Onfi Seizure Medication Linked to Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Onfi (Clobazam) is a medication recently approved to treat seizures. Unfortunately, the drug may be linked to a life-threatening autoimmune reaction, Stevens Johnson Syndrome or SJS. In autoimmune diseases, the body attacks itself using the same systems it would to attack an infection. In the case of Stevens Johnson Syndrome or SJS, the body attacks its own skin, causing a serious and painful skin rash. In some cases, the damage can spread to the eyes and internal organs. In the most serious cases, the syndrome escalates to Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis or TEN, a form of the disease in which patches of the skin die and slough off, leaving injuries almost identical to burns. In TEN, the mortality rate for the reaction increases to more than 40 percent.

Even survivors of SJS and TEN can face lifelong complications. When the skin rash of SJS or the more massive damage of TEN heals, the skin may scar, leaving the victim both disfigured and disabled. Additionally, the damage may not be limited to the skin. In some cases, scarring on the eyes can cause permanent blindness, and damage to the internal organs may result in permanently impaired organ function. The drug information included with Onfi includes information about “serious skin reactions” but does not use the phrase “Stevens Johnson Syndrome” or “Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.” Lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of drugs that cause these disorders, arguing that the manufacturers did not do enough to warn and protect the public from these serious side effects, preventing patients and their prescribing physicians from having all of the information they needed to make informed medical decisions. 

If you or someone you care about took Onfi and went on to develop life-threatening reactions like SJS or TEN, you may have found yourself in a daunting situation. SJS and TEN are medical emergencies that may require you to put your life on hold for intensive, in-patient emergency medical care. Treating these conditions usually entails pain, stress and suffering both for the patient and their loved ones. Unfortunately, a financial burden often goes hand-in-hand with these challenges, in the form of mounting medical bills and lost wages. And in many cases, the victim’s next of kin find themselves with a different challenge: coping with the loss of a loved one.

Regardless of the situation you have found yourself facing, you need to remember that you still have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain a measure of control over your situation. You can start by visiting the Stevens Johnson (SJS) & Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Here, you can enter information about your situation for a review by a legal expert with a background in this type of litigation. The initial consultation is completely free of charge and from here, you can receive additional guidance on the best steps to take in your exact situation.