FDA, WHO Recognize Risk of SJS from Advil, Tylenol

FDA, WHO Recognize Risk of SJS from Advil, Tylenol

By Robert J. Boumis

Two different health agencies have linked the popular pain relievers Tylenol and Advil to Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a potentially life-threatening auto-immune disease.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome or SJS is a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the skin, treating the body’s own tissue like a foreign bacteria or virus. The reaction typically starts with fever and aches, then progresses to a painful rash. The rash in turn leads to sores and ulcers. In severe cases, the damage can spread to the internal organs and eyes. The most serious cases progress to an even more lethal form of the reaction, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis or TEN. In TEN, patches of skin die and slough off. Even if SJS or TEN is not fatal, the patient often suffers from lifelong complications like scarring, blindness and impaired organ function. SJS is usually triggered by a reaction to a drug.

In August 2013, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to consumers in the form of a Drug Safety Communication. This warning advised that the active ingredient in Tylenol could potentially trigger SJS or TEN in some patients. Per the FDA’s statement, this reaction could develop in people who took Tylenol for the first time and those who had previously used the drug without incident. The FDA’s statement advised anyone who experienced a painful skin reaction after taking Tylenol or any drug to immediately contact health care professionals.

The World Health Organization or WHO has linked the active ingredient in Advil to SJS as well. In 2005, the WHO released a statement in its Drug Information publication indicating the active ingredient in Advil was linked to SJS. The statement closed with a warning to consider SJS in cases where patients have taken Advil and begin to develop a rash on the skin and mucus membranes.

Lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of drugs linked to SJS and TEN, like Tylenol and Advil. These lawsuits allege that the manufacturers were aware – or reasonably should have been aware, from peer-reviewed articles, legally-mandated postmarket surveillance, and their own clinical trials – of the risk of developing SJS or TEN from their medications. These lawsuits further allege that the manufacturers failed to do enough to protect the public from these risks and may have actively downplayed them, preventing patients and their prescribing physicians from having all of the information they needed to make informed medical decisions.

Obtain a Free Tylenol, Advil SJS Lawsuit Review

If you or someone you care about took Tylenol or Advil and went on to develop SJS or TEN, you’ve almost certainly been through a trying ordeal. SJS is a medical emergency that requires intensive medical care.

Physicians have relatively few treatment options for SJS, since many aspects of SJS are still a mystery. Even the standard treatment for most autoimmune reactions does not seem to help treat SJS and TEN. Instead, physicians often resort to supportive therapy or treating the symptoms of the illness and hoping the reaction runs its course. This treatment can translate to weeks in intensive care, along with medical bills and lost wages.

Regardless of what you’ve been through, you need to remember that you still have rights. You can start to explore your options by visiting the Stevens Johnson (SJS) & Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Here, you can enter information about your situation for a free legal review by a trained expert in this type of litigation.