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SJS Ibuprofen: Advil Attack

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San Diego, CAEdu always took Advil when he got a headache, but not anymore. One night about two years he took a few Ibuprofen (in the form of Advil) and went to bed. "I woke up a few hours later with an itchy face and scalp," says Edu. "I looked in the mirror and saw big red welts over my face and throat and my scalp felt lumpy." Fortunately, he made it to a hospital in the nick of time: Edu never thought an itchy scalp and a few headache pills could lead to SJS Ibuprofen.

"When I saw these welts it really scared me so I woke up my wife," says Edu. "She took one look at me and said, 'You need to get to ER right away.' It was a 20-minute drive to the hospital and as we were driving I started to have a hard time breathing.

Advil"By the time we got to the hospital my breathing had become very labored. They took me into a room right away and next thing I knew, it was the next morning and my wife was by my bedside. Sure enough it was morning, but two days later! I don't remember anything. I went into ER Wednesday evening and woke up late Friday morning. I tried to get up and couldn't figure out why I couldn't move. My limbs were tied down and my wife was sitting by my bedside. She was frantic.

My wife explained to me that my throat had become so constricted I couldn't breathe anymore. The doctor was trying to put a tube down my throat but it was so bad that he couldn't find one small enough to fit--he kept trying smaller tubes. 'I have one small tube left and if we can't fit this one, he will have to get a tracheotomy [ a surgical procedure on the neck to open a direct airway through an incision to the windpipe],' he told my wife. Luckily a tube fit but they fastened my arms and legs to the bed—I was in an induced coma and apparently I was trying to get the tube out.

The doctor came in and talked to me, asked me if I had taken Advil before. (My wife told him what happened.) I told him that I frequently took Advil but every time I took it, my scalp would itch. I'm a surfer and I just thought I had salt in my scalp. As soon as I mentioned my itchy scalp, he knew I'd had an allergic reaction to Ibuprofen. 'This allergic reaction gets progressively worse to the point that you could develop a breathing problem and angiodema [a swelling in the deep layers of skin] and possibly SJS,' he told me."

SJS, or Stevens Johnson Syndrome, can be lethal. It usually starts with a skin irritation such as a rash or in Edu's case, welts. Luckily, when Edu woke from his coma, the welts and swelling were gone. " I was very tired and that's about all that I can remember," he says. "They told me to never take Ibuprofen again and they gave me epinephrine injectors in case I accidentally take Ibuprofen or anything else that will result in this reaction. I have to keep this kit close by for the rest of my life--I keep it in my travel bag.

The doctor told me that with this type of allergy gets progressively worse to the point that I could have died. I think it is criminal—somebody at Advil HQ must have known of these potentially lethal side effects and the public should have been notified. They should list symptoms such as 'itchy scalp' and if these symptoms occur at any time, to see your doctor immediately.

If this happened on one of my surfing trips in Mexico (where I go a lot ) I would be dead. And I used to take Advil with me all the time. It is pretty scary to realize that I came that close to death.

All my kids came to visit when I was in hospital; they were afraid of losing me. I don't know why I am allergic to this med but now I have a long list of drugs I shouldn't take; I have to be very careful. But I also feel lucky—I have a lot of life left in me and I'm looking forward to retirement. But I came that close…"

Edu agrees with the SJS Foundation: the "Allergy alert" for products containing Ibuprofen should be revised to include a warning for aspirin-sensitive individuals and drugs such as Advil should contain a description of early symptoms associated with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS).

Children's Ibuprofen products have been in the news lately and a lawsuit was filed against the manufacturer of children's Motrin. On its website, the SJS Foundation says it has written to the FDA about Stevens Johnson Syndrome and children's ibuprofen products for over a year, and there have been "more reported cases of SJS to ibuprofen then to acetaminophen." Children or adults taking Ibuprofen (such as Advil, Motrin, Nuprin and Medipren) can become overwhelmed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome. If they continue taking the medication (because they do not know that the drug is causing the problem) then SJS can develop into the more severe form of the disease known as toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).

The mortality rate of TEN is close to 40 percent. As Edu says, he is fortunate; perhaps the next person who develops SJS Ibuprofen won't be so lucky.

READ ABOUT SJS IBUPROFEN LAWSUITS

READER COMMENTS

Posted by

on
I'm glad I came across this. I took an Advil this afternoon and noticed my face was red and hot, my arms itched and my eyes got dry. Thankfully I'm able to breathe alright. I'm going to through away all the ibuprofen I have in the house. Tylenol from now on.

Posted by

on
I just took an aspirin and my scalp is itching and I have a large welt on the side developing above my ear. I stumbled across this looking for the cause.

Posted by

on
In the last year or so when I took aspirin or alleve my scalp would start itching and knots came on my scalp. This started about two years ago and seemed to worsen each time. I'm afraid to take it again.

Posted by

on
So thankful for finding this post. Gave my 10 year old daughter Ibuprofen about a month ago for a headache and she developed swollen itchy eyes. At the time I thought perhaps she was having a reaction to pollen since we were outdoors when the swelling started to occur and she had never had problems with Ibuprofen in the past. Then today she had another headache and I tried only 1 tablet of junior strength Ibuprofen even though she is almost 100 lbs and again itchy puffy eyes. Never again will I give her medication containing Ibuprofen.

Posted by

on
I took advil four days ago and my hands, neck and feet itched for about twenty minutes. I came home and read the warnings on the box and those symtems were not listed. I thin assumed there was another reason for the itchy state. I then took two more advil for pain last night and 3 minutes later my face, hands, scalp, feet, neck and back started to itch and welped up severely. I rused to the hospital. I did not experience shortness of breath and was very thankful because I am chronic asthma patient but was warned by the doctor that this is highly probable if I am exposed again. I was treated over several hours and released but the experience was very frightening to myself and my daughter who drove me to the hospital. I agree that the label should be properly noted.

Posted by

on
About a month ago, I had an allergic reaction to something where my hands and scalp got really itchy and I also got some hives. I thought maybe it was the hoppy beer that I had since I don't really drink much. Then two days ago, I had a headache, so I took a 600mg Ibuprofen pill that I had leftover from a broken ankle last spring. I then had a severe allergic reaction where my hands and scalp and entire body got all itchy. My eyes got really red and my face got swollen. I thought I was going to pass out so I layed down and asked someone to call 911. Then I started having trouble breathing. Paramedics came a few minutes later and I started feeling much better. They checked me out but I didn't go to the hospital. When I had my first allergic reaction (in my life that I recall - I'm 43) about a month ago, I had taken an Advil. I have an appointment with my pcp this week.

Posted by

on
I have always taken Advil for pain, but one day took two Advils and rubbed Voltaren on a sore knuckle. About 20 minutes later I got itchy eyes, scalp, inside ears, swollen lips and tongue. My daughter took me to Urgent Care where they gave me Epinephrine, but my O2 was low and my BP was falling. Then they took me to the ER and on the way gave me more Epinephrine and added a breathing treatment. In the ER they gave me Prednisone and fluids and kept me there 5 hours. The doctor there said I should never have nsaids again but that I could take Baby aspirin for my heart! My other allegies include Terramycin, naproxen, and duracef. As a teenager I had a severe reaction to Terramycin resulting in Stevens Johnson Syndrome. Now I'm wondering if I should be taking Baby aspirin!!!

Posted by

on
Hi, I thought it was just my weird allergies, but if I take Advil my throat gets sores in it and then a day later they bleed. I have tried it on and off and the same thing happens so it could be an ingredient in the pill that I am allergic to. Good luck everyone.

Posted by

on
Yesterday I took 2 regular Advil to curb a slight throb in knee caused by running. Went out for a 12km run - felt very sluggish and nausea, and after 11km, a reaction started, initially with swelling of eyes, lids, then a tingly sensation in throat. A few Benadryl did not crb the swelling so I used an Epipen which did the trick. As a runner who has experienced exercise-induced anaphylactic reactions too many times, routine take an anti-histamine before I exercise; I would never have thought that 2 Advil could trigger such a reaction. Next time, I will just bear the pain of an overworked knee.

