Piroxicam May Be Linked to SJS, TEN

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Piroxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), a class of drugs designed to provide pain relief and reduce inflammation while avoiding the serious side effects associated with steroids and narcotics. However, it turns out that this drug may be linked to serious side effects of its own, including potentially lethal reactions like Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

NSAIDs like Piroxicam are designed to avoid certain complications associated with other inflammation, fever, and pain-relieving drugs. For example, steroids mimic hormones, which can cause serious side effects like a depressed immune system while narcotics have a great potential for addiction due to their euphoric effects. Since NSAIDs work on a variety of different mechanisms, they tend to block pain and inflammation without triggering these issues. However, NSAIDS like Piroxicam and many other drugs carry a risk of autoimmune reactions.

In autoimmune reactions, the body attacks its own tissue, treating it like an invading disease-causing organism. In SJS, the body attacks its own skin. The reaction starts with general flulike symptoms. Many disorders and diseases start this way, since the body’s immune system causes the same symptoms regardless of what it’s attacking. During this phase, patients typically experience flulike symptoms, including chills, fever, and muscle aches. However, the symptoms rapidly escalate to blister, then sores, and then ulcers on the skin and mucus membranes. In some cases, the reaction can spread to the eyes and even the internal organs.

The most serious cases of SJS escalate to a disorder called TEN. In TEN, patches of the skin die and slough off, leaving damage almost identical to severe thermal burns. In fact, hospitals often treat TEN in burn wards, since patients face the risks of the same complications. This can include secondary infection, scarring, hypothermia, and dehydration. While both SJS and TEN can kill, the mortality rate jumps from 5 to 15 percent in SJS up to 40 percent in TEN.

Lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of drugs linked to SJS and TEN. These lawsuits allege that drug manufacturers knew or reasonably should have known about the serious risks associated with their products. These SJS/TEN lawsuits further allege that manufacturers downplayed, or even actively concealed, these risks from patients and health care providers.

If you or someone you care about used Piroxicam and went on to suffer SJS or TEN, you’ve almost certainly been through a trying ordeal. Even the mildest case of SJS can be a medical emergency, and can require weeks of intensive medical care. This situation often carries with it financial challenges, like lost wages and medical costs.

It is important to remember that regardless of the situation you’ve found yourself facing, you still have rights and there are steps that you can take to regain a measure of control over your situation. You can start by visiting the Stevens Johnson (SJS) & Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Here, you can enter information about your situation for a free legal review by a trained expert with a background in this type of litigation. The initial consultation is completely free of charge, so visit today!