Version July 2025
| If you had SJS or TEN with one of these, you must avoid all other medicines that are in the same group and closely related medicines | |
| Generic name | US brand names |
| GROUP 1: Used to prevent gout attacks | |
| Allopurinol | Aloprim |
| There are no known closely related medicines to allopurinol | |
| GROUP 2: Some anti-seizure medicines – Used to prevent seizures or pain | |
| Carbamazepine | Tegretol, Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro |
| Fosphenytoin | Cerebyx |
| Lamotrigine | Lamictal, Subvenite |
| Oxcarbazepine | Trileptal, Oxtellar XR |
| Phenobarbital (also called phenobarbitone) | Sezaby |
| Phenytoin | Dilantin, Phenytek |
| Primidone | Mysoline |
| The following are closely related to the above anti-seizure medicines and must also be avoided: | |
| Eslicarbazepine | Aptiom |
| Phenobarbital combinations for stomach problems | Donnatal, Phenohytro |
| Zonisamide | Zonegran, Zonisade |
| GROUP 3: "Sulfa" antibiotics – Used for treating infections | |
| Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole ("TMP-SMX," also called co-trimoxazole) | Bactrim, Sulfatrim |
| Sulfadiazine | No brand (generic only) |
| The following are closely related to the above "sulfa" antibiotics and must also be avoided: | |
| Silver sulfadiazine cream | Silvadene, SSD |
| Sulfacetamide-containing skin products including cleansers, creams, foams, gels, lotions, pads, washes, and shampoos | AVAR, Klaron, Clenia Plus, Ovace, Plexion, SSS, Sulfacleanse, Sumadan, Sumaxin, others |
| Sulfacetamide-containing eye drops, eye ointments, and ear drops | Blephamide |
| Sulfasalazine used for treating conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or colitis | Azulfidine |
| GROUP 4: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs ("NSAIDs") – Used to treat pain or inflammation | |
| Meloxicam | Mobic |
| Piroxicam | Feldene |
| Tenoxicam (not available in the US) | Brand depends on country |
| In general, other NSAIDs should be avoided. There are many types of NSAIDs. Other common examples include: | |
| Ibuprofen | Advil, Motrin, store brands |
| Naproxen | Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn, Naprelan, store brands |
| Celecoxib | Celebrex, Elyxyb |
| Ketorolac | Eye drops: Acular, Acuvail Nose spray: Sprix Pills or shots: No brand (generic only) |
| Diclofenac | Eye drops: No brand (generic only) Skin products (gel, patch, solution): Aspercreme, Diclogen, Flector, Licart, Lixofen, Pennsaid, Profinac, Voltaren, store brands Pills or packets to dissolve in liquid: Cambia, Lofena, Zipsor |
| Indomethacin | Indocin |
Notes on NSAIDs:
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It is important to tell all your doctors you had SJS/TEN before and which medicine caused it. This will help them decide which medicines are safe for you.
Other medicines have been linked to SJS/TEN, including:
