Drugs that cause SJS: what to know

SJS, or Stevens–Johnson syndrome, often begins with feeling unwell, fever, sore throat, cough, or burning eyes before a painful spreading rash appears. The skin may blister or peel, and the lips, mouth, eyes, or genital area may develop sores. It can be confused with a routine rash, but pain, blistering, skin peeling, or mucosal involvement are warning signs. The reaction may follow a newly started medicine, a dose change, or occasionally an infection; a specialist team must assess the cause.

If SJS is suspected, seek emergency medical assessment immediately and take the medicine packaging or an up-to-date list of medicines with you. Do not take another dose of a suspected new medicine unless emergency clinicians direct you to do so, but do not delay care while trying to identify the culprit. Avoid applying new creams or taking non-prescribed remedies over a blistering rash. Keep a record of the suspected reaction for future clinicians.

Call emergency services for breathing difficulty, facial swelling, faintness, confusion, rapidly spreading rash, skin peeling, or severe weakness. Eye pain or light sensitivity, painful swallowing, inability to drink, or sores in several body areas also require immediate assessment. SJS can affect the eyes, airways, and other organs, so urgent hospital care matters even when the first skin changes seem limited.

Ask which medicine is suspected, what should be recorded in your allergy history, which related medicines to avoid, and whether follow-up with skin or eye specialists is needed. Ask how to recognise a future reaction early.