As of April 11, 2006 the Stevens Johnson Syndrome Foundation now has 650 completed online surveys. After reviewing the data we have concluded that more females have been afflicted with SJS then male. Almost any medication including over the counter ibuprofen products can trigger SJS.

59 cases were to over the counter ibuprofen, these products are readily available to the public without prescription and carry no warning of SJS.

71 cases were anticonvulsant drugs. Of the 71, 36 cases were to Lamotrigine also known as (Lamictal). This is an anticonvulsants drug being used to treat bipolar disorder. It is not recommended for children under the age of 16 as it carries a black box warning of Stevens Johnson Syndrome and a higher incidence of SJS to this drug has been reported in children. In 1997 a “Dear Healthcare” letter was sent by the manufacturer to physicians advising them of this warning. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/1997/lamict.htm Yet, despite this warning, numerous cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome in children have been reported to the foundation including one child as young as 6 years old.

The rest of the surveys include antibiotics and prescription Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Topping the list are sulfa based drugs with 184 cases reported.

As you are aware the survey form is voluntary and has only been available for the past 2 years. Each day the SJS Foundation receives at least 3 new completed forms. We are asking all SJS/TEN patients to please complete the survey. This data will help aid in dismissing the RARE word from SJS. In addition we are hoping it will prompt medical schools to rethink their curriculum to include more time on the subject of Stevens Johnson Syndrome. If you have completed the SJS survey thank you for your assistance. To complete the survey please visit http://www.sjsupport.org/sjsurvey.shtml