Posted by

on
I too appreciate your story. I rarely take anything for pain, I just try to let "time" heal...but, in the few instances I can't stand it any longer, I reach for Advil. Last night, at 3am, I took 2 Advil. Within minutes the reaction was swift. My eye started to swell, my face and lips puffed like a hamster and most startling, my airways started to close. I felt like I needed a breathing machine to get air. I will NEVER take Advil again. Over the past three years, the few times I would take it, I always had a reaction. But, like the previous person, I thought it was a food reaction.
This was a wake up call.
Drug companies are quick to market the "benefits", but remiss in addressing the extremely serious side effects.
BEWARE.

Posted by

on
hi. i just found out late last 2013 that i am allergic to ibuprofen(advil) or any.
at first i thought i was allergic to seafood. shrimps in particular. i had a headache so i took two capsules of advil. when i was about to sleep it felt like it's really difficult to breathe then my eyes started to swell. we all thought i was really allergic to shrimp.
but then i started to eat Chinese dumplings which apparently had shrimp on it. nothing happened. so yeah, i wasn't allergic to shrimp.
then after maybe a week or 2. i had this extreme hangover. so i took advil. then again i experienced those symptoms. but i still didn't realize that i am allergic to advil. it made it really difficult to distinguish because i happen to have allergic rhinitis. then after maybe a week i took advil again because of an extreme hang over. again. then yeah, i then realized i am allergic to ibuprofen. it took me 3 times to realize that i am allergic. in the third time, i took in anti histamines so the swelling and the constriction would lessen. and it did help. i thought i was the only one. reading this article really helped.

Posted by

on
I've had the itchy scalp and welt reaction to Advil and ibuprofen for years (I had taken Advil for years prior to this reaction and it took me several more to figure out what was causing it). Now I just take Advil for really bad headaches and deal with the discomfort but I may find something esle entirely after reading this. I don't have any other allergies so it seemed like a minor annoyance for generally good results. I had no idea it could progress like this. I get big angry welts on the back of my neck, my scalp, and a few on my face...always in the same spots. I've never discussed it with my doctor because I never think about it when I'm in there but I may have to bring it up next time. How scary...thanks for this article. I would have continued taking Advil not knowing I could literally be putting my life in danger.

Posted by

on
You can be allergic to any drug or substance that occurs naturally. It is not the drug companies fault if you are not aware of the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Posted by

on
Thank you for this information. My son is 10. I gave him Advil junior strength, 3 tablets since he weighs 100 pounds for a mild headache just before school started. 45 minutes later his school called me asking me to pick him up because it looked like he may have a sinus infection since his eyes were swelling and he was holding his nose. When I picked him up I realized he needed medical attention right away. I took him to his PCP and he allerted me that my child is allergic to Advil. His face was totally swollen; eyes almost shut and lips still swelling. Luckily, I had Benadryl and had given him one as soon as we left the school. He was given Prednisone and Zyrtec and referred to an allergist. I will keep an EpiPen close for now on. My child has Asthma so I'm very worried about him. If you have given your child Ibuprofen/Advil or even Aspirin (many people who are allergic to Advil are also allergic to Aspirin) and he/she is having trouble breathing or any swelling or hives, please seek medical attention immediately! If Benadryl is handy that should be given in the interim. God Bless

Posted by

on
Thank You so much for writing this article, I gave my son one advil for body pain and he had the itchy scalp and i thought he was trying to get out of school. he had red welt on his arms and legs i gave him benadryl, I had no idea he was allergic . thank you

Posted by

on
Thank you so much for this article. I have been having the same symptons as well, itchy scalp, and the itch continues all over my face with little bumps. At first I thought it was from a little bug but then I noticed every time I take Ibuprofen that it happens to me. I've used it my whole life and never had any problems with it untill this year. So again thank you, I will no longer be using any medications that contain Ibuprofen in it.

Posted by

on
thank you!!!! I have been experiencing some of the same symptoms after being on advil for 8 days....itchy scalp,.....and labored breathing. I don't trust drug manufacturers AT ALL!!!!!!! I will stop taking the advil.......thank you!!!!

Posted by

on
Thank you to the author of this article. It not for this, my boyfriend may have met the same fate. He developed an itchy scalp after taking Advil, it has been like that every time he took it. We thought it was a harmless allergic reaction. After reading your article, his life may have been saved! Thank you so much.

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