The anticonvulsant, Aptiom, is used to treat partial onset seizures in adults, but a serious skin condition, Aptiom Stevens Johnson Syndrome can occur as a life-threatening side effect.

What is Aptiom?

Aptiom is an anticonvulsant that is known generically as eslicarbazepine. It works by decreasing the nerve pulses that cause pain and seizures. It is used alone or with other drugs to treat partial onset seizures in adults.

A partial onset seizure is when only a part of the brain is involved in the seizure and can vary tremendously in their effects on the person’s behavior, sensation or movement. This effect varies depending on what part of the brain is involved.

Aptiom has some adverse effects including tiredness, dizziness, impaired coordination, gastrointestinal disorders, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, rash and low sodium blood levels.

A more serious side effect is a skin condition called Aptiom Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

What is Aptiom Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

Some medications can trigger a dermatologic response in patients called Stevens Johnson Syndrome. Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or SJS, is a serious condition.

Aptiom Stevens Johnson Syndrome can occur as a reaction to taking the drug. It is a life-threatening skin disorder that begins with flu-like symptoms.

The condition of Aptiom Stevens Johnson Syndrome is often undetected in the beginning stages because the symptoms are not unlike the flu but then progress to a skin rash. The skin rash turns into large blisters over the surface of the skin and the mucous membranes.

The skin lesions from Aptiom Stevens Johnson Syndrome causes cell death and the epidermis to separate from the dermis. It can attack eyes and the mouth as well.

Those who suffer from Aptiom Stevens Johnson Syndrome can suffer from permanent scarring and possible eye complications as well including severe conjunctivitis, corneal blisters and holes and vision loss.

In extreme cases, Aptiom Stevens Johnson Syndrome can progress into a condition called toxic epidermal necrolysis, or TEN. Toxic epidermal necrolysis is when Aptiom Stevens Johnson Syndrome covers a large portion of the patient’s body.

TEN can lead to death of the patient if left untreated because of the severe risk of infection. Both of these conditions are treated with the utmost urgency and are usually treated in a hospital’s burn ward. Recovery from Aptiom Stevens Johnson Syndrome can take from weeks to months.

Aptiom Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a serious disease and should be treated immediately. If you believe you have experienced Stevens Johnson Syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis as cause by Aptiom use, you may be entitled to legal compensation. An experienced Aptiom Stevens Johnson Syndrome attorney is waiting to help.