Lamictal (lamotrigine) is a pharmaceutical drug that is used to control seizures.

It is prescribed in patients as young as two years old to treat seizures and epilepsy. Additionally, it can be prescribed to adults to help manage bipolar disorder or epileptic seizures as well.

However, Lamictal may be linked to serious side effects including Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS). This potentially life threatening side effect of the seizure medication, Lamictal, can develop at any time during treatment, sometimes years after taking the drug, particularly in adults taking the medicine for bipolar disorder.

About Lamictal

Lamictal is the brand name for the drug lamotrigine. Made and sold by British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, this prescription medication is used as a stand alone epilepsy treatment in those ages 16 and up.

It is also used to treat adjunctive epilepsy and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome therapy in those ages two and up. Doctors can also prescribe it for treatment of Bipolar I Disorder.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved Lamictal in December 1994.

Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Stevens Johnson Syndrome begins with a number of painful symptoms, typically dismissed as something related to the flu. This leads to discomfort and exhaustion, and is eventually followed by a severe skin rash and joint pain.

Gradually, the joint pain progresses beyond those associated with a simple flu or with other Lamictal side effects. The pain grows ever more intense, leading to a stiffening of the joints.

Lamictal SJS symptoms include:

• Rash, blisters, or red splotches on skin
• Persistent fever
• Blisters in mouth, eyes, ears, nose, genital area
• Swelling of eyelids, red eyes
• Conjunctivitis
• Flu-like symptoms

Sometimes the sloughing off of skin can associated with SJS can happen over as much as 70 percent of the body. When more than 30 percent of the skin is affected, the disease is referred to as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), which can be fatal.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome deaths are caused by opportunistic infections — environmental hazards that present themselves and become more dangerous as a result of the skin stripping away.

Nearly all cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome associated with Lamictal have occurred within two to eight weeks of treatment. However, isolated cases have been reported after six months.

Lamictal also carries a boxed warning about the risk of these life-threatening skin reactions:

If you took Lamictal and suffered SJS or TEN, you may have legal recourse by filing a Lamictal SJS lawsuit against the manufacturer of this medication.