Users of the anticonvulsant Tegretol have begun reporting serious adverse side effects after taking the medication.  Some users who have taken Tegretol have suffered Tegretol side effects such as Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

What is Tegretol ?

Tegretol (carbamazepine) is used to seizures, nerve pain, and bipolar disorder. It has also been prescribed off-label to treat certain behavioral disorders, phantom-limb syndrome, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is an anti-epileptic drug that decreases nerve impulses that can cause seizures as well as pain.

When uric acid levels are too high in the body it can cause gout and kidney disease and other serious problems.

It is distributed by the Swiss-based pharmaceutical company Novartis.

Tegretol  Side Effects

Tegretol side effects can be very serious. The Tegretol warning label includes a black-box warning that the anti-epileptic drug may cause a severe skin rash that is potentially fatal. Black box warnings are for severe and potentially fatal side effects.

The severe skin diseases that Tegretol has been linked to is Stevens Johnson Syndrome and its more severe form, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

Steven Johnson Syndrome is a serious disease that affects the skin and mucus membranes of the body.  If left untreated the disease can require hospitalization and in some cases lead to death. Stevens Johnson Syndrome is often a result of an allergic reaction to medication.

The first signs of Stevens Johnson Syndrome often appear as flu-like symptoms.  A person may experience fever, sore mouth and throat, fatigue and burning eyes.

Eventually the symptoms develop into facial and tongue swelling, skin pain, blisters and a quickly spreading red or purple rash.  In severe cases the person may experience the shedding of skin.

In truly serious cases Stevens Johnson Syndrome can turn into Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.  Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis shares the same symptoms as Stevens Johnson Syndrome but covers a much larger area of the body.

People who have Stevens Johnson Syndrome often require hospitalization for several weeks to several months.

Patients may be treated in the burn ward of the hospital with treatment focused on keeping the patient hydrated and relieving symptoms.

Medical professionals generally have the patient stop taking any medications they believe may be causing the symptoms.  A patient should not stop taking a medication without first consulting their medical professional.

Tegretol Side Effects Lawsuits

In 2012, a New York woman who allegedly suffered from brain damage caused by Stevens Johnson Syndrome caused by an anti-epileptic drugs was awarded $120 million. It was not revealed which anti-epileptic drug caused the woman’s SJS rash.

Lawsuits against the pharmaceutical manufacturers of Tegretol would likely allege that the company failed to warn consumers about serious potential risks associated with taking the medication.

Legal professionals are looking for potential plaintiffs who may want to bring Tegretol Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuits.