Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Lawyers

Lawsuits After Medications Cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a rare and potentially dangerous skin disorder that is usually linked to the use of certain medications, some of them quite common. If you were diagnosed with SJS and suffered serious health complications, and you took prescription or over-the-counter medication fairly regularly before the diagnosis, you could have the grounds to file an injury claim against the company that manufactured the drug or drugs in question.

Filing an SJS claim will likely mean going up against Big Pharma. To prepare for such a challenge, come to Fulmer Sill in Oklahoma City first. Our attorneys are well versed in the sciences behind adverse drug events and the liability laws behind dangerous drug lawsuits, including those that are part of a larger mass tort. With a case as potentially complicated as yours, trust us to lead the way.

Call (405) 433-7414 to schedule a free case consultation about SJS with the trial lawyers of Fulmer Sill.

What is Stevens-Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome primarily affects the skin and its mucus membranes. Symptoms of this disorder begin as mild, including fever, sore throat, fatigue, and eye irritation. When the disease progresses, though, it can become much more dangerous. A bluish rash appears that indicates that epidermis cells are dying off, which can cause a host of health complications. If SJS advances beyond this stage, it can cause toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), which is life-threatening.

TEN symptoms can include:

• Strong flu-like symptoms
• Eye irritation and inflammation
• Worsening of a spreading, painful rash
• Mouth, nose, eyes, and throat blisters
• Peeling and dead skin
• Open wounds that may become infected

Immediate medical attention and hospitalization are needed to treat TEN. Even with appropriate medical care, TEN has a high mortality rate, especially when it affects the patient’s kidney or a large percentage of their skin.

What Drugs Can Cause SJS?

SJS is usually caused by an adverse effect of a drug. The risk of SJS seems to increase the more that one such drug is used, but it can develop even when a drug that causes an adverse reaction is used only a few times. Also, it should be noted that most people who use the drugs that have been linked to SJS do not develop this dangerous disease. Your case could still be considered justified and legally valid even though most people did not experience such a reaction to the drug.

Different types of drugs and name-brand drugs that have been linked to SJS risks include:

• Advil
• Antiepileptic/anticonvulsant drugs
• Avara
• Bactrim
• Children’s versions of Advil, Tylenol, and Motrin
• Cleocin
• Clindamycin
• Dietary supplements
• Flagyl
• Libtayo
• Leflunomide
• NSAIDs
• Sulfonamides
• Topamax
• Zosyn
• Many others

What to Do If You Had an SJS Reaction

If you have suffered an SJS reaction, please seek urgent medical attention. Make note of any medications you have taken, including prescription medications and those that can be purchased over the counter. This information will be useful to the medical professionals treating you and our attorneys.

Once you have received medical care, you should consider exploring your legal rights and options with Fulmer Sill. We can review your case and medical records to see if a drug or medication caused your SJS symptoms. From there, we can see what pharmaceutical company might be liable for your injuries and losses, and what steps should be taken next to demand compensation and justice.

Compensation in an SJS Reaction Lawsuit

On your behalf, our attorneys can likely pursue compensation in your SJS injury claim that helps pay for:

• Medical treatments: You might need extensive hospitalization to treat SJS, especially if it progresses to an advanced and highly dangerous stage. We can seek compensation that pays for all your medical needs, including those that will be necessary months or years in the future.
• Lost wages: SJS is often serious enough to stop patients from engaging in any form of gainful employment. If this happened to you, then we can include past lost wages and reduced income-earning capacity that can lessen your future wages.
• Pain and suffering: Non-economic damages might be based on intangible losses like your pain, suffering, and trauma, but they are no less important than economic damages.

Talk with Our SJS Attorneys Now

Fulmer Sill is standing by to help anyone in Oklahoma City and throughout Oklahoma who has suffered Stevens-Johnson Syndrome after using a drug or medication. We have the strength and experience needed to challenge any Big Pharma company in litigation if it means doing what’s right for a client in need.

We empower injured people. Call (405) 433-7414 now to learn how we can empower you.