Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: Causes, Triggers, and What to Do If You Suspect It

When your body reacts badly to a medicine, it’s not always just a rash or an upset stomach. Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a severe immune reaction that attacks the skin and mucous membranes, often triggered by medications or infections. Also known as SJS, it’s rare—but when it happens, it moves fast and can be life-threatening. This isn’t a typical side effect. It’s a full-blown crisis that starts with flu-like symptoms and turns into painful blisters and peeling skin—like a bad burn, but inside your mouth, eyes, and throat.

Most cases are linked to certain medications, including antibiotics like sulfonamides, anticonvulsants like carbamazepine, and painkillers like NSAIDs. You might be taking one of these and not realize the danger. Some people develop SJS after just a few doses. Others get it after weeks. It doesn’t care if you’ve used the drug before—it only cares if your immune system suddenly sees it as an enemy. Adverse drug reactions, like SJS, are underreported because they’re rare and hard to connect to the cause. But every report you file helps doctors spot patterns before more people get hurt.

Early signs? Think fever, sore throat, burning eyes, and a red or purple rash that spreads fast. Then come blisters. Then skin sloughs off. If you notice this after starting a new drug, don’t wait. Go to the ER. Delaying treatment increases the risk of permanent damage—blindness, lung scarring, even death. Even if you’re not sure, better safe than sorry. And if you’ve had SJS once, you can never take that drug again. Not even a little bit.

What you’ll find below are real, practical guides from people who’ve been there. You’ll learn how to report dangerous drug reactions to the FDA, which medications carry the highest risk, and how to protect yourself from hidden triggers. These aren’t theoretical articles. They’re tools built by patients, doctors, and pharmacists who’ve seen what happens when no one pays attention.