Life-Threatening Reaction to OTC Medicine

Leanne, who has irritable bowel syndrome, took a common over-the-counter medication for heartburn. Soon afterward, she developed what she thought was a heat rash. But the reaction quickly worsened. She developed blisters on her face and her skin started to fall off. Leanne was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a life-threatening disorder in which the skin and mucous membranes react severely to a medication.