Aptiom is a popular anticonvulsant drug that is prescribed to treat partial onset seizures in adults but has also been associated with some serious side effects.

Aptiom was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as recently as 2013 for epilepsy and seizures. It is manufactured by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals.

Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which there is abnormal or excessive activity in the brain’s nerve cells. The FDA reports that there are upwards of 200,000 new cases of epilepsy and seizures in the United States every year.

Aptiom was approved to treat both seizures and partial onset seizures. Partial onset seizures are common in epilepsy sufferers. Seizures can cause many destructive symptoms such as convulsions, loss of consciousness and repetitive limb movements.

Some seizures can even cause injury or death.

According to the FDA, three clinical studies were done in which participants with partial epilepsy were assigned randomly to receive a placebo or receive Aptiom. The FDA reported that Aptiom was effective in reducing the frequency of seizures.

Aptiom can be used alone or with other drugs to treat seizures.

Some side effects of Aptiom include fatigue, dizziness, problems with coordination, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, rash or low sodium blood levels.

However, a more serious dermatological side effect can occur. Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a condition that is often caused as an immune response to a medication. In this case, Aptiom has been known to trigger Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or SJS, in some patients.

SJS begins with symptoms similar to the flu, but then progresses into a skin rash. This rash then progresses to large skin blisters that affect much of the body as well as the mucous membranes.

These skin lesions can cause permanent scarring and even blindness as they often attack the eyes and mouth. The lesions cause cell death and cause the epidermis to separate from the dermis.

A patient with Stevens Johnson Syndrome must be treated immediately as this condition is severe and can result in death. If left untreated, SJS may progress into a condition called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, or TEN.

Both SJS and TEN can lead to death because of the high risk of infection and complications. Those who are treated for either SJS or TEN are usually treated in the burn ward of a hospital and recovery times can be months long.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome as triggered by Aptiom is a serious condition and should be treated as soon as it is suspected. If you believe you have experienced SJS because of Aptiom use, you may be entitled to legal compensation.