Pfizer is one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in America, and is responsible for making some of the most widely prescribed medications in the world. One such medication, Piroxicam (sold by Pfizer under the trade name Feldene), is prescribed to treat inflammation and pain, including arthritis pain. For some, however, Piroxicam side effects can cause a life-threatening skin reaction called Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Piroxicam is a powerful drug that belongs to a unique pharmaceutical family called NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). Over the years, over 20 Prioxicam Stevens Johnson Syndrome injury reports have been submitted to the FDA, raising major concern to Pfizer and its patients.

What is Piroxicam (Feldene)?

NSAIDs like Piroxicam are typically prescribed to treat a variety of conditions including swelling, stiffness, and pain from rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, and certain forms of arthritis. Prioxicam works by blocking a chemical called prostaglandin, which enacts when the patients is feeling any sort of pain or swelling. It was approved by the FDA in 1982, and has since become one of the most asked for NSAIDs in the country.

Piroxicam Skin Rash Reports

Some Feldene/Piroxicam users have reported suffering from serious skin rashes that require hospitalization to recover from. These allergic reactions are known as the allergic reactions Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

Additionally, Piroxicam SJS has been associated with eight deaths, along with 25 injury reports indicating Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis. While medical experts are unsure why SJS or TEN occurs in certain patients or from certain drugs, several theories have been hypothesized.

One major theory is that certain drugs, like Feldene and Prioxicam, have a longer plasma half-life, which means that the drug lasts approximately 50hrs in the bloodstream, carrying higher risks for SJS or TEN reactions. This is because drugs with longer half-lives require extra effort from the body to break down, which may make the patient more vulnerable to certain reactions. As of now, no theories have been proven but drug makers remain at the center of criticism from doctors and patients alike for allegedly failing to warn patients about these potential side effects.

Pfizer is facing a variety of product liability lawsuits, including SJS and TEN injury allegations. SJS lawsuits state that the warning labels on medications do not specifically mention SJS, TEN, or other severe skin reactions. These SJS lawsuits also state that drug makers have the civil responsibility of warning the general public of these side effects, because they are relying on the accuracy of the given information.

Overview of Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a severe allergic skin reaction that can cause dangerous and disabling side effects. This condition is infamous for its red or purple lesions that appear on the patient’s skin, which can cover up to 30% of the patient’s body.

Taking it a step further, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis is the more extreme form of SJS, which can take up to 90% of the skin’s surface area. Sores have also been known to appear on the mucus membranes of the patient including the eyes, mouth, nose, tongue, and even anus.

Patients who are unfortunate enough to endure Stevens Johnson Syndrome are treated the same as burn patients due to how the skin detaches from the body. Doctors have described how it appeared as though the skin was melting off the body, and that skin grafts were often needed to replenish lost flesh. Doctors warn that if patients experience SJS the condition will start out with flu-like symptoms and appear within the first two weeks of starting the medication.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is an incredibly rare condition, with only 300 new cases diagnosed per year in the United States. This means that many doctors have not encountered it, often leading to misdiagnosis or underestimating the seriousness of the condition. If medical intervention is not applied quickly enough, then devastating consequences can occur to the patient such as scarring, blindness, internal organ damage, and possibly death.

Doctors encourage patients to be very self-aware when taking any medication, and to report any abnormality to their physician in the case that preventative measures are needed.