More than 100 Dilantin lawsuits allege that the anti seizure medication causes a potentially life-threatening skin rash medically referred to as Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS).

Dilantin (phenytoin) is a commonly prescribed treatment for grand mal seizures and convulsions. It is also an effective treatment for epilepsy, as well as for patients undergoing brain surgery as a way to prevent inadvertent seizures.

However, the medication now carries an FDA label warning that one of the Dilantin side effects could include SJS.

Dilantin SJS

In 2001, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Dilantin for seizure treatments, but it didn’t take long before the agency began to caution consumers of the allergic skin reaction risk from the medication.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is considered a dermatological emergency that occurs in about 300 patients in the U.S. each year. SJS symptoms initially mimic the flu, as patients report fevers, chills, and body aches. However shortly after that, Dilantin SJS symptoms will quickly spread a purple or red rash across the skin and mucous membranes.

Skin lesions may begin to form, especially on the trunk and face. Eventually, Dilantin SJS will cause the top layer of skin to die and shed. This allergic reaction causes patients to spend weeks and even months in the hospital as doctors try to determine which medication is causing the SJS reaction. Often times, SJS patients are treated similarly to burn victims.

When the Dilantin rash covers 30 percent of the body, it is medically referred to as Stevens Johnson Syndrome; when the rash covers more than 30 percent of the body, it is then referred to as a more advanced version of SJS called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

Stevens Johnson Syndrome carries a 15 percent mortality rate, while TEN is fatal in 40 percent of cases. 

Dilantin Side Effects

While consumers report Dilantin has been linked to the severe SJS skin rash, the medication has also been known to cause other short-term and long-term side effects, such as:

• Difficulties with memory
• Trouble with concentration
• Jerky eye movements
• Shaking of hands
• Drop in coordination
• Slurring of speech

Long-term side effects can include:

• Nerve damage
• Bone weakness
• Gingival hyperplasia

Dilantin SJS Lawsuits

Those plaintiffs filing SJS Dilantin lawsuits claim that Dilantin manufacturer Pfizer was fully aware of the deadly skin rash risks but did little to inform consumers of the potential dangers. In general, Dilantin consumers seek financial compensation for medical expenses as well as for the pain and suffering associated with a SJS diagnosis.

Often times, SJS Dilantin lawsuits are the only way patients can recover financially from the cost of lengthly hospital stays required to treat the medical condition. If you have suffered from SJS after being prescribed Dilantin, contact an SJS attorney to see if you have legal claim.

Families who lost a loved one to Stevens Johnson Syndrome can also file a wrongful death lawsuit.