What Are the Most Common Causes of Stevens–Johnson Syndrome?

Based on previous U.S. epidemiologic studies, drugs most commonly associated with Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) include allopurinol, anticonvulsants (e.g., lamotrigine, carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital), sulfamethoxazole, nevirapine, and oxicam nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Using a South Korean health claims database, researchers determined the most common causes in Korea.

They determined that carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (used as antiglaucoma eye drops), allopurinol, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, fluoroquinolones, aminopenicillins, cephalosporins, and acetaminophen (in descending order) were the main causes of SJS/TEN. For carbamazepine and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, the time to onset …