Dilantin, also known as phenytoin, has been in use as an anti-convulsant medication for over a hundred years.

It works by calming the electrical activity in the brain. This action makes it an effective remedy not just for seizures but also for some undesirable emotional states.

When Dilantin was first developed in the early 1900s, it was intended for use as a treatment for the convulsions associated with electroshock treatment.

Its use as a treatment for epileptic seizures wasn’t discovered until decades later. By the 1940s, Dilantin had been made commercially available and was considered to be the first of a new generation of anti-epilepsy drugs.

Today, Dilantin is one of the most frequently-prescribed drugs in the world. It’s still used to treat and prevent certain specific types of seizures associated with epilepsy.

It can also be prescribed for off-label uses as a treatment for symptoms of dysphoria like anxiety, depression or restlessness.

It’s also relatively inexpensive, and for the most part it’s safer than other drugs. But when Dilantin’s more serious side effects set in, they can be more destructive than the patient may have expected.

Though rare, Dilantin Steven Johnson Syndrome is one side effect that can cause permanent damage or even death.

Symptoms of Dilantin Steven Johnson Syndrome

The hallmark symptoms of Dilantin Steven Johnson Syndrome affect the skin. Once the initial flu-like symptoms have passed, the patient tends to break out in a rash that spreads over the body.

Skin within the areas of rash will blister, and these blisters will grow and join into entire areas of skin that peel away. The areas of lost outer skin expose the sensitive dermis underneath, causing the patient to lose substantial amounts of body fluids and exposing them to the risk of deadly infection.

Complications of Dilantin Steven Johnson Syndrome can be life-threatening by themselves. The loss of skin exposes the patient to skin infections like cellulitis.

This in turn can lead to a systemic infection like sepsis, in which the infection takes hold throughout the patient’s bloodstream. Sepsis can lead to shock and organ failure.

With treatment, Steven Johnson Syndrome can eventually heal up. However, the damage to the skin can be so deep and widespread that the patient may have to live with permanent, visible skin abnormalities. The condition can leave the skin scarred, discolored, or with an abnormal texture.

Dilantin Steven Johnson Syndrome is also known for causing eye problems. A common secondary condition is conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the tissue that connects the inside of the eyelid to the white of the eye.

Patients with conjunctivitis may suffer from red, stinging and irritated eyes. The eyes may become so thick with pus that they seal shut. Sometimes corneal damage sets in, and scarring or ulcers may threaten to leave the patient blind, even after their Steven Johnson Syndrome has resolved.

Side effects this severe may be worse that what the patient was reasonably led to expect from their medication.

It’s possible that patients suffering from Steven Johnson Syndrome may have a legal claim. A talk with a knowledgeable attorney can reveal what a patient needs to know about their legal options.