Lawsuit claims drug side effects

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Sabrina Brierton Johnson of Los Angeles, seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages against health-care giant Johnson & Johnson, subsidiary McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals, and several other firms, including retailers Ralphs Grocery and Albertsons Inc.'s Sav-On pharmacies.

In their lawsuit, Kenneth and Joan Brierton Johnson accuse the defendants of negligence, breach of warranty and of concealing from consumers and doctors potential health risks of taking the flu and pain medication, specifically the risk of developing two disorders -- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis -- which are typically caused by an adverse reaction to a drug or virus.

Sabrina took Children's Motrin drops on Sept. 8, 2003, after she came home from school complaining of a fever. The girl had no known drug allergies, according to the suit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The next morning, she woke up with a high fever and other symptoms, including a pink coloration in her eyes and sores on her mouth. She was hospitalized, but a day later she was blind in both eyes.

Doctors later concluded Sabrina had contracted Stevens-Johnson Syndrome from taking Children's Motrin, according to the lawsuit. Since then, Sabrina has undergone multiple eye surgeries.

''In the name of children everywhere, our family wants Children's Motrin taken off the market until it carries a warning label about the risk of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and describes its symptoms,'' the girl's mother said in a statement.

The complaint also alleges the companies knew of a connection between the medication and the disorders from their own clinical tests dating back to the late 1980s, and even included warnings of such risks with the drug before it became available without a prescription.

The retailers who sold Children's Motrin and another defendant, Cardinal Health Inc., knew or had reason to know the drug had ''design flaws,'' the lawsuit also claims.

Bonnie Jacobs, a spokeswoman for Fort Washington, Pa.-based McNeil, which manufactures Children's Motrin, said McNeil and Johnson & Johnson were aware of a report that a 7-year-old girl allegedly developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome after taking the medication.

''As the makers of Children's Motrin products, we are deeply concerned by all matters relating to our products and we are investigating the situation,'' Jacobs said.

All other parties involved declined to comment on the case.