What is DRESS Syndrome?

A number of different medications can contribute to DRESS syndrome, a medical condition associated with drug rash and drug allergy. A patient experiencing these issues should contact their doctor as soon as possible to discuss options to recover from DRESS syndrome.

A patient with DRESS syndrome may exhibit a number of different symptoms. These can include liver or kidney injury, enlarged lymph nodes, rash, fever, and facial swelling.

Most patients will start to show these side effects about two to six weeks after starting the medication. More often than not, if the patient has been using the drug for longer than three months, side effects usually associated with DRESS syndrome are not typically not linked to the condition.

People of all ages have the potential to develop this condition and it’s believed to happen in 1 out of every 1,000 to 10,000 drug exposures. Patients should be aware of the signs of this allergic reaction so that they can discuss with their doctor whether or not to continue the medicine.

The sooner this condition can be flagged by a medical professional, the more treatment options are available to help recover from DRESS syndrome.

What Drugs Are Most Likely to Cause DRESS?

Any medicine could cause someone to develop DRESS syndrome. There are some drugs, however, that have been connected to this condition more than others. These include the allopurinol, a medication for the treatment of gout, antibiotics, and medicines used to treat seizure conditions, such as Lamictal (lamotrigine).

Any of the above mentioned side effects should be shared with the patient’s primary physician so that a plan to recover from DRESS syndrome can be developed.

What Treatments Help a Patient Recover from DRESS Syndrome?

A doctor should be involved in the diagnosis of this condition and will take into account the patient’s specific details when determining what treatment is most appropriate. In many cases, stopping the drug causing the problems is the best way to address this condition.

When a patient develops a rash believed to be caused by the drug, steroids can also be prescribed in order to treat that specific side effect. The steroids can be given orally or intravenously and most patients will require follow-up appointments with their doctor as long as the steroids are taken in order to guard against long-term side effects.

Lab work is used to determine whether or not the steroids are causing any side effects especially since some people might need steroid treatment for weeks or months. Most patients will recover from DRESS syndrome with the help of steroid treatment within nine weeks.

Is DRESS Syndrome Dangerous?

Studies have shown that this adverse reaction can be more than a nuisance for patients, which is why it should be reported to a doctor immediately. The website Medsafe reports that this hypersensitivity reaction could be fatal in up to 10 percent of cases.

If you took any medication like Lamictal and developed DRESS syndrome, consider your legal options by speaking with an attorney.