Persons seeking relief from ordinary heartburn may be putting themselves at risk for OTC Nexium Stevens Johnson syndrome.

Nexium, also known generically as esomeprazole, is a medication used to reduce the amount of acid in the stomach. An excess of stomach acid can cause problems for persons with gastroesophageal reflux disease or Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Reducing stomach acid can also heal the damage caused by erosive esophagitis.

Nexium has been available on a prescription basis since it was first approved by the FDA in 2001. It recently became available in an over-the-counter form marketed as Nexium 24HR.

Nexium is one of a group of drugs called proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs. Unlike antacids that neutralize the acid already present in the stomach, PPIs work by inhibiting cells in the digestive system from producing acid.

PPIs like Nexium have been implicated in a long list of potentially dangerous side effects. These drugs have been linked to increased risks of kidney failure, dementia, bone fractures and heart attacks

Symptoms of OTC Nexium Stevens Johnson Syndrome

There have been some post-marketing reports of patients who developed Stevens Johnson syndrome and its related condition toxic epidermal necrolysis after taking Nexium.

These two conditions are severe drug reactions that attack the skin and mucous membranes, leaving the patient at risk for permanent residual problems or even death.

Stevens Johnson syndrome has been linked to a long list of different medications. Fortunately, it doesn’t happen often – in fact, it’s extremely rare. But once it sets in, the stakes are high. It requires prompt and extensive treatment to prevent infections and damaging complications.

The earliest signs of OTC Nexium Stevens Johnson syndrome may include fever, cough, sore throat, itchy eyes or body aches. These signs may be indistinguishable from those of the flu. For that reason, they can sometimes lead to a misdiagnosis, causing a delay in treatment that allows OTC Stevens Johnson syndrome a chance to advance.

Within a day or two after these first signs, persons with OTC Nexium Stevens Johnson syndrome usually break out in a rash. This rash is a trademark symptom of this condition. As the rash spreads and progresses, blisters appear that come loose and peel away from the underlying skin.

The loss of outer skin can cause significant problems for the patient. It creates a substantial risk of infection and causes a significant loss of fluids. Treatment for OTC Stevens Johnson syndrome tends to focus on fluid replacement and prevention of infection.

If the patient loses skin from as much as 30 percent of their body surface area, the condition may then be referred to as toxic epidermal necrolysis. TEN is considered a more extreme variant of Stevens Johnson syndrome. Mortality rates for patients with TEN are also generally higher.

With prompt and proper treatment, a patient can survive OTC Nexium Stevens Johnson syndrome. The effects can be long-lasting and severely damaging, however.

In addition to the physical harm, patients can endure considerable pain and suffering. They may also run up enormous medical bills at a time when they can’t earn income by working.