients comfortable as the reaction subsides.

For some, SJS may only last a couple of days to a week or two. For others, months of hospitalization may be necessary to get the condition under control to the point where the patient is stable enough to go home.

The mortality rate from Stevens Johnson syndrome is approximately 10 to 15%, for patients suffering from toxic epidermal necrolysis, the mortality rate increases from 25 to 35%.

It is important that when you are taking Tylenol that you are aware of any potential Tylenol side effects that resemble those of Stevens Johnson Syndrome so that you may seek prompt medical attention.