Allergic drug reactions cause more than 100,000 deaths among patients in the United States each year.

More than 4,000 patients a day, or 1.5 million per year, are admitted to hospitals with serious adverse drug reactions.

One of these serious drug reactions is known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or SJS. Patients most likely to develop Stevens Johnson Syndrome have extreme allergies to quinolone antibiotics such as Levaquin, antiseizure medications like Dilantin, or over the counter painkillers like Ibuprofen.

What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is typically caused by a severe allergic reaction to a medication. SJS usually begins with a rash that can lead to blistering, severe peeling and open sores.

Other SJS symptoms include infections caused by the loss of skin or scarring of major organ systems that can be life-threatening. Often SJS is not diagnosed in time.

Most SJS cases occur in adults between the ages of 20 and 40, but SJS has been diagnosed in children as young as three months old. Anyone who takes prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs runs the risk of developing allergic reactions and developing serious health problems like Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

SJS Symptoms

SJS symptoms can begin with a fever, sore throat and headache and can turn into skin lesions and blisters and a respiratory infection. It generally affects the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat and the eyelids, and can progress to blindness and internal organ damage.

As Stevens Johnson Syndrome evolves, the skin literally sloughs off. Patients are typically treated in a hospital’s burn unit. If the skin lesions become infected, or the patient develops lesions in the lungs, it can result in death.

In approximately 5% to 15% of the severe occurrences of SJS, the patient will die.  Recognizing early symptoms of SJS and providing prompt medical attention are the most valuable tools to minimize long-term damage.

Medications Linked to SJS

SJS is caused by almost any medication, including quinolone antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and painkillers. The leading causes of this disease are the following medications:

• Ibuprofen (Advil, Children’s Advil, Motrin, Children’s Motrin and Nuprin), all over-the-counter painkillers
• Dilantin and Lamictal, both anticonvulsants
• Levaquin (levofloxacin), Cipro, and Avelox, all belonging to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones, which are used to treat bacterial infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus, skin, and urinary tract infections.

SJS Lawsuits

Patients who have experienced SJS after taking one of these drugs should seek legal advice to determine whether they have been properly warned of the SJS side effects.

Particularly, in light of the FDA black box warning on many of these medications, legal allegations that could be brought against the drug manufacturers include negligence, false advertising, concealing information and other similar allegations.