Dilantin (phenytoin sodium) is a popular anticonvulsant that is often prescribed to treat temporal lobe seizures and grand mal seizures. Being on the market since the 1950s, Dilantin is not only known for its treatment mechanism but also for its severe side effects, especially Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS).

Approved by the FDA in 1953, Dilantin is proudly manufactured by Pfizer and garners millions for the company every year. It is considered to be one of the first effective anticonvulsant drugs. However, Dilantin has been associated with Stevens Johnson Syndrome since its release, which was eventually determined by the FDA. Specifically, the FDA stated that when Dilantin was used in conjunction with either valproate and oxcarbazepine, it maximizes the chance for Dilantin SJS.

Concerns About Dilantin SJS Are Not New

The concern of Dilantin SJS has been prevalent as early as the 1930s, decades before the drug was even released. It is one of the oldest drugs on the market to be associated with Stevens Johnson Syndrome, with little awareness surrounding it. Despite the official FDA warning, a wide range of patients and doctors remain unaware that SJS is a possible Dilantin side effect. Experts state that approximately 15 percent of all SJS cases are fatal, with Dilantin being one of the most commonly implicated medications in SJS injury reports. In fact, Stanford Hospital estimates that approximately one in 10,000 Dilantin patients develops Stevens Johnson Syndrome, with allegedly no previous warning.

Dilantin SJS Lawsuits

Despite the negative reputation Dilantin has garnered, it remains one of the most widely popular anticonvulsant drugs in the United States. However, its SJS side effect has caused major legal trouble for Pfizer, as many patients have taken legal action against the company. Each of these patients allege that they had suffered either irreversible or devastating injuries from Stevens Johnson Syndrome, and that the condition had been induced by Dilantin. Additionally, plaintiffs state that they had no previous warning of Dilantin SJS, and that they never would have used Dilantin if they had known about the possible deadly side effects.

Currently, Dilantin remains one of the most widely reported drugs to be in association with Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Overview of Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is an extreme, allergic reaction that is specifically caused by one or more medications, like Dilantin. It is infamous for the red or purple skin lesions that appears all over the patient’s body, which typically consumes up to about 30 percent of skin surface area. Its more severe form, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), can take up as much as 90 percent. At the point of severe SJS or TEN, patients are in danger of blindness, organ damage, permanent skin scarring, and death. Often, SJS patients have to be treated in the burn unit of hospitals because the lesions actually cause the skin to detach and slough off, which creates the need for skin grafts. When the skin sloughs off, it gives way for the possibility of infections, further complicating the patient’s condition.

It is important to note that SJS is an extremely rare condition, with only 300 cases diagnosed per year in the United States. It is more commonly seen in adults than children. Doctors warn that if SJS or TEN were to occur, it will be within the first two to eight weeks of starting a medication and will begin with flu-like symptoms. As of now, doctors are unsure why SJS only occurs in some patients but believe it is linked to genetic predisposition or the patient’s level of drug sensitivity.

Due to how deadly this condition is, doctors encourage drug companies to include it on any of their medications label, if it has been indicated to induce SJS. Furthermore, doctors also warn that they are also unsure as to which medications induce Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or why this occurs.