Anytime we use medicines, we are exposed to many secondary effects that are unknown even to the manufacturer. After a medicament has been launched to the market, users start developing rare illnesses that after many studies, were shown to be caused by the drug itself. This is the case of Stevens - Johnson syndrome, which is a deadly skin disease that results from a drug reaction. This disease has been linked to medicines such as Allopurinol, Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, barbiturates, anticonvulsants, sulfa antibiotics and all types of NSAIDS (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs).
Some of the symptoms of SJS are massive pain, anxiety and suffering. It affects mainly older people, because they are the ones who use the most this type of medicines. In the beginning, the disease is quite difficult to identify, because its first symptoms are very similar to the ones from a common flu: cough, aching, headaches and feverishness. Next, a red rash across the face appears and starts spreading all around the body. This rash can turn into blisters, which are usually located around the eyes, mouth and the vaginal area. Then, the mucous membranes can become inflamed, and in drastic cases, the skin peels away in sheets. Therefore, the patient might look as if he/she has burns. Also, the places where the skin has come away can seep fluids very copiously. The above mentioned can start appearing after two weeks of consuming the medicament.
This disease is intrinsically related to the use of cox-2 inhibitors, such as the ones contained in the medicament Bextra. For this reason, Pfizer (the manufacturer of cox-2 inhibitors) is now facing numerous lawsuits for personal injuries. Many sufferers and relatives of Steven-Johnson Syndrome patients are looking for a fair outcome of this problem. They claim the medicament did not carry any warning about this type of side effects. If you or someone you know is suffering SJS, try to look for an experienced attorney in this area, specialized in drug-related Steven Johnson Syndrome.