Zyloprim is a medication used to treat several different conditions in the body. Its generic form is referred to as allopurinol.

Most commonly, Zyloprim is used to treat gout, a condition where excess uric acid causes arthritis and pain, especially in the feet.

Zyloprim is also used to treat high uric acid levels in the body that can be caused by chemotherapy drugs.

Additionally, some individuals with a particular type of kidney stone who also have high amounts of uric acid are prescribed this medication.

Zyloprim works by inhibiting a chemical in the body known as xanthine oxidase. By inhibiting this chemical, Zyloprim is able to lower the body’s production of uric acid.

While this medication has been found to be effective for treating problems linked to high uric acid levels, there is also a distinct Zyloprim Steven Johnson Syndrome link.

Zyloprim Steven Johnson Syndrome Connection

Steven Johnson Syndrome is an allergic reaction most commonly expressed following the exposure of a drug. The reaction is very severe, and can even be fatal.

Symptoms of Zyloprim Steven Johnson Syndrome include the following:

• Initial flu like symptoms including fever, sore throat, fatigue, malaise, cough, itching or burning eyes and a general feeling of unwellness
• Development of red or purple blisters on the skin and mucous membranes
• Skin pain that may be felt throughout the body
• Swelling of the face and tongue
• Hives
• Flaking off of skin that has been affected by the rash

Many times, because the initial symptoms of Zyloprim Steven Johnson Syndrome are nonspecific and appear to mimic a cold or flu, the patient taking the drug may dismiss the symptoms as being unrelated to the medication.

Once the rash and blisters begin to develop, it then becomes apparent that a drug reaction may be possible. Sometimes, a general mild rash can be seen with Zyloprim use, but it goes away and is not connected to a medical emergency condition.

Other times, the rash is Zyloprim Steven Johnson Syndrome and the situation requires immediate medical attention.

Patients who develop Steven Johnson Syndrome must be taken to the hospital’s emergency room for treatment. The drug that caused the allergic reaction must be stopped and palliative treatment is begun to address the symptoms.

If available, patients with Steven Johnson Syndrome are treated in the hospital’s burn unit because the skin of an affected patient resembles that of individuals who have been burned.

Also, if a burn unit is not available, these patients are typically treated in the intensive care unit.

Interventions are set in place to stabilize the patient and include pain management, wound care, intravenous hydration, nutrition and other procedures to keep the patient stable as the medication effects wear off.

Some patients with Zyloprim Steven Johnson Syndrome recover within a few days to a few weeks. Others may take months to fully recover.

Some individuals who experience Steven Johnson Syndrome experience no lasting side effects, while others are not so lucky. Some patients experience permanent organ damage, permanent skin damage and even blindness.

Patients can develop Steven Johnson Syndrome at any time taking any type of medication. However, some medications are more likely to cause the allergic reaction, and Zyloprim is one of the known medications that is frequently linked with Steven Johnson Syndrome.

Filing a Zyloprim Steven Johnson Syndrome Lawsuit

If you or a loved one has taken Zyloprim and have developed Steven Johnson Syndrome as a result of the ingestion of the drug, you may be entitled to legal compensation from the drug’s manufacturer.

A Zyloprim Steven Johnson Syndrome attorney can review your case at no charge and can help you decide if pursuing legal action is in your best interest.