Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a serious allergic skin reaction that can be deadly. Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) occurs when the rash caused by SJS covers more than 30 percent of the body. SJS has been linked to a number of medications which are often prescribed to young children.

Dilantin is one anti-seizure medication that has an SJS connection. It’s regularly prescribed to treat epilepsy, which can occur in very young children, but it may also be prescribed to treat other conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder. One doctor, Frank Bonpierto, recently wrote about a Dilantin SJS case for The Expert Institute, commenting on a situation where a woman with a long history of epilepsy was taking Dilantin and then experienced Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

While the vast majority of SJS cases happen when someone takes a new drug, it can also happen seemingly randomly even if the patient has taken the drug for years. However, with Dr. Bonpierto’s patient, “Susan” had switched from Lamictal to Dilantin and experienced unexpected Dilantin complications.

It’s important to note that Lamictal is also linked with SJS. In fact, the growing anti-seizure class action lawsuit lists both of these drugs as a culprit in SJS/TEN cases and if you’ve experienced these disorders on either of these drugs, you might qualify to join. Since it is an allergic reaction, people react differently and there’s no telling if or when an SJS attack may occur. It’s also not just anti-seizure medications. Antibiotics, such as the popular Zithromax, have also been known to cause SJS.

>>SJS Lawsuits Filed Over Medication Injuries

“The patient developed a severe adverse reaction to the new medication, resulting in the onset of Stevens Johnson Syndrome,” Dr. Bonpierto states. “The patient was sent to jail for 40 days and developed SJS soon after being incarcerated. She was on a titration pack of Lamictal at the time. The physician for the institution discontinued Lamictal and started her on a dose of Dilantin 400 mg for two days. After ten days on the new medication, she began to have adverse reactions including frequent urination, headaches and buildup in her eyes and mouth.”

These are all early warnings signs of Dilantin SJS, but they can easily be confused with other, less serious complications.

SJS’s calling card is usually a rash that leads to blisters, and these blisters often collect in the mucous membranes/wetter regions of the body such as the eyes, nose, mouth or groin. Many times, flu-like symptoms precede the rash, which is what appears to have happened in Susan’s case.

“She made complaints to the doctor but they never took vital signs, did not discontinue medication and never provided Dilantin blood levels. She was taken to the hospital 4-5 days later with a serious case of SJS. She patient was discharged home. After significant hospitalization the adverse reaction subsided. She continues to have joint pain, loss of vision, and hair loss from SJS.”

This delayed reaction isn’t uncommon, and may not have happened “just” because Susan was incarcerated. SJS is still relatively rare, and many times emergency room physicians will dismiss it as a rash.

When SJS turns to TEN, there’s a much smaller chance of surviving. However, both SJS and TEN can lead to permanent damage, such as Susan’s eye and hair loss, since the scarring can cause irreversible damage. There are cases of people going blind after an SJS attack. Getting the SJS symptoms treated immediately is crucial, but that can be challenging when a correct diagnosis isn’t achieved. Some people “luck out” and see a healthcare provider who’s familiar with SJS and asks the right questions, or who knows something about the medication and SJS. However, victims claim the drugmakers under-warn about SJS side effects, leaving everyone (including doctors and patients) in the dark.

There is no cure for SJS or TEN. Instead, healthcare providers treat the symptoms, usually in the burn unit, and hope that the body is kept hydrated and clean enough to begin to heal itself. This is often a very painful process, and everyone’s body will react differently and have different healing times. Sometimes SJS goes away seemingly on its own once a medication is stopped. Other times, victims spend weeks in the hospital.

Besides the pain, this also leads to high medical bills. Even a day in the intensive care unit with no medical insurance can be catastrophic financially. Even those with insurance can find themselves buried in medical bills depending on their policy. SJS can be a full-blown attack in every sense of the word.