Dilantin Users May Not Be Aware of Dangerous Skin Reactions
By Courtney Coren
Before taking any medication, it’s important to be aware of the risks. The problem is that some risks are so rare that it’s easy to assume they won’t ever happen. Another factor that may lead medication users to ignore potential drug side effects is that they may be taking it to addresses a serious disease or illness that can be debilitating or even life-threatening.
Epilepsy is a disease in which the patient experiences electrical surges in the brain, resulting in seizures. The severity of the seizures can vary from person to person. Some people experience full-fledged convulsions, while some may just stare blankly for a few seconds. Depending on the severity of the seizure it can be very dangerous leading to falling, drowning, car accidents, pregnancy complications, and emotional problems. With such serious risks, epilepsy is clearly a disease that can’t go untreated
One popular medication for treating epilepsy is Dilantin, also known as phenytoin. Dilantin, manufactured by Pfizer, was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration on November 20, 2001. Although, phenytoin sodium, the main ingredient in Dilantin, was approved by the FDA in 1953. It is prescribed to treat temporal lobe seizures and grand mal seizures. Dilantin is also prescribed to treat and prevent seizures in patients after major brain and spinal surgery, as well.
The downside to Dilantin is that some patients have a severe allergy to the medication, and this allergic reaction can be deadly. Dilantin side effects can vary from constipation to frequent bone fractures and low thyroid function. The most severe of the allergic reactions to Dilantin are Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome (TENS).
According to a Dilantin lawsuit filed in 2011 against Pfizer, it claims that Dilantin medications “are the most dangerous and lethal drugs that cause deaths from SJS/TENS.” The same Dilantin lawsuit states that Pfizer at some point told Health Canada that even though it was not stated on the warning label that Dilantin does increase the risk of serious skin reactions, such as SJS.
SJS starts out with flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and headache. 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, and urinating can all become difficult.
A more severe form of SJS is TENS — where 100 percent of the epidermis can separate from the body. With SJS, 30 percent of the skin is affected.
The FDA listed Dilantin as drug with “Potential Signs of Serious Risks” in need of more research.
If you or someone you know has suffered from Stevens Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome as the result of taking the Dilantin seizure medication, legal options are available. Learn more and get a free consultation regarding a claim’s eligibility at the Dilantin Stevens Johnson Syndrome Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Experience legal professionals have access to medical experts to assess whether or not this anti-seizure medication played a role in your allergic reaction, so act now.
Updated April 8th, 2013
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