Blood Pressure Medication May Cause Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Procardia is used to treat hypertension, but is also prescribed to treat high blood pressure and to help soothe chest pain. Procardia is a part of the dihydropyridine drug family, which is well-known for its calcium channel blocking ability. Procardia works by relaxing the blood vessels in the heart, so the organ does not have to pump as hard or as fast to keep up with the body’s movements. Additionally, the drug also increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart, and helps filter out carbon dioxide.Procardia was primarily developed to help control blood pressure levels in high-risk patients over the age of 55. However, as the years went by, it was also used to treat hypertension and chest pain. While many have enjoyed the positive results from this drug, it has been noted there have been several injury reports indicating SJS. If left untreated, SJS can spread throughout the body, which could be fatal for the patient.

Procardia Stevens Johnson Syndrome Complications

Procardia is just one of many medications associated with Stevens Johnson Syndrome. SJS is a rare and severe allergic skin reaction. SJS can quickly evolve into its latent cousin, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). Both conditions are identified by red or purple skin lesions which appear in different areas on the patient’s body. SJS typically covers about 10 to 30 percent of the body, while TEN can cover up to 90 percent of the body. Additionally, these conditions can cause permanent scarring and damage the patient’s eyesight.

If Stevens Johnson Syndrome were to occur, it typically would occur within the first two weeks of starting the medication, and would start with flulike symptoms followed by discolored lesions. Due to the nature of the injuries associate with SJS and TEN, patients are often treated as burn patients. For this reason, when patients are diagnosed they are treated with the utmost urgency, due to the rapid progression of this reaction.

Despite the severity of this condition, pharmaceutical companies seldom mention Stevens Johnson Syndrome on their products’ labels. While it is a rare condition, with only 300 cases diagnosed in the United States per year, the consequences are serious enough for the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to send citations to companies who are found not to have included a warning about SJS when it was a known side effect. Even if pharmaceutical companies were unaware of SJS side effects, post-market testing would be required to gather the necessary data. Many patients have sued pharmaceutical companies for not properly adding adequate language to their label about this condition.

File a Stevens Johnson Syndrome Injury Lawsuit Today

If you believe that you or a loved one have been the victim of a Stevens Johnson Syndrome injury, you have legal options. Please visit the Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) & Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The Stevens Johnson Syndrome attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.