Lamictal is one of the most popularly-prescribed antiepileptic drugs in the United States, but it is also infamous for its alleged association with Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS).

SJS is a severe allergic reaction characterized by red or purple skin lesions, and its flat rate of progression.

Unfortunately, it is a very rare condition that is often diagnosed at a latent stage due to physicians being unfamiliar with SJS symptoms, and for being unaware that SJS was a possible side effect of patients drug to begin with. There are approximately 300 cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome diagnosed per year in the United States, with many of the cases being allegedly caused by Lamictal.

Overview of SJS Symptoms

In a recent example, a graduate student from Georgia had reportedly suffered from Stevens Johnson Syndrome soon after starting her Lamictal prescription. In December 2013, she was given three prescriptions of antiepileptic drugs, including generic Lamotrigine and brand-name Lamictal. Within a month, Khaliah S. had begun suffering strange symptoms that were not mentioned on the drug’s label; she developed a rash and her skin started to peel.

Khaliah had gone to the emergency room and was diagnosed with the flu; an on-staff physician at the Walter Ingram of Grady Hospital in Atlanta that later treated her stated that this misdiagnosis is very common for SJS patients. Patients who suffer Stevens Johnson Syndrome will start experiencing symptoms within the first two to eight weeks of starting the medication, which begins with flu-like symptoms. The confusion was detrimental to the patient, as she found her skin blistering and peeling off only two days after her emergency room visit. Khaliah described the sensation of her skin being on fire, and she was unable to walk.

After Khaliah was rushed to the Medical Center of Central Georgia, an on-staff dermatologist accurately diagnosed her with Stevens Johnson Syndrome. The dermatologist described the condition as not only extremely rare, but also unpredictable as scientists are unsure as to why some patients suffer Stevens Johnson Syndrome and why some do not. For this reason, any drugs that have been alleged to cause Stevens Johnson Syndrome are encouraged to add SJS symptoms to the drug’s label. Experts assert that this would prevent many avoidable cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, and would spread awareness of the deadly condition.

Khaliah insists that she never would have taken Lamictal if she had known about the possibility of Stevens Johnson syndrome. Instead, due to Lamictal, Khaliah’s skin lesions developed into an open wound, along with most of the surface area of her skin peeling off. Khaliah was soon put into an induced coma because the pain became too much for her. After five weeks in a stupor state, Khaliah’s skin had become pink and raw, with her hair gone. She was transferred to a different hospital due to her SJS symptoms getting worse.

Luckily, the patient had survived her ordeal and is able to tell the tale. While she is out of the hospital with her hair slowly growing back, Khaliah had sustained severe skin damage and vision damage. However, Khaliah suffers more from psychological trauma compared to her physician injuries.

Despite knowing how vital her antiepileptic medications are, she has become extremly reluctant to take them. Khaliah explains that because doctors cannot predict if and when Stevens Johnson Syndrome will strike, or from what medication, she is terrified to take the drugs. Khaliah’s fears are well-placed, as experts believe that Stevens Johnson Syndrome is more likely in patients with multiple medications, and is likely to recur after treatment.

Sadly, Khaliah is one of many patients who feel like they have to choose between their health and avoiding their fears. Until more is understood about Stevens Johnson Syndrome, doctors can only give so much information to anxious patients.