Dilantin (phenytoin) is a common anti-seizure medication used to treat certain types of epilepsy. Unfortunately, the drug may be linked to Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), a very serious medical condition.

Epilepsy is a group of medical conditions where the electrical activity in the brain misfires. This can manifest in a number of ways, ranging from “zoning out” in the mildest seizures to violently and uncontrollably shaking. Dilantin can help control this disorder for some, but certain individuals have experienced life-threatening autoimmune reactions from the drug.

In autoimmune disorders, the body attacks its own tissue as though it were a disease-causing microbe. In SJS, the body attacks its own tissue. The reaction begins with fever and aches as the immune system kicks into high gear. Then, the patient develops a painful rash, followed by sores, then ulcers as the body attacks the skin.

In the most severe cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, the damage can spread to the internal organs and eyes. For many, the reaction leaves permanent, disfiguring, and disabling scar tissue. In the most severe cases, it can cause an even more serious form of the disease, called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis or TEN. In TEN, patches of the skin die and slough off. Once SJS develops into TEN, the mortality rate increases to more than 40%.

Much of the etiology of SJS is not fully known. It is known that the vast majority of cases can be triggered by drugs, like Dilantin. However, not everyone who takes Dilantin develops SJS. Certain alleles, or gene-types have been found to increase the risk of SJS, but not everyone with SJS has the gene and not everyone with the gene gets SJS. It is known that people of Han Chinese or Thai descent who have an allele called HLA-B*1502 have an increased risk of developing SJS from Dilantin, but again, it does not account for every case.

A class action lawsuit investigation has been launched by people who developed SJS and their survivors to explore the possibility of legal action against drug manufacturers . Such a lawsuit could allege that drug manufacturers did not do enough to warn the public about this risk, putting people in danger of developing this lethal reaction.

If you or a loved one has developed SJS after taking Dilantin, you’ve almost certainly been through a trying ordeal. SJS is a medical emergency that requires intensive medical care. This type of situation often includes serious financial hardships, including staggering medical bills, lost wages, and possibly even lost income potential. When facing such challenges, many people feel overwhelmed, or even depressed.

But you need to remember that regardless of the challenges you’re facing, you still have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain a measure of control over your situation. You can start by visiting the Dilantin Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) Class Action Lawsuit Investigation . Here, you can enter information about your situation for a legal review by a trained expert with a background in this type of litigation. The initial consultation is completely free of charge, and from it, you can receive additional guidance on the best steps to take in your exact situation.