Doctors have established a strong association between Tegretol and Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a severe allergic reaction to medication.

Characterized by large, painful fluid-filled pustules on the skin and mucous membranes, Stevens Johnson Syndrome can be disfiguring and even life-threatening.

The Link Between Tegretol and Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Tegretol is an anticonvulsant drug used to treat patients who have seizures.

The medicine is also used to help control severe pain from true trigeminal neuralgia, an inflammation of the trigeminal nerve that causes intense lightning-like pain areas of the face such as the lips, eye, nose, scalp, gums, cheek, chin and forehead.

The risk of developing Stevens Johnson Syndrome while taking Tegretol is approximately 1 to 6 per 10,000 in countries with mainly Caucasian populations. The risk is estimated to be 10 times higher in some Asian countries because of the presence of certain genetic markers.

Patients are advised to discontinue the drug and contact a doctor at the first sign of a rash because there is no way to tell which rash will develop into full-blown Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

What Is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a hypersensitive reaction to medication that begins with a fever and rash, but progresses to blistering, painful skin peeling and open sores. The reaction can get out of control quickly, becoming fatal in 5 percent to 15 percent of cases.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome can quickly progress to full-blown Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), causing victims to shed large sheets of skin that come off of the body in addition to painful sores in the mouth and eyes.

Mucous membranes fill up with fluid generated by the immune system in a severe allergic reaction to the medication. When large areas of raw skin are exposed, the chances of the patient developing infection, sepsis (blood infection) and death increase.

Tegretol and Stevens Johnson Syndrome in Elderly Male Patient

The National Institutes of Health published an article from The Korean Journal of Pain that detailed the case of a 68-year-old man who had his own story of Tegretol and Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

The man was taking 200 mg of Tegretol three times a day for trigeminal neuralgia (pain in his face). He developed a mild fever and weakness on the second day of taking his medication. On the fourth day, he developed a rash in and around his mouth and sores on his cheek, neck, forearm and leg.

On his fifth day of taking the medication, the man was admitted to the hospital for Tegretol and Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

The patient then explained that a year prior when he had been given Tegretol, he stopped taking it because he developed itchy skin, also known as pruritus, after taking it only once.

The man’s Tegretol was discontinued, and he was placed on a regimen of 125 mg of prednisone for several days. Fortunately, by the the eight day in the hospital, he was able to be discharged in good condition.

Patients who have demonstrated hypersensitivity to other anticonvulsants are more likely to see reactions of Tegretol and Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

If you have experienced Tegretol and Stevens Johnson Syndrome, you could be eligible for compensation.