Product liability attorneys are currently looking for potential plaintiffs to bring Dilantin lawsuits against the pharmaceutical manufacturer, Pfizer.

Approximately 100 Dilantin lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of Dilantin and its generic version, phenytoin, with several dangerous drug lawsuits alleging that the medication caused a serious and potentially fatal allergic reaction known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

What is Dilantin?

Dilantin (phenytoin) is a popular anticonvulsant medication prescribed to treat seizures attributed to epilepsy. The drug received FDA approval and was released on the market in November of 2001. The seizure medication affects the function of a person’s brain cells.

During a seizure, brain cells begin to work at a much faster rate than normal. Dilantin works by preventing brain cells from firing off altogether, so seizures are controlled when they are just beginning. Dilantin does not treat all types of seizures.

Unfortunately for many patients, Dilantin has been linked to the development of Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a rare but serious condition of the mucus and skin membranes. While SJS can be caused by various factors, many cases occur due to allergic reactions to medications such as Dilantin.

Symptoms of SJS generally begin as flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, and burning eyes. After a few days these symptoms generally turn more physical and include a quickly spreading red or purple rash, hives, blisters on the skin and mucus membranes, skin and facial swelling, and in truly serious cases, the shedding or sloughing off of large patches of skin.

In the most severe cases Stevens Johnson Syndrome may develop into Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, or TEN. Patients experiencing TEN generally suffer from similar symptoms to Stevens Johnson Syndrome but the symptoms cover a much larger expanse of the body.  According to a study based on information provided by 15 US burn centers, 20% of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis are the result of an allergic reaction to Dilantin.

Patients experiencing symptoms of SJS or TEN should seek medical attention immediately. Victims of this rare allergic reaction often require hospitalization and intense rehabilitation therapy.

Patients are usually treated in the burn ward of the hospital with treatment primarily focused on relieving SJS symptoms and keeping the patient hydrated. In some cases, the patient must be hospitalized for weeks or even months.

Dilantin SJS Lawsuits

Many victims have filed Dilantin SJS lawsuits against Pfizer and the generic Dilantin makers, Mylan Pharmaceuticals and Baxter Healthcare. Awards and settlements from these Dilantin lawsuits have helped victims pay expensive medical bills and serves as a small step towards compensating victims for the pain and suffering they have been forced to endure due to taking the anticonvulsant medication.

Dilantin SJS lawsuits allege that the pharmaceutical manufacturers violated consumer protection laws and failed to warn the medical community and general public about serious side effects associated with taking the medication.