Ibuprofen Side Effects May Include Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Ibuprofen Side Effects May Include Stevens Johnson Syndrome

By Amanda Antell

Major health concerns have risen over the popular medication ibuprofen over its possible association with the fatal skin condition, Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS).

Ibuprofen (from iso-butyl-propanoic-phenolic acid) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for minor infections and illness. It is primarily used to relieve pain, fever and swelling. The drug works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation in the body, which makes it popular to use to treat headaches, toothaches, back pain, arthritis, menstrual cramps and minor injuries.

Ibuprofen is one of the most widely-prescribed medications in the world, with it being one of the “core” medications of the World Health Organization’s Model List of Essential Medicines necessary to meet the minimum medical needs of a basic healthcare system. This means that the World Health Organization would consider it essential for each country to have ibuprofen available to each community. Ibuprofen was first created by the research branch of Boots Group in 1960. The company patented the drug in 1961.

Generic versions of ibuprofen are produced by various drug manufacturers, but none of the warning labels of ibuprofen currently indicate that this medication may cause severe skin reactions, such as Stevens Johnson Syndrome. This lack of warning has led to lawsuits that have been filed against multiple drug manufacturers that produce ibuprofen. Each of these lawsuits alleges that the companies concealed information and acted negligently by not indicating Stevens-Johnson Syndrome on the warning label.

Overview of Ibuprofen and Stevens Johnson Syndrome 

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is an extreme allergic skin reaction that can be triggered by certain medications. It can be triggered by one medication or multiple medications used in conjunction, and it typically develops within the first two weeks after starting the medication. While easily treatable if caught in the early stages, it can be fatal if left unchecked. SJS typically starts off with flu-like symptoms, and escalates to skin deformation and skin detachment in its final stages.

The condition is characterized by purple blisters that form all over the body, which can take up to 30 percent of the body’s surface area. It can lead to blindness and even fatal side effects if left untreated, and can progress into Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). The main difference between SJS and TEN is that the later form can cover up to 90 percent of the body’s skin in purple blisters.

Due to the nature of the blisters, many of the patients with SJS are treated in the same area as burn victims. With intense hospital therapy, it is possible for the victims to recover, but most suffer from permanent side effects, such as scarring. Although the condition is dangerous, only about 300 cases are diagnosed in the United States per year.

Despite the condition’s rarity, many legal and medical experts insist that drug companies that manufacture products with even the slightest risk of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome should indicate the risk on the drug’s label. 

File a Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawsuit

If you believe that you or a loved one have been the victim of a Stevens Johnson Syndrome medication injury, you have legal options. Please visit the Stevens Johnson (SJS) & Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The Stevens Johnson Syndrome attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.