Product liability attorneys are currently looking for potential plaintiffs to bring Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuits against the pharmaceutical manufacturers of Lamictal.

Potential drug injury lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline will likely allege that the company violated consumer protection laws and failed to warn the medical community and the general public about dangerous side effects associated with using the medication.

What is Lamictal?

Lamictal
is a popular anticonvulsant on the market generally known as Lamotrigine and often prescribed to persons suffering from epilepsy as young as two years old.  In some cases Lamictal is prescribed to patients who suffer from bipolar disorder or manic depression.

It can either be prescribed on its own or in combination with several other epilepsy medications. However, the medication should never be prescribed as the sole medication in children under the age of 16.

Lamictal can be prescribed in an immediate release or an extended release tablet.

Unfortunately, Lamictal has recently been associated with risks of developing Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a serious condition of the skin and mucus membranes. Each year approximately 300 new cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome are diagnosed.

There are several potential causes of Stevens Johnson Syndrome. Doctors believe the condition can occur due to various types of infections and due to an allergic reaction to several types of medications including Lamictal.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome often begins as flu-like symptoms. A patient will often begin to develop a cough or sore throat, fatigue, and burning eyes.

Eventually the SJS symptoms become more severe. A patient may begin to develop facial swelling, tongue swelling, skin pain, hives, blisters on the skin and mucus membranes, and a quickly spreading red or purple rash.

In some cases patients with Stevens Johnson Syndrome begin to develop Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) or Lyell’s Syndrome. These more advanced symptoms mirror those of Stevens Johnson Syndrome but cover a much larger expanse of the body. In severe cases the patient can experience the painful shedding of sheets of their skin.

Patients who are diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome usually require hospitalization. Victims are treated in the hospital burn unit and often have to remain there for weeks or even months. SJS treatment is focused on keeping the patient hydrated and relieving symptoms.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome results in death in approximately 5 to 15 percent of all victims. Patients who experience SJS symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.

Lamictal SJS Lawsuits

Awards and settlements from potential Lamictal SJS lawsuits will help victims pay both past and future medical bills as well as serve as a step towards compensating patients for the pain and suffering they were forced to endure due to the adverse reaction that experienced while taking the medication.

Lawsuits against major pharmaceutical companies help hold drug manufacturers accountable for their actions and remind the organizations that they owe consumers a specific duty of care.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuits likely allege claims of negligence, strict products liability, failure to warn, breach of warranty along with various other claims.