Doctors have noted an Advil skin reaction can progress to Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a severe allergic reaction.

Pfizer’s Advil is known generically as ibuprofen, a popular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory available in both over-the-counter and prescription dosages.

Characterized by large, painful fluid-filled pustules on the skin and mucous membranes, Stevens Johnson Syndrome can be disfiguring and even life-threatening. This possible Advil skin reaction can begin with a fever and rash, but progresses to blistering, painful skin peeling and open sores. The reaction can get out of control quickly, becoming fatal in 5% to 15% of cases.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome can quickly progress to full-blown Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), causing victims to shed large sheets of skin that come off of the body. Painful, raw sores develop in the mouth and eyes.

Mucous membranes fill 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.

Advil Skin Reaction Noted in Young Man

The National Institutes of Health reported a 22-year-old male experienced a “rare extremely ‘rapid onset’ occurrence of a severe case of Stevens Johnsons Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis” after taking three doses of 400 mg of ibuprofen every eight hours for eye pain.

The young man went to the emergency room because of blisters on his mouth that quickly spread to his trunk, chest, face and lower limbs by the third day. His skin extensively sloughed off of his face, and he developed painful erosions in his mouth, severe crusting of his lips, and increased salivation.

More than 50 percent of his body surface experienced fluid-filled cysts, which made it difficult to access veins on his arms and legs. Doctors made the decision to implant a central venous line to administer antibiotics through a main vein. The man needed a nasogastric tube, which allowed him to be fed through a tube inserted through his nose, past his throat, and down into his stomach.

Doctors conducted a plasma exchange, which is a medical procedure that separates and removes the plasma from the blood in order to remove an offending material, which in this case was the ibuprofen.

The young man received antibiotics to fight infection that could have developed in the Advil skin reaction. He also received corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and the opioid pain medication tramadol.

According to the National Institutes of Health, “The patient recovered completely after 5 weeks of intensive systemic and topical treatment.”

Upon the diagnosis and treatment of this Advil skin reaction, the medical community was warned to be aware that even drugs deemed “safe” can instigate life-threatening Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

If you have experienced an Advil skin reaction or any other type of life-threatening rash, you could benefit from speaking with legal counsel regarding your options for compensation.