If you have taken Lamictal and experienced DRESS syndrome symptoms, you could have a legal case.

Lamictal (lamotrigine) is an anti-seizure medication, but it also prescribed to treat bipolar disorder in adults. Some people have reported problematic DRESS syndrome symptoms. 

DRESS stands for Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms and is also known as drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome. In 85 percent of cases, the patient will experience a fever, and 75 percent develop a rash.

Eosinophils are one of the body’s disease-fighting white blood cells. High eosinophil levels can be indicative of a parasitic infection, allergic reaction or cancer. As a DRESS syndrome symptom, high eosinophils are part of an intense allergic reaction to a drug.

Recognizing DRESS Syndrome Symptoms

DRESS is a delayed reaction by the immune system, which can appear two to eight weeks after the inciting medication has been taken, with three weeks seen as the median amount of time.

In addition to a fever and rash, DRESS syndrome symptoms include inflammation of the internal organs. Most often, the liver, kidneys, and lungs are affected.

Physicians warn that the rash can vary from mild to extensive blistering, but the severity of the rash is not necessarily indicative of the extent of the reaction found in the internal organs. A patient with a mild rash can have extensive swelling of the internal organs.

Patients often experience swollen lymph nodes in at least two areas.

Research estimates the mortality rate of DRESS syndrome patients at 10 percent. Most of the deaths are caused by organs that are affected by the severe reaction. Among the DRESS syndrome symptoms related to death are:

• Hepatitis – inflammation of the liver
• Pneumonitis – inflammation in the walls of the lungs
• Myocarditis – inflammation of the heart muscle
• Pericarditis – inflammation of the lining of the heart
• Nephritis – inflammation of the kidneys
• Colitis – inflammation of the lining of the colon

In addition to the obvious DRESS syndrome symptoms of rash and fever, other symptoms can be identified through lab tests. Blood platelets that are below normal and lymphocytes that are either above or below normal are indicative of DRESS syndrome.

Researchers note that the propensity to develop DRESS syndrome might be genetic. One study showed that a patient who had a first-generation relative diagnosed with DRESS syndrome had a 25 percent greater chance of having such a severe reaction themselves.

DRESS Syndrome Symptoms Case Study

The National Institutes of Health published a study of a 12-year-old boy who experienced a rash, fever and facial puffiness as DRESS syndrome symptoms related to Lamictal.

He also experienced abdominal pain and vomiting, swollen lips and ears, and in addition to the rash, his entire body had a red tinge.  He had no history of any allergies.

Blood tests revealed eosinophilia and raised liver enzymes. Doctors started him on a treatment of corticosteroids and antihistamines and stopped the Lamictal. Fortunately, his rash subsided with five days and he was discharged from the hospital with instructions to continue oral steroids and antihistamines.

If you or someone you love has taken Lamictal and experienced DRESS syndrome symptoms, you could be eligible for compensation through legal representation.