More strict warnings on over-the-counter drugs have made their way onto product labels in the last few years with respect to painkillers like ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Individuals using these drugs have a small increased risk of suffering from a heart attack or stroke.

However, a different side effect caused by an Advil injury landed a woman in the burn unit at a local hospital that nearly took her life.

Donna was on vacation when she began feeling ill. She decided to take a few Advil to help her get some rest in hopes of feeling better. Little did she know that taking the over-the-counter drug would have had such serious consequences.

Donna’s eyes and face became swollen and she discovered a rash that had spread all over her trunk. After she was admitted to the hospital, she was sent to the burn unit where she was diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

After her diagnosis, Donna’s husband said he jumped on the Internet and started googling her condition to try and find out more about it. He says that his wife was fighting to keep her eyesight, and the hospital put amniotic membranes in her eyes to help her heal.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a rare drug reaction that can occur in response to just about any drug, but is more common in over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, with brand names such as Advil and Tylenol.

Initially, the symptoms of SJS resemble that of the flu. Individuals may have a sore throat, fever, chills, pain, headache, malaise, weakness and dizziness.

Many initially write this off as part of their illness, or transient reaction to a drug. After the flulike symptoms, the characteristic Stevens Johnson Syndrome rash begins to appear.

The rash consists of red or purple blisters that appear in the mucous membranes of the body as well as anywhere on the skin. A small patch can be affected, and in some extreme cases, almost the entire body can be covered in the rash – a condition that is then diagnosed as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

There is no cure for SJS or TEN, and patients are simply stabilized in the hospital until the reactions subsides. Permanent organ damage may occur and sometimes the disease is fatal. The mortality rate for SJS is approximately 5 to 15 percent, while it’s is approximately 25 to 40 percent for patients diagnosed with TEN.

An infectious disease researcher said that they still are not sure why certain people who take over-the-counter or prescription drugs and up having a reaction resulting in Stevens Johnson Syndrome. He says all that they do know is that the reactions are relatively rare, but they do occur.

He also states that in general, people should not be buried about sustaining an Advil injury such as Stevens Johnson Syndrome, but that uncommon side effects should still be monitored and that even over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen must still be taken with caution.

The researcher stated that there was a greater chance of suffering from nausea and gastrointestinal bleeding as a result of an Advil injury as opposed to developing Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

He also states that people should continue to be vigilant and on the lookout for symptoms related to the disease in order to receive prompt intervention.

Donna’s husband hopes stories like his wife’s Advil injury will assist in bringing about change. He’s not sure if strengthening the warnings on product labels is the answer, or where the answer lies, but he realizes that he Stevens Johnson Syndrome reaction can happen to anyone at any time.

If you or a loved one has developed Stevens Johnson Syndrome as a result of an Advil injury, you may be able to pursue legal compensation for your injuries. An experienced attorney can review your case at no charge and can help you understand if you are eligible to take legal action against the drug manufacturer to recover damages related to medical care, loss of earnings, pain and suffering and more.