Acetaminophen may be one of the most common medicines, including in drugs like Tylenol, but there is also a risk of acetaminophen Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Acetaminophen Stevens Johnson Syndrome is an extremely dangerous and even fatal skin reaction that occurs in some people who use acetaminophen drugs.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) an acetaminophen Stevens Johnson Syndrome reaction is rare, but possible.

The popular pain killer has been linked with skin reactions of varying severity.

The less dangerous and more common skin reaction is known as acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), a reaction that generally resolves itself with no further treatment than simply stopping acetaminophen intake.

Acetaminophen Stevens Johnson Syndrome

While most patients do not experience anything more than a mild reaction, for those who experience the more severe acetaminophen-related skin disease, it can be quite severe.

Acetaminophen Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a skin condition that requires immediate hospitalization and treatment and, in some cases, can be fatal.

Indeed, acetaminophen Stevens Johnson Syndrome often begins as one of the more common and mild skin reactions to acetaminophen. However, it can rapidly develop into a painful and dangerous skin rash. 

For some patients, treatment of acetaminophen Stevens Johnson Syndrome may only require being taken off the drug. For others, SJS symptoms can become so severe that they will need serious medical attention.

Acetaminophen Stevens Johnson Syndrome resembles burn injuries, and is often being treated in a hospital’s burn unit.

As it develops, an acetaminophen Stevens Johnson Syndrome rash spreads quickly across the skin, rapidly developing blisters and peeling painfully.

Once the rash has spread to cover over 30 percent of a patient’s skin, it becomes reclassified as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

TEN is a more advanced, severe, and dangerous form of acetaminophen Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Unfortunately, patients with TEN are at a much greater risk. The rate of fatalities linked with SJS is 15 percent, while TEN patients face a risk of up to 40 percent.

Patients who do survive SJS or TEN are often left with severe and permanent scarring marring their skin where the painful rash once was, or even blindness and organ damage.

The FDA maintains that patients taking acetaminophen drugs should not stop taking the medication unless they begin to develop a skin reaction. Since the side effects are so rare, the agency says, for most users, the benefits of taking acetaminophen drugs continue to outweigh the risks.

Acetaminophen SJS Lawsuits

Lawsuits against acetaminophen-containing drug manufacturers claim that these manufacturers failed to adequately warn both the public and the medical community about the risk of acetaminophen Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

These lawsuits claim that plaintiffs affected by SJS would have been able to choose a safer alternative if they had been properly informed about the risk of SJS.

While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering of those affected by acetaminophen Stevens Johnson Syndrome or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to compensate for the financial expenses incurred by medical bills and lost wages.

If you or someone you love has suffered from acetaminophen Stevens Johnson Syndrome after using a product containing acetaminophen, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer.