Cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) in connection to various prescription and over-the-counter medications are rare, but can be devastating for the individuals and families who have to live with these severe allergic skin reactions.

It is particularly concerning when an individual contracts SJS or TEN after taking a necessary medication like Lamictal — which is used to manage seizure disorders and sometimes bipolar disorder — because instead of relieving health symptoms and allowing a person to live a more normal life, affected patients now have to contend with a rare skin disorder on top of whatever other condition they are already dealing with.

What is Lamictal?

Lamictal (generic lamotrigine) is an anticonvulsant medication manufactured by the pharmaceutical company GalxoSmithKline.

While this drug is occasionally used to treat bipolar disorder, it is most commonly prescribed to treat and manage focal seizures, as well as primary and secondary tonic-clonic seizures, related to epilepsy.

More importantly, it is one of the few medications approved to treat Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, which is a type of childhood-onset epilepsy that is difficult to treat and can lead to psychological problems and developmental delays because of the frequent seizures.

As a prescription drug, Lamictal is a potentially useful treatment for a variety of hard-to-treat health conditions. However, according to recent reports, this anticonvulsant medication has been linked to cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

Because of these Lamictal SJS and TEN cases, the FDA has mandated a black box warning to be included in the drug’s prescribing information, warning the medical community and patients of the risk of developing SJS or TEN while taking this anti-seizure medication.

What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a severe skin condition that occurs as an allergic reaction to certain medications, including Lamictal. When a patient first contracts SJS they may initially present with flu-like symptoms, quickly followed by burn-like rashes forming all over the body.

Blisters may also form on the skin, as well as the mucous membrane of the eyes, nose, and mouth. Eventually, the top layer of skin may slough off a patient’s body, leaving the more sensitive dermis layers exposed to infection.

Toxic Epidermal Nercrolysis is a more severe form of SJS. Patients are diagnosed with TEN when the rashes, burns, and blisters cover 30 percent or more of their body.

Symptoms of Lamictal SJS  and TEN include:

• Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, sore throat, cough, and burning eyes
• Red or purple skin rash
• Hives
• Blisters on the skin and mucous membranes, especially in the mouth, nose and eyes
• Facial swelling
• Tongue swelling
• Skin pain
• Skin shedding (sloughing)

SJS patients have a 5 to 15 percent risk of dying from the side effects listed above; TEN patients have an increased mortality rate of 30 to 40 percent. Even if a patient is lucky enough to survive SJS and/or TEN, they may still contend with other life-long complications, such as:

• Secondary skin infection (cellulitis)
• Sepsis (blood infection)
• Eye problems that can lead to blindness
• Internal organ damage
• Permanent skin damage

If you or someone you love took Lamictal and developed this painful and detrimental skin condition, you may have grounds to pursue legal action against the drug’s manufacturer.