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Dilantin SJS Class Action Filed

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St. Clair, IL: A class action lawsuit has been filed against the makers of drugs used to treat epilepsy that contain Dilantin, alleging it caused the plaintiffs or their deceased relatives to develop a severe and potentially deadly skin disease Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or Toxic Epidural Necrolysis (TEN).

SJS and TEN are both skin disorders characterized by the discoloration or exfoliation of skin, the shedding of hair and nails, hives or burns to the body, loss of eyesight and/or damage to internal organs, the suit states.

Shirley Johnson, Michael Shepherd and Lyndora Thomas Taylor on behalf of the recently deceased John Taylor filed a lawsuit against Pfizer, Parke Davis and Warner Lambert.

According to the complaint, the plaintiffs all developed SJS or TEN after taking prescription medications containing the substance Dilantin. One plaintiff, Lyndora Thomas Taylor, lost a relative John Taylor, to the severe skin reaction on December 31, 2009.

"Defendants' Dilantin drug products are the most dangerous and lethal drugs that cause deaths from SJS/TENS," the suit states.Dilantin, the substance suspected to cause the skin disorder, has been used in drugs to treat epilepsy since 1939, but was not FDA-approved as a safe and effective way to treat seizures until 1976, the plaintiffs claim. The complaint states that even then, the drug should never have been approved as a safe treatment.

"Post-marketing databases confirm that serious skin reactions have been reported in patients receiving Dilantin drug products," the suit states. "These databases include the US-FDA Adverse Event Reporting System, World Health Organization, Upsalla Monitoring Centre, and the Health Canada Adverse Event Database and demonstrated that SJS/TEN events associated with Dilantin drug products were not infrequent and exceeded other drugs on the market that have significant relative risks of SJS/TEN, including Bactrim and Tegretol."

The complaint also states that the defendants knew of the drugs' dangers, but failed to adequately warn their customers of risks, and that Pfizer admitted in its submission on Bextra to Health Canada that drugs containing Dilantin substantially increased the risk of adverse skin reactions more so than other drugs on the market. Further, the suit claims that while Pfizer included black box warnings in its Bextra products concerning risks of SJS, it did not for its drugs containing Dilantin.

"Defendants could have chosen to enhance its SJS/TEN warnings since it had prior experience with adding warnings about SJS/TEN to their other marketed products," the suit states.

Additionally, the suit allages that certain ethnic and racial groups are more prone to developing SJS/TEN because of a variation in their metabolic rates, but the defendants also failed to warn of the increased risks to these groups.

Despite mounting evidence of Dilantin's risks, especially to different populations, the defendants aggressively marketed their products and failed to report associated severe reactions. The plaintiffs allege that were unaware of how dangerous their prescriptions containing Dilantin could be. One plaintiff was originally prescribed a medication containing Dilantin over 10 years ago, but claims that the statute of limitations has not expired because he was not aware of the source of his injuries until within the last two years.

In their complaint, the plaintiffs allege strict products liability, negligence, failure to warn, negligence in bringing Dilantin to market, negligent misrepresentation, misrepresentation by omission, negligence per se, fraud and misrepresentation, fraud by concealment, violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act and wrongful death.

SJS/TENS Class Action Legal Help

If you or a loved one has suffered an adverse health event, illness or death in this case, please fill in our form on the right and your complaint will be sent to a lawyer who may evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
Last updated January 26 2011

Reader Comments

Posted by

on
My husband Joseph was prescribed Dilantin for over 50 years and is experiencing many side effects such as Cerebellar atrophy, balance issues, walking, tremors and cognitive issues. We were never notified of any class action. I would think the doctor, pharmacy and pharmaceutical company would have done so. I also would like to know if there is a statute of limitations as to the class action.

Posted by

on
Yes I was prescribed Dilantin in 2004 while I was in Turner Job Corps ,for a seizure condition I developed. I almost died I was in the ICU for 2 weeks with SJS .the thing is the hospital didn't realize I was having an allergic reaction so they continued to give me Dilantin while I was fighting for my life. I I would like to know what the status of limitations are for this lawsuit.thank u

Posted by

on
I was on diltan to help treat seizers but it caused me to have a very bad reactin of my body beining covered in red whips and hives

Posted by

on
I took Dilantin in 1991 and 1992 and broke out in red rash over entire body and high fever with red eyes. I don't think my doctors waned my mom that it was SJS, or of the side effects.

Posted by

on
My wife Kathleen Hitt Mercado suffered 6 strokes, was operated at a Richmond, VA Hospital (1997), she woke up paralyzed, survived 35 Int. Care therapy sessions to come home to her 3 sons & mysellf. Dr. E.M. was our family doctor who prescrived Dilantin to her. She was on a wheelchair for 10+ years and eventually had to resign as a teacher. She took her medecines as prescrived by him, specially in her last 2 years even while the Culpeper, VA Hospice program took care of her at home. I had to sell change jobs, sell our house, work all overtime & holidays to pay for all the co-pays/medical ($630K+) & other bills to keep her alive, plus 3 sons in college. Had we known Dilantin's side effects/risks - we would of stopped it, but we depended on the doctor and his medical team to inform us then!

Posted by

on
Would you be kind enough to tell me where the class action is filed and the style of the case?

Thank you.

Ted C.

Posted by

on
My husband has been taking Dilantin from a very early age. He developed kidney cancer and had his kidney removed,had a heart attack and a stroke. I researched Dilantin and my husband has all the side effects that can occur.

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