Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, or SJS, develops as the result of a reaction to a medication. The syndrome is extremely dangerous and produces a skin rash that includes blisters and lesions and eventually causes the top layer of the skin to die and fall off.

Progression

Once the rash appears and progresses, it can cover up to ten percent or more of the body, giving SJS sufferers the appearance of burn victims. Anyone with a rash that covers more than thirty percent of the body is said to have toxic epidermal necrolysis, or TEN, which is a more serious version of SJS. Though the rash is painful, the real danger occurs once the skin begins to fall off, as it leaves patients vulnerable to dehydration and bacterial infections, which may prove deadly.

Prognosis

Victims of SJS who recover are usually left with unsightly scars and some may lose partial or total eyesight. There are no cures for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis, so medical professionals can only provide care that increases the comfort of a patient and treatments that may shorten the length of the reaction or prevent derivative conditions.

Drugs – particularly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – are direct causes of the syndrome. An example of an NSAID is ibuprofen – the key ingredient in over-the-counter medications, such as Motrin and Advil.

While our lawyers are aware of the SJS and TEN conditions that NSAIDs may cause, many consumers are oblivious to them, because many of the pharmaceutical companies that sell ibuprofen refuse to place sufficient SJS and TEN warnings on their labels. It is the right of the public to know the dangers of the products they purchase, and it is also the legal responsibility of manufacturers and companies to warn of those dangers.

If you’ve been the victim of drug induced SJS or TEN, or you know someone else who developed one of the conditions, please contact us.

What Causes Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis?

In the 1970s, doctors began to notice that some patients were developing deadly Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

Researchers began to hypothesize that drugs, including ibuprofen, were the common factor, and that although rare, some people were developing severe allergic reactions to the drug.

We don’t think it’s fair that consumers can purchase ibuprofen and give it to themselves and their children without being properly warned of its dangers. Pharmaceutical companies have not fulfilled their obligation to adequately inform their customers about SJS and TEN, and we believe they should be held accountable.

In the mean time, we’ve compiled a list of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs available over-the-counter that contain ibuprofen. Though not a comprehensive list, it serves as a starting point for you and your family when choosing medications. Be aware that generic versions of the products listed below also exist, so if you’re in doubt, check the drug’s ingredient list for ibuprofen.

SJS Lawyer

Between the 1970s and the 2000s, researchers discovered that routine medications containing ibuprofen were causing rare, but dangerous allergic reactions in people of all ages. Known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), the conditions cause painful blistering and sloughing of the skin and scarring of other organs. Individuals who suffer from either SJS or TEN may have difficulty breathing, eating and drinking, and those with particularly severe cases may even suffer blindness or death.

Changes to Warnings

As time passed and many drugs that were formerly available by prescription became available as over-the-counter medications, some companies that sold ibuprofen deleted SJS and TEN warnings from the product labels. Even babies and children are susceptible to developing SJS or TEN following administration of a children’s dosage of ibuprofen, and their labels contain no warnings either.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Lawyers

Thousands of people develop SJS or TEN in the U.S. each year. If you or someone you know took ibuprofen and were one of them, let us know. We’ll give you the voice you deserve and stand up for your rights.

With extensive experience in both local and national litigation, we have the skill and resources to handle your case and give it the attention it needs. We won’t be intimidated by large pharmaceutical companies, and we’ll always keep your best interest in mind.

Children’s Medications

  • Children’s Motrin
  • Childrens Advil
  • Infants Advil Concentrated Drops
  • Children’s Advil Cold
  • Children’s Advil Suspension
  • Children’s Motrin Suspension Liquid (all flavors)
  • Children’s Motrin Cold
  • Junior Strength Motrin in caplets and chewable tablets (all flavors)
  • Infant’s Motrin Concentrated Drops
  • Dimetapp Children’s Cold and Fever

Adult Medications

  • Advil Tablets
  • Advil Liqui-Gels
  • Advil Cold and Sinus
  • Advil PM
  • Advil Migraine
  • Advil Allergy and Sinus
  • Motrin Cold and Flu
  • Motrin IB
  • Motrin IB Sinus
  • Motrin Sinus Headache
  • Dristan Sinus
  • Sine-Aid IB
  • Dimetapp Sinus
  • Dayquil Pressure and Pain Caplets
REQUEST A CONSULTATION