Lamictal Stevens Johnson Syndrome (or Lamictal SJS) is a severe skin condition that patients may develop as the result of an allergic reaction to the GlaxoSmithKline anticonvulsant medication.

Lamictal (also known as generic lamotrigine) is a prescription treatment for epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (a childhood onset form of epilepsy). Because it is a known mood stabilizer, it has also been FDA approved to treat bipolar type 1 disorder. The drug is sometime prescribed off-label to treat clinical depression.

Patients taking Lamictal are already subject to difficult neurological and mental conditions, so developing a severe allergic skin reaction on top of their preexisting conditions can be an incredible burden. Unfortunately, an increasing number of patients have been reporting Lamictal side effects.

In response, the FDA has mandated that GlaxoSmithKline include a black box warning in order to alert prescribing doctors and patients about the possibility of developing Stevens Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

Severe Case of Lamictal SJS

Back in 2009, a 16-year-old girl living in Washington State developed a rash that developed into SJS, and eventually morphed into TEN, after taking Lamictal to manage her mood swings. After four weeks of using the anticonvulsant, the young woman developed an SJS rash on her chest. After just one day, the rash had spread to her lips, which began to swell and blister.

Eventually the SJS spread to her mucous membrane, including the inside of her mouth and nose, leaving her unable to breath. At this point, the severity of the reaction warranted hospitalization. Chelsea remained at her local hospital for six days, during which time the SJS rashes and blisters spread to her entire body and down her throat.

Chelsea eventually needed to be airlifted to another hospital, where she was diagnosed with TEN. After two weeks of hospitalization and several types of medical treatments, Chelsea was allowed to go home and recuperate.

TEN and SJS Symptoms and Complications

Patients and caretakers can easily confuse SJS and TEN symptoms with other medical conditions, and delayed treatment can be deadly. When a person develops SJS, rashes and blisters cover about 10 percent of the patient’s body.

At that point, the patient is at a 5 to 15 percent risk of death. When the condition morphs into TEN, the blisters and rashes cover 30 percent or more of the patient’s body, and their mortality rate jumps up to 30 to 40 percent.

Symptoms of Lamictal SJS and TEN include:

• Flu-like symptoms (fever, sore throat, cough, ad 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)

Even after a patient is cured of SJS and their symptoms are under control, they still may suffer from other Lamictal SJS complications, such as:

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

Those who have developed Lamictal SJS or TEN may be eligible to file a Lamictal SJS lawsuit against the manufacturers of the anticonvulsant medication.