Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Lawsuit Filed in Illinois

St. Clair County, ILResidents of Illinois, Louisiana and New York recently filed a lawsuit against anti-epilepsy drugmakers, claiming the drugs caused them to develop a potentially deadly skin disease called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, the Madison County Record reports.

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs all developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or Toxic Epidural Necrolysis (TEN) after ingesting prescription medications that reportedly contained Dilantin.

"Post-marketing databases confirm that serious skin reactions have been reported in patients receiving Dilantin drug products," the lawsuit contends.

The complaint also argues that the defendants, including drugmaker Pfizer, knew about the risks of the drugs but did not properly warn customers of the potential for such risks.

The plaintiffs are reportedly seeking damages to compensate them for physical impairment and medical costs incurred, among other things, according to the lawsuit.

According to the Mayo Clinic's Web site, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is "a rare, serious disorder in which your skin and mucous membranes react severely to a medication or infection." Recovery after developing the condition can reportedly take weeks to months, depending on the severity, according to the site.