Reports of Incivek Stevens Johnson Syndrome Mount
By John Curran
The hepatitis C treatment Incivek recently received a black-box label from the federal Food and Drug Administration regarding Stevens Johnson Syndrome side effects, but that has not stopped the adverse event reports from beginning to pile up, including one recent fatality.
Unfortunately, reports of Stevens Johnson Syndrome are not uncommon, whether they’re caused by Incivek or another medication, in spite of the FDA warning. The condition can often progress into toxic epidermal necrolysis, which occurred for the 69-year-old man who recently died. It did not help that doctors thought the man’s rash – an initial symptom of Stevens Johnson Syndrome – was linked to the autoimmune disorders, which caused problems with treatment.
The most common side effect of Stevens Johnson Syndrome is inflammation of the mucus membranes, which can lead to blindness. In the case of the toxic epidermal necrolysis victim, however, the extent of the damage caused by the Incivek side effects led to multiple organ failure. Doctors face problems in the fact that there are few effective therapies for hepatitis C, and Incivek does provide a nearly 100-percent improvement over other therapies alone.
Still, Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuit attorneys note that the U.S. and Canada have both offered warnings, including the black-box label. However, Health Canada has also warned doctors to be extremely careful about any rashes, with the most common appearing as small red dots occasionally confused with chicken pox. Patients who experience this along with fevers and chills should seek out medical attention, and mention the medication’s potential risks.
In addition, everyone should keep in mind that SJS side effects can occur with nearly every medication, although Incivek and epilepsy treatments like Dilantin and Lamictal have strong links to the disorder. The symptoms described above should be taken seriously and addressed with a visit to the doctor or emergency room within 24 hours of noticing them.
Unfortunately, the rarity of the disease means that many people may not have realized that they were at risk. If that is the case, a free consultation with a Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuit attorney can be the first step in obtaining a legal remedy. Get one and learn more about plaintiffs’ claims at the Stevens Johnson (SJS) & Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Legal experts have noted that successful cases have netted millions of dollars for victims, so act now to get the legal remedy your case merits.
Updated March 11th, 2013
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