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Drugs Linked to Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a condition that results from a severe reaction to a medication. A condition called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome, or TENS, is a more severe form of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is quite rare, but adverse drug reactions in general account for about 150,000 deaths in the United States each year, according to the Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Foundation. Almost any drug, including both over-the-counter and prescription medications, can cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, but some are more likely to than others.

  1. Common Causes

    • Although virtually any medication can cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or TENS, those most commonly linked to the reaction are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS; infection-fighting medications such as penicillins sulfonamides; anti-gout drugs such as allopurinol; and anticonvulsants.

    Non-medicinal Causes

    • In some cases, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome can result from an infection as opposed to a severe reaction to a medication. Infections known to have caused Stevens-Johnson Syndrome include HIV, diphtheria, herpes, influenza, hepatitis and typhoid. In very rare cases, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome has been traced back to exposure to such stimuli as ultraviolet light or radiation therapy.

    Symptoms

    • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome results in severe skin problems, but a few days before the skin symptoms begin to be noticeable you may experience a fever, cough, sore throat and burning eyes. Skin changes that result from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome include blisters in the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and genitals, swelling in the face and tongue, hives, a reddish or purplish rash and skin shedding.

    Diagnosis

    • Oftentimes doctors can diagnose Stevens-Johnson Syndrome by performing a physical examination and taking a complete medical history, especially asking about any prescription or over-the-counter medications patients have recently taken. A biopsy of the skin may also be taken so the tissue can be analyzed to confirm a diagnosis.

    Treatment

    • People who develop Stevens-Johnson Syndrome will need to be hospitalized, and patients may need to be admitted to the burn unit or the intensive care unit. The first step in treating patients is identifying the cause and stopping any medications that have caused the condition. Medications are often prescribed to alleviate pain and discomfort and help prevent skin infections. Intravenous corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin are also often used to help stop inflammation and stop the immune system from reacting to the drug. When skin is severely affected, skin grafts may be necessary to aid in healing.

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