Stevens Johnson Syndrome is an uncommon disorder caused by common medications. It’s a painful and damaging disease, but compensation may be available from the manufacturers of the drugs that cause it.

Effects of Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Stevens Johnson Syndrome
, or SJS, mainly attacks the skin. It typically starts with symptoms that resemble ordinary flu symptoms, such as fever and body aches. Within a few days, the skin may begin to blister and peel as if it had been burned. Large areas of skin can die and slough off, exposing the body to infection. The eyes may also become red and painful. In more extreme cases, SJS can lead to body-wide inflammatory reactions, buildup of fluid in the lungs that causes trouble breathing, and failure of internal organs. Longer lasting effects can include scarring on the skin, dry eyes with aversion to bright light, infections inside the mouth, and lung problems such as bronchitis. In rare cases, SJS can be fatal.

Treatment for SJS generally requires weeks of hospitalization, generating substantial medical expenses while preventing the patient from earning income. Treatment is most effective when the condition is diagnosed early. However, SJS often evades early diagnosis, allowing time for complications to progress.

Link Between Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Certain Drugs

SJS is relatively rare: only a few hundred new cases are reported every year. That rareness makes it difficult to study. But one known fact about SJS is that, although some non-pharmaceutical causes exist, most cases of SJS are caused by a medication. There are over 100 drugs now on the market that can potentially cause SJS. Many of these drugs may be very familiar to consumers as they are very commonly used and have a long history on the pharmaceutical market. Drugs most commonly associated with SJS include over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol, Advil and Aleve; antibiotics such as Zithromax, Bactrim and Septra; and antiepileptic medications such as Dilantin, Carbatrol and Tegretol.

SJS Lawsuits

If you or a loved one develop Stevens Johnson Syndrome as a result of medication, you may be able to get compensation through an SJS lawsuit. Several such lawsuits have already been filed against various drug manufacturers, alleging the manufacturers knew about the risks of SJS associated with their products but failed to adequately warn patients and treatment providers about those risks. Dozens of SJS lawsuits have been filed based on instances of SJS related to Dilantin alone, resulting in settlements paying millions of dollars. Successful plaintiffs may be compensated for medical bills, lost income and earning potential, pain and suffering, or costs of litigation. SJS attorneys are currently investigating the potential for future SJS lawsuits.