Allergic reactions to medications are serious concerns for patients who have sensitivities, as well as the doctors who prescribe their medications.

Even though there are numerous allergic reactions to medications on a daily basis, only a handful or less will develop into the devastating condition Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS).

Once of the medications associated with Stevens Johnson Syndrome includes Tegretol (carbamazepine), a popular anticonvulsant drug used to control nerve impulses in the brain.

This drug is often used to treat a variety of epileptic conditions, and can even be used to treat certain nerve pain like trigeminal neuralgia.

However Tegretol Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a prevalent concern in prescribing physicians and current patients, as there have been documented cases in the past.

Overview of Tegretol Stevens Johnson Syndrome

One of these cases comes from a 68 year-old male patient, who was prescribed Tegretol for his trigeminal neuralgia.

Within two days of starting the drug he had developed a fever and suffered general weakness, and had also developed serious oral rash and lesions on the cheek, neck, forearm, and legs.

By the fifth day, he had visited the emergency room with his doctors suspecting Tegretol Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

After being diagnosed with the condition, he was taken off the medication and had recovered from his Tegretol Stevens Johnson Syndrome experience. He had underwent steroid treatment for five days, and was luckily discharged from the hospital in good condition and had mostly recovered from the condition in two weeks.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is an extreme allergic reaction specifically caused by medications, often characterized by the red or purple skin lesions that appear all over the body. This condition progresses rapidly and can become fatal very fast, making early intervention vital for the patient’s survival.

The man in the case study is relatively lucky compared to other patients who contracted SJS, who are often left with permanent skin damage or some degree of blindness if they survive their ordeal.

There are a number of medications associated with SJS, with Tegretol Stevens Johnson Syndrome witnessed enough to warrant the concern of the FDA.

The agency sent out a public warning regarding Tegretol Stevens Johnson Syndrome on Dec. 12, 2007, after patients reported dangerous and fatal skin reactions soon after taking carbamazepine based medications.

The agency also stated that it was not known why only certain patients suffer this reaction, but that patients of Eastern Asian descent may be more vulnerable due to the genetic trait HLA-B*1502.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is an extremely rare condition regardless genetic vulnerability, and can occur in any patient with a serious medication allergy.

Even though Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a serious medication side effect, it is seldom mentioned on the drug’s warning label. Patients who suffered Tegretol Stevens Johnson Syndrome or incurred the reaction from other medications may be able to file legal action against manufacturing company.

Potential claimants should contact a specialized lawyer to determine their eligibility for a Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuit.