Phenytoin induced Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal side effect of the popular anti-epileptic drug.

Known by the brand name Dilantin by Pfizer, phenytoin is an anticonvulsant that works by interfering with the impulses in the brain that cause seizures.

The National Institutes of Health reported in its October 2013 issue of the Journal of Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics that a study looked at 10 years of hospitalizations and found the incidence of phenytoin induced Stevens Johnson Syndrome was 13.04 percent.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a severe immune system reaction that usually begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough and burning eyes. It most commonly occurs as an allergic reaction to medication.

Emergency medical care should be sought immediately if Stevens Johnson-specific symptoms arise. These include blisters on the skin and mucous membranes, hives, swollen face, itching, swollen tongue or a red or purple raised rash. People who have experienced the condition liken it to being chemically burned from the inside out.

Between five to 15 percent of cases are fatal. Researchers are unsure why some patients are more susceptible to Stevens Johnson Syndrome, and some experts recommend that the symptoms of the condition be added to Dilantin’s label.

No one knows why some patients develop Stevens Johnson Syndrome from Dilantin or other drugs. Anyone who has had one case of the severe reaction needs to avoid the offending medication and others in its class to prevent another occurrence.

Phenytoin induced Stevens Johnson Syndrome Can Become TEN

Some cases of phenytoin induced Stevens Johnson Syndrome can progress to Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). TEN victims lose large sheets of skin that come off of the body in addition to painful sores in the mouth, eyes and other mucous membranes.

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.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is more common in males, and the mean age group of 10 to 40 years old.

Once Stevens Johnson Syndrome has started, the offending medication is withdrawn and the patient can be placed on steroidal anti-inflammatory medications to help calm the reaction.

Patients also undergo traditional burn treatments to reduce pain and keep infection at bay. In some cases of phenytoin induced Stevens Johnson Syndrome, patients are placed in a medically induced coma because the pain is too intense for them to endure in an awakened state.

If you or someone you know is taking phenytoin and develops a rash, contact your doctor immediately. If you or someone you know has already endured Stevens Johnson Syndrome from Dilantin, a phenytoin lawsuit might provide compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other related expenses.