Tylenol Side Effects Include Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
By Amanda Antell
Tylenol (acetaminophen), the most popular over-the-counter pain medication in the United States, has been officially associated with the severe skin condition Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS). On August 1, 2013, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public that both prescription Tylenol and its over-the-counter variety carry the same risk of SJS.It is important to note that Tylenol is not the only medication that has been found to cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome in patients. Lamictal and Zithromax have also been linked to the reaction. When Stevens-Johnson Syndrome does occur, it normally occurs within the first two weeks of taking the medication, and if left untreated, can be fatal. The victims first develop flu-like symptoms, followed by rash, blister, and eventual detachment of the skin. In SJS, the rashes and blisters can take up to about 30 percent of the body, while Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) can leave about 90 percent of the body covered in blisters and rashes. This condition can also cause blindness and the need for amputation if it is not treated properly.
There are approximately 300 new cases of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome reported in the United States every year. Most medical experts state that most of these cases could have been avoided if the patients were aware of this possibility. Health care professionals state that if patients are using a medication containing acetaminophen, they should consult their doctors immediately about their unusual symptoms. Additionally, the FDA also announced that Tylenol and any other products which carry acetaminophen must carry warnings about the possibility of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and other serious skin conditions.
“This new information is not intended to worry consumers or health care professionals, nor is it meant to encourage them to choose other medications. However, it is extremely important that people recognize and react quickly to the initial symptoms of these rare but serious side effects, which are potentially fatal,” Sharon Hertz, MD, deputy director of the FDA’s Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Addiction, said in a statement.
According to the FDA, there are three published case reports which activated their suspicion of this correlation, and inspired their own investigation. Each of these cases featured patients who had taken Tylenol or acetaminophen in some form and suffered from SJS. Other supporting data came from other case reports with minor injuries, as well as the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database, the agency noted.
File a Tylenol Lawsuit Today
If you believe that you or a loved one have been the victim of a Tylenol SJS injury, you have legal options. Please visit the Tylenol Liver Damage, Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned Tylenol 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 Tylenol attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.
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