More than 175 million Americans take over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for pain relief, according to the National Consumers League. Of these 175 million, 44 percent exceed the recommended dose, while millions ignore label information. OTC complications cause 16,500 deaths and 103,000 hospitalizations every year based on statistics. Experts partially attribute over-the-counter deaths and complications to the mistaken belief that FDA-approved, easy-to-buy drugs are safe.
The number of allergic reactions to OTCs in 2005 significantly increased. In just the first couple months, three children taking Children's Motrin and Children's Advil developed a rare and extremely painful disease from the OTC drugs called Stevens Johnson Syndrome. The Stevens Johnson Syndrome Foundation said they have seen a rise in the disease involving children and ibuprofen use during 2004, but the disease is still not well known.
Based on reports of Stevens Johnson Syndrome cases, not fully understanding the risks of OTC drugs is a very dangerous problem. No one knows how Stevens Johnson Syndrome begins, but the potentially deadly disease has dangerous effects. The allergic reaction often begins with symptoms such as itchy eyes, rashes, boils, broken blood vessels and other effects, and eventually the drug reaction can cause painful blistering of the skin and mucous membrane. As Stevens Johnson Syndrome progresses the skin literally sloughs off like a full thickness burn called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.
In about 10 to 30 percent of cases, Stevens Johnson Syndrome results in blinding the patient or killing them. The blinding is the result of the entire surface of the eye scarring over, causing the vision to be lost.
Stevens Johnson Syndrome dangers are real
In order to avoid suffering Stevens Johnson Syndrome, experts advise alerting a physician immediately if a rash develops after taking a medication. Although the most recent news reports on Stevens Johnson Syndrome cases involve children, the disease can affect children, infants, young adults, elderly patients or anyone else. The information sheets that come with nearly every drug is often tossed aside, but understanding drug risks can help with prompt treatment should any unknown effects arise.
Victims' parents of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, alongside some medical experts, filed a petition in February 2005 urging the FDA to require warning labels on ibuprofen. The petition requests the FDA conduct a full risk assessment of the risks from Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis associated with ibuprofen, as well as an investigation into why the two largest U.S. brand name makers of ibuprofen, McNeil Pharmaceuticals and Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, withheld critical safety information from the FDA and American public regarding Stevens Johnson Syndrome risks with ibuprofen.
Both the FDA and Children's Advil spokespeople have said Stevens Johnson Syndrome is so rare that it not necessary to put it on the label.
Contact a Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawyer
If you or a loved one have suffered from symptoms of Stevens Johnson Syndrome caused by a medical procedure or medications, use the form above to contact a Stevens Johnson Syndrome attorney at Jim Adler & Associates for a free case review and for helpful information.
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