Ulcer Medication Misoprostol Linked to Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Another serious side effect associated with Misoprostol is Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS). SJS is a skin disorder that usually starts out with flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat and headache. It affects 30 percent of the epidermis. The skin rash may initially start out as hives, but blisters will begin to develop on the skin and mucous membranes, especially the mouth, nose and eyes. It usually culminates in the shedding of the skin — which means that the top layer of the skin has died. Eating, sleeping, urinating and even breathing can all become difficult. If blisters develop on the eyes, it can cause blindness.

SJS is fatal in about 5 percent of patients who contract it. Lesions can develop on internal organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, or liver, causing inflammation of those organs. SJS can also be a cause of sepsis, a condition in which the bacteria from the infection enters the bloodstream. This serious skin reaction can take months to recover from and can leave lasting damage. SJS is a rare but dangerous side effect of other medications such as Zithromax, Lamictal, acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

There is a more severe form of SJS called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), in which anywhere from 30 to 100 percent of the epidermis can separate from the body. 

The eHealthMe.com report looked at 4,394 individuals who took Misoprostol and reported adverse side effects. It analyzed the amount of time patients took the ulcer medication, gender and age of these people, how severe their SJS reaction was, how they recovered and other drugs they were using at the same time they used Misoprostol. 

Out of the more than 4,000 Misoprostol patients who took the medication, nine developed SJS. Most of those individuals were over 50 years of age. The top five drugs used at the same time as Misoprostol were furosemide, lactulose, omeprazole, lisinopril and azithromycin (which is the active ingredient in Zithromax).

If you or someone you know has suffered from Stevens Johnson Syndrome as a result of taking Misoprostol, legal options are available. Please visit the Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) & Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) Class Action Lawsuit Investigation where you can submit a claim for a free legal consultation. Experienced legal professionals have access to medical experts to assess whether this ulcer medication played a role in your allergic reaction, so act now.