Stevens Johnson Syndrome from Dilantin is a rare but dangerous side effect.

Dilantin (phenytoin) is an anticonvulsant that works by interfering with the impulses in the brain that cause seizures. Epileptic patients often take Dilantin for this reason.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a severe immune system response that usually begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough and burning eyes. It can progress to cause severe damage to the skin and mucous membranes.

Emergency medical care should be sought immediately if Stevens Johnson-specific symptoms arise. These include blisters on the skin and mucous membranes, hives, swollen face, swollen tongue or a red or purple raised rash. People who have experienced the condition liken it to being chemically burned from the inside out.

Between five to 15 percent of cases are fatal. Researchers are unsure why some patients are more susceptible to Stevens Johnson Syndrome, and some experts recommend that mention of the symptoms of the condition be added to Dilantin’s label.

Beware of Stevens Johnson Syndrome from Dilantin

It’s not clear why some patients develop Stevens Johnson Syndrome from Dilantin or other drugs. Anyone who has had one case of the severe reaction needs to avoid the offending medication and others in its class to prevent another occurrence.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome from Dilantin can progress to Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). TEN victims lose large sheets of skin that come off of the body in addition to painful sores in the mouth, eyes and other mucous membranes.

These mucous membranes react the same way the skin does, by filling up with fluid generated by the immune system in a severe allergic reaction to the medication. When large areas of raw skin are exposed, the chances of the patient developing infection, sepsis (blood infection) and death increase.

One woman who was misdiagnosed with the flu and sent home began to blister two days later and her skin began peeling away. She was admitted to a hospital where she was diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome and placed into a drug-induced coma because the pain was too intense for her to endure in a conscious state. Five weeks later, she awoke bald and with raw skin, but she did survive.

It is impossible to determine which rashes will develop into Stevens Johnson Syndrome from Dilantin and which rashes will remain relatively benign skin ailments. Any rash should be reported to a doctor immediately for evaluation.

If you or someone you know is taking Dilantin and develops a rash, contact your doctor immediately. It is not possible to know whether a rash will stay benign or if it might develop into the rare Stevens Johnson Syndrome or TEN. If you or someone you know has already endured Stevens Johnson Syndrome from Dilantin, a Stevens Johnson lawsuit may lead to compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other related expenses.