Children's Motrin & Children's Advil
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
Children's Motrin and Children's Advil are both brand names for the pain reliever ibuprofen, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug known as an NSAID. These drugs were approved by the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) in 1989 for U.S. prescription sales, and for over-the-counter sales in 1995. Children's Motrin and Children's Advil are both used as medication for pain and fever relief, including colds, flu, headache, body aches, toothache, etc. They are recommended for children ages two to 11 years old.
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Children's Motrin is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson and the J & J subsidiary McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals (McNeil-PPC, Inc.).
Children's Advil is manufactured by Wyeth.
Both drugs have a number of known side effects including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) in addition to other side effects. SJS and TEN are serious conditions that can cause permanent disabilities, blindness and death.
The painful struggle and death of nine-year-old Kaitlyn Langstaff is one heartbreaking example of the dangers of Children's Motrin. Kaitlyn's parents have sued the maker of the drug alleging that their daughter's reaction to Children's Motrin left Kaitlyn unable to see, speak or eat and that the manufacturer failed to warn the public of the dangers and possibly fatal reactions.
Seven-year-old Sabrina Johnson is blind as a result of taking Children's Motrin. In December of 2004, Sabrina's parents sued the makes of Children's Motrin and several companies that distribute the drug claiming that Sabrina suffered numerous side effects from an allergic reaction to the medication including the loss of her eyesight.
Three year old Heather Kiss died after being given just a few doses of Children's Advil to treat a fever. In addition to filing a wrongful death lawsuit in New Jersey in January of 2005, claiming that Heather suffered severe side effects and died after taking Children's Advil and developing Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), Heather's parents, medical practitioners and others filed a petition urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require warning labels on ibuprofen products for children clearly warning of the risk of SJS and TEN. (Ibuprofen does not generally cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or TEN (SJS/TEN) in adults.) The FDA has felt that the incidence of SJS/TEN is so rare that alarming warnings may not be warranted.
Despite the FDA's reluctance, parents should be cautioned about the risk of the serious and fatal consequences of the side effects from Children's Advil and Children's Motrin, and the makers of these drugs must be held responsible for the deaths and disabilities their products have caused.
The more severe forms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome can result in disfiguring scarring, impairment or loss of vision, and secondary infections including systemic sepsis. In the case of the TEN form of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, death results in about one-third of cases. SJS is a very serious conditon and should be treated as an emergency situation at first onset. The disease can have life altering consequences for those who survive it, and many do not survive. For more information, please see Children & SJS page.
If you or a loved one has been afflicted with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, please e-mail or call us today and we will evaluate your Stevens-Johnson claim for free.
The law firm of Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Echsner & Proctor, P.A. is nationally recognized as the fourth-winningest law firm in the United States. Our attorneys specialize in product liability and drug litigation cases.