If you have developed a severe allergic reaction after taking Lamictal, or have witnessed an allergic reaction in a loved one, you may be eligible to file a Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuit to recover damages related to the injury.

What is Lamictal?

Lamictal is a drug used to treat epilepsy, or abnormal electric activity in the brain known as seizures. It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, and in addition to its FDA approval as an anticonvulsant drug, it is also approved to treat the symptoms of bipolar disorder and improve mood in affected adults.

In addition to its FDA-approved uses, Lamictal is also used by physicians in an off-label manner to treat a number of other conditions including pain from neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia, headaches and migraines and mental health conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, depersonalization disorder and borderline personality disorder.

Lamictal contains a black box warning, which is the most serious warning a drug could carry. The black box warning label states that patients taking the medication may be at risk for developing serious rashes that may potentially indicate Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is an allergic drug reaction that is most commonly experienced in response to a pharmaceutical or over-the-counter drug. As the flu or a cold, and some patients may not think much of the symptoms of fatigue, fever, sore throat, chills and general malaise as being part of the body’s reaction to the drug.

However, when the rash begins to appear, patients with Stevens Johnson Syndrome begin to take notice. Typically, blisters begin to appear in the mucous membranes of the body and then spread to skin areas.

These blisters have a red or purple hue and cause the affected skin cells to die and slough off from the body. This leaves the delicate skin exposed underneath, and patients affected by SJS often appeared to look like burn victims.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a medical emergency and patients must be hospitalized as a result. Often, they are housed in the intensive care unit or the burn unit of the hospital.

There is no cure for the condition–it can only be managed until it runs its course. Pain management, wound care, intravenous hydration and nutrition and other methods are used to stabilize the patient.

The mortality rate for patients experiencing Stevens Johnson Syndrome is between five and 15%. If the condition progresses beyond affecting 30% of the body, it is referred to as toxic epidermal necrolysis, and the mortality rate jumps up to 25 to 35%.

Some patients may make a full or near full recovery, while others are not so lucky. Patients may experience organ damage or blindness, and may have severe scarring throughout their body.

Filing a Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawsuit

Patients who have developed SJS from taking Lamictal may be eligible to file a Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline.

A product liability lawsuit against the drug’s manufacturer may allege that the manufacturer designed, manufactured or marketed a defective product. Many drug product liability lawsuits allege that patients and physicians were not properly warned of all of the potential side effects the drug posed.

A Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuit may able to help recover damages related to medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of spousal companionship, lost wages, lost earning capacity and more.

Additionally, a Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuit can help hold the company accountable for its alleged wrongdoing.

An attorney experienced in product liability lawsuits can provide you with a free case review and consultation to determine your eligibility to pursue a Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuit.