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Stevens Johnson Syndrome- by Eva Ettedgui RN, CLNC |
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from Newsletter - November 2009
The drug Tegretol, (carbamazepine) used to treat seizures and specific pain relief for trigeminal neuralgia can be deadly to certain populations. According to the latest update from the FDA Tegretol can cause an onset of Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), a rare and serious skin disorder.
Studies show that the risk of SJS acquired from Tegretol is 10 times higher in the Asian populations because of a gene known as HLA-B*1502. The presence of this gene increases the risk of SJS with the use of Tegretol.
Doctors should be screening people of Asian descent for this gene prior to prescribing Tegretol.
For more information: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/016608s101,018281s048lbl.pdf
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