Lamictal (lamotrigine), used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder, has been shown in studies to be linked to the potentially fatal skin reaction Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Lamictal is made and sold by British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. It is used as a standalone epilepsy treatment in those aged 16 and up and as an adjunctive epilepsy and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome therapy in those aged 2 and up.

As with other anticonvulsant drugs, the medication has been found to work as a mood stabilizer, making it useful in the treatment of bipolar disorder and also effective as an off-label treatment for depression. GSK sold 46 million Lamictal prescriptions between 1994 and 2009.

Lamictal was first approved by the FDA in 1994 for use as adjunctive therapy in adults with partial seizures. The FDA added a black box warning for Lamictal in 1997 regarding the serious, life-threatening and sometimes fatal rashes reported in both adult and pediatric patients.

Lamictal SJS

While helpful in treating these conditions, Lamictal is known to cause a wide range of alarming side effects. One of the most dangerous side effects that Lamictal users face is SJS.

When used in the treatment of epilepsy, it has been reported that a small percentage of pediatric and adult patients have developed Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a condition that causes necrosis of the skin.

SJS and its more severe form, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), cause the epidermis (top layer of skin) to blister and peel off in large sheets.

Most of the cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome being linked to Lamictal occurred early in treatment when the dose was increased rapidly. However, isolated Stevens Johnson Syndrome cases have been reported after prolonged treatment.

The syndrome may begin several days before the rash appears, and may appear to be a flu-like illness with symptoms such as headache, fever, sore throat, cough, burning eyes, diarrhea, and vomiting.

However, as Lamictal SJS progresses, symptoms of the condition can include:

• A quickly spreading purple or red rash
• Widespread skin pain
• Swelling of the face and/or tongue
• Blisters on mucus membranes, especially in the mouth, nose or eyes (may also occur in the genital area)
• Hives
• Shedding of skin

SJS and TEN can be disfiguring, painful, and almost always must be treated in intensive care or a burn unit. They can also lead to life-threatening infections or other permanent complications.

Lamictal SJS Lawsuits

Many Lamictal SJS lawsuits allege that GlaxoSmithKline knew that taking the drug comes with a risk of developing SJS or TEN but failed to warn about it.  Therefore, the pharmaceutical company may face liability for lawsuits filed from those injured.

If you or a loved one has taken Lamictal and suffered Stevens Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis you may have cause to file a Lamictal SJS lawsuit. An experienced dangerous drug lawyer will be able to guide you on the best course of legal action in pursuing compensation for your injuries.